Search the Community

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.