GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Malachi Moore's first season as a full-time major league umpire will be stressful enough, what with the bigger stadiums, higher stakes, hostile crowds, enhanced sticky stuff checks, travel demands, and the "Umpire Scorecards" website tracking every one of the 32-year-old's missed calls.
Throw in the new pitch clock, which will require plate umps to keep a closer eye on the pitcher and batter pre-delivery, be mindful of the buzzer on their wrists, master a new set of hand signals, communicate with field timing coordinators in the press box through an earpiece and microphone — and, oh, you have to call balls and strikes — and the job seems downright daunting.
Not to Moore, the former Compton Dominguez High and Compton College infielder who has faced and conquered far greater challenges and absorbed more trauma than any irate manager, player or fan could ever inflict on a baseball field.
