Mudisfun

First, I would have ejected the player at the 1st instance where it was more than under his breath. When he went to the getting the bench into it, the coach should have been warned to control his bench/players. If it continued, then the coach should be ejected. He is responsible for the conduct of his team, period.

Welcome to JV and below HS baseball in So Cal... And we wonder why we lose new guys at a high rate between years 1-3. No on field training/feedback from experienced partners so they reenforce bad habits or make new ones.

I just did a quick search and the number of 10 years old kids who have shot someone is mind boggling. Yes, this child appears to have emotional issues, and good job on the EJ and subsequent report. Sadly, the organized league which probably is a great thing mentally for this kid, is now going to be the group that is forced to punish him for his actions (rightfully so). I wonder if this child is receiving mental help which it seems he desperately requires? I really do not know how I would react to a 10yo threatening me in such a manner.

My go to... "the older I get, the better I was".

Yes, it was as the WR several years back. No need to throw anyone specifically under the bus. I did what he wanted while there and then ignored it when I went home.

Was at a clinic a few years back with an instructor from Nor Cal. Working inside, ball hit to F4 as R1 was running in the vicinity. I signaled and verbally indicated 'that's nothing' and was told chastised for using this mechanic. All of the So Cal people were confused as we all use it and are expected to use it... so I think this may be a regional thing.

Coaches shut up, player shut up, no one got ejected... Wreck ball or Travel ball... sounds like mission accomplished to me.

Based on the uniform you just described, the ball will be yellow anyhow 🤣

Missed you Steve. Happy to hear that things have brightened up for you after the sad passing of your wife and congratulations on your engagement! I'm thrilled to hear that things are going well for you.

Just for you @MadMax

If any of the 3 actually put in an effort, I would have called it. All 3 stopping, staring at each other and not attempting to play the ball? That does not sound like ordinary effort.

Had a potential for 2 this weekend... called the first one, and for the 2nd one, high pop fly between F1 and F4 with 3 fielders converging... all 3 stopped and basically said, 'no, you catch it!' as the ball fell untouched, 10' away from each player. Didn't call IFF since all of them stopped playing the ball. Opps...

Double posted

So what makes this whole thing more ironic? I was scheduled for the plate between 2 D1 schools, but having been fighting a serious head cold, I asked to be replaced the day prior as I just straight felt like crap. Sadly, we had ZERO available umpires on that day, so I than asked if there was any other ranked D1 guys working a lower level game I could swap out with them, which yes, there happened to be one, so we swapped. I should have just stayed where I was and sucked it up for the varsity game. I agree with your sentiment, but if you chose to do HS baseball in Orange County, you do so with the understanding that sub-varsity games will be solo. If you do not agree to those terms then don't agree to do HS. This is the 1st solo and only solo game I will work this season, and only because I swapped out of my 2 man assignment. Does that make it right, or better? No, of course not, but that is the reality. As a group, ALL the umpires in CIF So Cal Southern Section need to band together with CBUA to get better working conditions. Each individual unit is not in a position to negotiate anything with CIF directly. Most of the freshman and JV teams in the area have 1 coach only, and most often, they are walk-ons. Many of the varsity teams have walk-on, non-school employee HC's as well, although they typically have a couple AC's. The schools are required to have an admin available, but they are not required to be standing at the field all game. At the same time as my game, there was a JV Baseball game happening on the varsity field, a swim meet happening, 2 girls softball games and who knows what else. We have been instructed that the HC is NOT the administrator, nor are they expected to be responsible for the fans outside the fence. My directly addressing the fans who were starting to get stupid, I transgressed the direction we have been given by CIF this year that we are NOT to engage with the fans outside the fence. However, based on what was happening, I chose to admonish them which simmered it down long enough for the school to deal with it.

I took the opportunity to teach the freshmen players that they could be ejected for exiting the dugout as none of them had moved past a step or two. If they had not immediately complied, then yes, I would have dumped them all. The only coach was in the coaches box at 3rd, so there was no adult presence there to keep them wrangled either. Since none of them did anything further, I decided not to eject them.

