KenBAZ

KLAH316: I want to send you a quick note of support. Do what you think is right brother. Also want to mention that I felt completely supported by our common assigner on an EJ I had the other night, both on my call to report it and after filling my report. He even suggested I should have dumped the kid sooner. Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk

I recently started a new role in Business Development for Google, previously I worked for IBM. Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk

How the heck did you go 27 HS games without taking a shot? I gotta be doing something wrong... Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk

Falls: How about post game? Was he at all receptive to your constructive evaluation and encouragement? Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk

Interesting, even if B1 has time to get out of the way he doesn't have to move? Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk

I work for 4 assigners plus the AIA. One I've worked for the longest so I will block out tournament weekends for. Another has the most games by far, schedules weeks ahead and just asks I keep my Arbiter up to date. A third just has a men's league that I work Sunday nights. The fourth gets my availability each week and just uses me when he needs coverage. During the HS season I could work those games 5 days a week. Right now I'm working about 12-15 games a week. I just try to be up front with everyone and try to represent all my assigners well. Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk

Just honoring a multi-generational tradition of vociferous support for the Old Towne Team. Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk

9.01C? A bit of a cop out I know but I'm trying to get help from the board on what can be a safety issue. Thanks Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk

Guys: Under OBR, warn the coach the first time a kid tosses a bat then eject if he does it again in the same game? I had a kid a couple of weeks ago hit me in the shins his 1st AB then hit F2 in the throat his 3rd AB. Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk

Why do you think she is SWMBO? Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk

KLAH: How are you holding up buddy? I'm not sure how we haven't been assigned together yet. My game count for 2014 is already well north of 100. I changed hours at work so I had to turn back some HS games. The void gets filled with multiple youth games starting later. My SWMBO is not too happy with me. With the year round baseball we have here we have to be careful not to get too much of a good thing. Also, as you point out we are getting to a time of year were 12-15 games a week are dangerous from a dehydration perspective. Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk

Clients who must follow the rules. So are you suggesting I take the "Roadhouse" approach? Be nice until it's time not to be nice?

In the situation I had, F2's spiking of the ball was clearly in anger and frustration at himself and not after a dispute of a call. His HC responded to my request that he speak to the player and try and get him under control. In your situation such blatant disrespect for you from F2 and his coach deserved the action you took in my view.

To be fair my 30 years only represented ~300 games of umpiring between ejections. KLAH316 and I will be working together at some point and I'm sure we'll keep in mind our assigners' words that baseball here in AZ is a business and that the coaches, kids and parents are our, (and his), clients. As a coach for a long time I saw how much things had changed for umpires since I was a kid umpiring 30 years ago. However KLAH316's EJ here highlights one area where things have moved toward more ejections. If he didn't run R3 after contact like this both sides and the site supervisor would have wanted him replaced. The safety issue involved trumps any desire to keep a kid in the game.

Mom was toughest on the kid. Their fans and players didn't say a thing about it. I think they were a little amazed and embarrassed for the kid. Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk

Thanks for the feedback LRZ. I'm in AZ, working for 3 different assigners and the AIA. I went to my partner while the OC was checking on the hitter who got plunked with F2's throw. I doubt anyone else noticed. Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk

Guys: I had not umped much for a 25 year stretch while I was coaching so I can't even remember my last EJ. However the past 18 months I've been back at it hot and heavy. My 2014 game count is up to 76 games. !0U Tournament ball, (I know, I know), catcher just lost his mind. DT is getting whacked, he makes an error and just spikes the ball in anger with a runner on base. I told him to knock it off then told HC that he needed to have a "conversation" with the kid and that I'd like to keep him in the game. Coach requests a DC and chews F2 out about his behavior. Next play R2 attempts steal of 3rd. Catcher fires toward 3rd and nails the batter in the shoulder with a throw. The hitter had not moved in the box so I had nothing. I was concerned however and asked my partner if he thought F2 had hit the batter on purpose. My partner told me he didn't believe it was done intentionally. Two plays later, after a couple more errors, F2 loses his temper again and slams his helmet down. I simply said, "Coach, bring me another catcher". A shouting match ensued in the dugout between the kid and his coaching staff. Later the HC informed me he was in complete agreement with the EJ. F2 was his son and he said it took great restraint for him to resist kicking the kids' butt right then. The kid ejected himself but I am concerned that I should have done it sooner. My partner said he would have tossed the kid after he spiked the ball. While I'm not sure he hit the batter on purpose with his throw to 3rd, he was clearly not in control of himself and someone could have been hurt.

I had a MYTAB last weekend in a blowout 12U game. OT was working it's way through the order a 2nd time and a kid missed his turn. We were just happy to get an out. The game ended like 29-1. Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk

Welcome, read and learn then try and put it all together during your games. If you are working with a partner be sure to let them know you are trying to learn and improve. It's great to have another view of your work and most are willing to help. Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk

Worked a HS Freshman game where a couple of times I heard the visitors' bench telling me to "come on" using my last name. I couldn't believe it. I'm looking in the dugout trying to figure out who to toss. I have a fairly uncommon last name. Finally, "Time, (to the batter), kid what's your name?" Derek - "No, your last name." Sure enough, we shared the same last name. Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk

Sorry, bragging about our great winter weather and baseball facilities. Talk to me in July when I'm just trying to survive a game without heat stroke.:-) Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk

First week? Tomorrow will be my 60th game of the year and HS ball hasn't started yet. Gotta love the baseball mecca Arizona!

Guys: I thought it appropriate to introduce myself. I've been reading this forum for the past year or so but have only posted a couple of times. I started umpiring when I was a kid a long time ago. I grew up on Cape Cod in a multi-generational baseball family. After undergrad I started coaching baseball and other sports at the youth level. I umpired a few games here and there, mostly when there was no one else to do it, but didn't do much umpiring for about 25 years while I was coaching. My son and his club ball teammates are in college or have graduated so I started working again 18 months ago. I worked 106 games in 2013 and should do about twice that many in 2014. I'm working very hard to be the best umpire possible, studying daily and this forum is a big part of my education. Thank you to everyone that has already helped me get things right and keep games moving smoothly. I look forward to continuing to learn from everyone.

Man, am I jealous! Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk

Got a HS "Club Ball" game tomorrow at noon. Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk