Like most well-seasoned umpires I really hate ejections and strive to improve my own management skills to the point where I am able to avoid them. But, I also know there are times you simply have to do your job and dump someone who's gone out their way to earn an early exit. Not long ago I was the plate umpire for the first game of a double header for 16U's. Just prior to the start of the game the manager of the home team approached me and, with some embarrassment, informed me he had a player on his team (#15) who was probably going to get himself ejected from the game. I looked at him in disbelief, convinced this was a joke. He assured me it was real. I asked him why this player wanted to get ejected. I was told the young man just got his driver's license and his first car and wanted to go on a date with his girlfriend. I asked the coach if he wanted the young man to stay. He told me the young man was his best player and wanted him to stay but there was nothing he could do. He also informed me the parents and the girlfriend were in the bleachers. I told the coach I would make sure he stayed on the condition that no matter what I do to this kid the coaches were to remain in their places and not interfere. He agreed. I told the opposing coach was going on and to expect some unusual exchanges between me and #15. I then told the opposing catcher to go talk with his pitcher each time #15 came to the plate.
The first time #15 came to the plate I waited till the catcher got to the pitcher and then turned to brush off the plate. I then said to the young man, "#15...you're staying here to today as long as I am." He responded, "I don't think so." The first pitch thrown to him was above his eyes and he swung and missed. I leaned into the catcher's ear and whispered, "Bring the next pitch in high again." The second pitch was at his chin level. "Strike Two!"
He turned to me in total amazement and yelled, "You thought that was a strike?" I calmly said, but loud enough for spectators to hear it, "You thought that first pitch was?" He grounded out to end the inning, still in the game.
His next at bat I got him on a called third strike 8 inches off the outside edge of the plate. "Come on, Blue! You missed that pitch!"
"I wasn't holding a bat on my shoulders. What's your excuse?"
When his team's catcher was behind the plate I asked where his girlfriend was sitting. I then went over to her and let her and the parents know I was aware of what her boyfriend was trying to do. She was a little embarrassed but admitted it was true. I told her about the promise I had made to the coach and asked her for some help. I told her that it was important to teach young men early in life that the women in their lives expect their men to keep their commitments and pointed out that her boyfriend had made a commitment to his team BEFORE he made a commitment to her and asked her if she expected him to keep his commitments. What could she say? I then told her the next time he comes to the plate he would be coming over to talk with her and asked her if she would simply tell him that if he gets himself ejected from either of the games the date was off. She smiled and agreed.
On his next at bat when the catcher went out to talk with the pitcher I told him she has some encouragement for him and he could go talk with her real quick. When he returned he looked at me with a wry smile and said, "Ok. You win. I'm staying!"
He had the winning RBI in the first game and a walk-off HR in the second. After the second game he came up to me, shook my hand, and said, "Thanks."