Freshman level game. R1/R2 and I am working solo. As I turned towards the plate to sweep it, I hear a commotion coming from the 2nd base area, turn around and see R2 and the SS finishing a shove and squaring up. Immediately I'm running towards the scuffle, shouting to knock it off, break it up, etc. Both HC's (3rd base coach) and HTHC (on the 3rd base side) come running out on to the field as well to break it up. Eject both players for engaging in a fight 3-3-1 p&q. Turning towards the plate, I see players from the VT out of the dugout, which a loud get back in there or you are all ejected culls the sheep and they all immediately get back inside (no one was running out on to the field, they had just exited the dugout). I get the replacement player info from the VT (R2) and then head over to the HTHC to get the replacement for his SS when I then observe several adult males outside the fence on the home team side yelling at and attempting to engage/instigate with the VT side of the fence. Tell the HTHC to call an admin now, which he does. Spoke to the AD via phone who was off site, explained the situation and he quickly got someone from admin out to the field to quell the crowds. I may have also told them all that if they did not immediately stop the behavior that I would clear the stands and they would all be going to the parking lot. By the time the EJ paperwork was done, there was an admin on site and we resumed the game with no further issues. Did I mention freshman level? Ugg.

In my neck O the woods, JV ball is typically solo, unless it is one of the Trinity (private) schools who run 2 man for JV. In the event I were to have a partner on what would typically be a solo game, I would include the verbiage since I know for a fact that the coaches are not going to have a clue on who to approach. Just from muscle memory, they would go to the plate guy or gal since that is typically all they have. Also do it for youth ball where the coaches are typically volunteers and may not really understand. Varsity or other levels where they use to 2 or more? No, not getting into that speech.

This made me chuckle. First time working a game at Anaheim Stadium. It is a HS game after all, so there are 200-300 people there, max. I keep hearing this LOUD ringing and cannot for the life of me figure out what it was until I noticed a blinking light in the pen matched to the ringing. Realized real quick that when you thrown 20k-35k people in a building it gets REALLY loud but with only a couple hundred people, that stadium is really empty. Fun times.

F2 jumps in my field of view last second and completely blocks me out? Unless I 100% have a swing by the batter, "ball!, no he didn't go." However, as described, F2 stood up while F1 was in the process of delivering the ball. It doesn't happen often, but you should have had a little time to adjust. Stand up, duck deep into the slot, something to see the pitch, or at a minimum, see the glove and call the glove. That being said... Now you have a play happening... which may be ball 4 and bases loaded, or on the off chance R2 over slid can came off the bag and was tagged, you have the end of the inning. Your partner made an out call. You asked him if he saw a tag and he said no... did he change his call? If not, you have the 3rd out. If he did and is about to reverse himself, you then asked if he had a check swing. He says yes, you get strike 3 and the 3rd out. He says no, or I didn't see it, then you have bases loaded, 2 outs, a pissed off defensive team and something to post game in the parking lot.

This would be the one time that old, well over used old wives tail about the umpire who sits in the stands to call balls and strikes because the fans think they have a better view would actually come into use! I would 100% be behind that fence... let you and the players be the bait!

As @Velho posted from the RIM, yes, in LL a pitcher may faint to 3rd and not throw. They can also perform the 3/1 move (like NFHS) which is not allowed in other programs which follow MLB rules.

The umpire needs to decide quickly how he wants the game to proceed during a dead ball situation. Allow the players to come outside the dugout, staying away from home plate and let them cheer and high five as the batter scores and heads to the dugout, you know, like players who are celebrating a HR, or... Be an over officious umpire who is going to introduce friction where it did not need to be introduced, thus making the crews task of game management that much more difficult. Provided that the offensive players were not gathering around the home plate area, are being respectful of the other team (no taunting or other action), are not bringing props out and immediately go back into the dugout area with the batter, there should not be anything for the umpire to address. If he thinks it getting close to or on the line, a quick word with the HC should suffice. If after that the celebrations continue to be over the top, then that opens the door to addressing the matter more 'officially'. My preference is to address what needs to be addressed and not escalate situations when there is nothing to actually address.

Coach, this is your team warning for unsportsmanlike comments. If it continues, you will be restricted to the dugout for the remainder of the game and the player(s) engaging in unsportsmanlike conduct will be ejected. Further instances, you will be ejected. Dump the next smartass who makes a comment or directs a rude gesture towards you. You are solo and have absolutely no reason to take any crap from the bench monkeys.