jaybird_1981

I think I did kind of do it that way. I can't remember my exact phrase but it was along the lines of if you want to discuss it then you need to come here instead of yelling from there. This coach had problems last year I found out later where he had been ejected. I question why he is still allowed around the children. It is pretty obvious he is in it for his own glory and no the kids. Most coaches know me as a very reasonable guy. I have no problem explaining any rule that they disagree on if they go about it the right way. Thanks for the responses guys, I like hearing better ways to handle a situation!

You are right I probably did let it go one time too long and I should have ejected the assistant as well. But this isn't really a high level of play it is Little League Minors. And I actually believe the assistant was clueless and if I ejected him they really didn't have another coach so I would hate to have to call the game.

Well this was only my 3rd ejection in 14 years. (I probably should have had a couple more though). Well here is what happened. Top of the 3rd visiting team hits a ground ball down the third base line that goes over the corner of the bag. I signal fair and watch the play develop. Well after the play is over the home teams manager comes out on the field a little past third base and is yelling at me for not vocalizing the fair call. I was like coach you don't vocalize fair calls. He continues yelling so I call time and say come here and I will explain it to you and he responds with no you come here. I was a little surprised at first and figured I would give him one more shot and I say coach come here and he says no again that I have to come there. And I say don't worry about it you are gone and I eject him. It didn't end there unfortunately after taking his time to get in his truck and vacate the field I notice the assistant coach is on a cell phone in the dugout and gets off and makes a pitching change. I walk over and ask him if that was the head coach and he says yes. And I explain once you are ejected he can no longer coach in any capacity and he says he wasn't aware of that. So I said if I see a cell phone on the field again I will have to eject him as well. Have you guys ever seen anything like this before? Was I justified in my ejection?

Like I said I didn't say much until the kid starting taking the signs standing behind the mound in no semblance of a stretch position. Pretty much standing there and all he had to do was flip the ball to first. I think that is an advantage. I also think by letting them get away with the straddling nothing stops them from standing back and taking the signs from well behind the rubber and then it becomes an advantage.

I have never called it until the opposing coach mentioned it and then I would tell the other coach between innings to correct the problem. I still think it is a slight advantage however.

I think you do gain an advantage from this though. Here is my point. I let the pitcher the other night straddle the pitching plate and didn't say much but to mention it to the coach that he is supposed to be in contact when taking a sign from the catcher. Well the next pitcher came in and he was actually standing a foot behind the plate taking his sign and then stepping up to the rubber to pitch. The problem with this is he is standing there taking signs and can do anything as far as picking off the base runner. If he has to toe the rubber it makes him at least have to turn and throw. See what I am saying?

I don't understand the undo confrontation with some umpires. When I had a coach complain about the exact same ruling I simply asked him one question. When the ball hits the dirt and gets past the catcher is it a dead ball or can the runners advance? And I ask what's the difference with a HBP. They seem to always understand after this explanation.