blue23ll

I know where the discussion is going to go, I don't need to ask them. If they have stopped their rant/asked their question, they don't get anymore time. I use, 'do you want to know what I saw?', if they say yes, I tell them, if they say no, I walk away. I'm always walking away it seems. What if you ask, " Are you done?, "Is that it?", "anything else"? and they say, " As a matter of fact, ....and continue their rant", what do you do then? We always want to be ENDING a discussion, not prolonging it.

Just my 2 cents on this. 1) I don't ever ask, 'are you done?", if the coach has stopped talking, then they are done. This question might fire them up again. 2) Tell the coach what you saw, appreciate his viewpoint, and then move on.

I'm not much concerned about someone liking me, and respect is earned. I have said to a coach, " the runner may have looked (out or safe) from where you were, but from my angle he looked (out or safe)". In some cases, the coach may have had a better view then I did.

In most rule sets, the HC/Manager is the representative of the team, and as such, they are the ones we discuss issues with. In FED ball, the HC must be present(with a few exceptions) at the pre-game meeting. Now, from a pure game management perspective, are we going to let everyone have a chat with us? First, we talk to the AC, he has his say, then we talk to the OTHER AC, and then the HC.....you get my point. Our goal is to keep the game moving, not have a debate on the field with anyone who is interested in participation.

Great discussion here, and about something that rarely even gets a passing mention in clinics or training situations. We are told to be approachable, not escalate an argument and don't look like the aggressor. For new guys, that can be a difficult set of requirements. A couple of things tend to work against us, particularly when we are inexperienced. The first one is pure adrenaline. If anyone else is like I was, the adrenaline started the night before, with a fitful sleep. Particularly if I was working the dish that day, everyone around me knew to avoid me. I was on the edge of pure aggression before the game started, I had the NO ONE was going to get away with ANYTHING attitude, and I ejected a few really quickly. Of course, I made lots of bad calls, we all do when we are just starting out. So as we gain more experience and confidence, that aggression turns to confidence, hopefully. I still have the butterflies before every plate game, and that is pressure I put on myself, it's not aggression directed toward anyone else. Several keys to handling discussions: 1) Let the coach talk. I don't say a word until the coach is done, or gets repetitive. I once had a coach come out, rant for a while, get a blank look on his face ( I think he forgot why he came out) and then just head back to the bench. If they are just ranting, when they stop for a breath, I ask them, "Do you want to know what I saw?" I tell them ONCE, what I saw. I may (rarely though) ask them "What did YOU see, coach?"...you would be surprised how many times they don't even SEE the play. Then I say, "Okay, let's play", and I move away from them. 2) If they want an explanation of a rule interpretation, I will give them that, ONE time. Then I say, "Okay, let's play", and I move away from them. 3) Now, once we get to step 3, I am done talking, and the coach is treading on thin ice. He knows I am done, and it is his choice to continue to talk to me. I'm not interested in his opinion, nor am I concerned about his understanding of the ruling. I want to get the game going again. IF he continues to pester me, I will say loudly and firmly, "That's enough coach(First name), we are done, Let's play". 4) At step 4, the coach is done for the day...play on.

Umpiring is not a debate, nor do you have to be concerned about impressing anyone with your vocabulary or ability to verbally joust with coaches. In this situation, you made a judgement call, it wasn't going to change, so there is no reason to even entertain a discussion with anyone. There is no reason to 'talk' about the call, you aren't going to get help, there is no help to get. A better response to the coach, when he asked if he could "talk" about the call would have been, "No, coach, let's play". If he continues to delay the game, then you have to deal with that. Keep your emotions out of the game, as best you can. One of the best pieces of advice regarding talking to coaches was to keep your statements to 4 words or less, if possible.

See what happens when you answer your phone, we have VM for a very good reason.

What is middle school varsity? But I digress. I stopped verbalizing IFF when I worked the Mens Senior Baseball 70+ league, most of those old buzzards were deaf.

I think the best game I ever worked was a LL JR game, as I recall it was in the Divisional tourny, one team breezed through the brackets undefeated vs. a team that had lost once before. If the undefeated team won, they would be getting on the bus traveling to the Western Regional. Of course, the game is a nail biter, AND it goes 14 innings. The undefeated team LOST, so now its 8 pm and we need to play another game. I quickly change into my plate gear, I have the dish. While I am changing the DA is on the phone, they are debating do we start and not be able to finish or just play the game tomorrow morning? They decide to play the game in the morning, with the winning team traveling at games end. Great memories (yes, there are lots of those).

I think he stopped reading right after "Baseball is a game..."

Think of it this way. Why leave a runner in scoring position? The offense committed an illegal act, so the most punitive action must be taken, runner closes to home is out! AND no other runners are allowed to advance. I bet they won't be picking up a live ball anytime soon.

I had an old plastic indicator, I dropped it in the dirt and it got all messed up. So when I got home I smacked it twice with a hammer, and threw it in the trash. Picked up new one out of my collection, no problem.

I have noticed on some black mask pads that the black coloring comes off. I have always bought tan for this reason. Do the TW's have problems with the black color coming off?

I have used the UE all season, and finally got hit this weekend (senior babe ruth game), F2 expecting curve, F1 throws fastball. F2 never touches ball, about an 80mph fastball to the CP. Had I been wearing my west vest, it would have sounded like a gun shot. This sounded like a low thud, felt just a little pressure from the impact, which sort of threw me off balance. No pain or mark or bruising. I think I will be getting the team wendy mask pads though, I have been hit more on the mask this season then I can remember in a long time. I think the UE is deflecting pitches upwards into my face...damn thing. Took another face shot on Saturday, jaw is sore today still.

Even in 60' mechanics you will still need to pivot into the infield on balls hit the outfield. Remember, ball in the infield, you stay out, balls to the outfield, you come inside the diamond. I'm not completely sure, but I believe mustang may be 65 ft bases, and because of the lead offs and stealing I would work inside the diamond. It feels weird when you are used to 90 ft games, though.

Remember a FORCE play FORCES the runners to leave their bases due to action by the batter. On a fly ball, no one is forced to leave their base, they do it voluntarily.

I had a coach this weekend try to tell me that because the out at 1b was a swipe tag that the run from 3rd should have counted.

3b coach must be an umpire

Sure coach, you can kick dirt on me. But then I get to do a 'cup check' on you with my plate shoes...fair enough?

So a batter can wait till the pitch is in the glove, and then look and find the glove and swing to hit the glove and get the CI/CO call? I don't think so, coach.

Do you always call the interference if you see it? Yes

I agree that this is something that should and could be handled by the players. It's not obstruction, just because the F6 passed in front of the runner at second. In my playing days, that F6 would be lying in a heap on the ground, and if he's able to walk, he might get drilled in his next at bat. There really is no purpose for this tactic, other than to irritate and torment the runner.

You don't charge a conference, because it's NOT a conference. A coach doesn't CALL time out, he asks for it, we grant it. I would probably do it once, and then if I am asked again I will say, 'just give the signs coach'.

I umpired HS softball for a few years and never once did I ever clean a pitcher's plate or a base, nor do I recall a partner of mine ever doing it. I think this is a ASA hang up. I am sure they keep the ASA officials here can answer that.

To me, and this is JUST me, the GD system provided the most comfortable stance. I'm not sure relaxing is the best way to describe it though. MSTAYLOR, thanks for posting your scissor pictures. I am not a fan of the scissors, but if it works for you, that's all that matters. It seems to me that you are setting up further away from the catcher than I am used to seeing a scissor guy work. You are back where us Davis guys set up.