No Regrets this Time.....thanks to U-E Forum

[therefump]

Hey guys (and gals),

Well, had my first league game in American Legion (school ball all but done) for the year. The league I was assigned tonight has a horrible reputation in general for umpires. I got the dish tonight.

Pre-game went well. Got the feeling that the "home" coach thought it was wasting his time. We got through it anyhow.

Home team catcher is a BIG kid, about 6'2" so my 5'8" body is almost straight up when calling balls/strikes. Worse, the catcher is almost on top of the plate and holds his glove about batter-waste-high. I'm not clearly seeing the plate. Admittedly, I'm struggling a bit with some pitches but the batters are clearly having no problem and visitors jump on them 4-0.

Second inning, coaches are now carping (one loudly) about balls/strikes as the pitcher isn't throwing first pitch strikes at all and struggling. I'm getting ready to draw a line in the sand with the coaches :crybaby2:whining about balls/strikes when their pitcher throws a very nice breaking ball that does the old over top of the belt and breaks behind the plate right into the catchers mitt about knee high. A beautiful pitch but still a ball. The howling starts. :tantrum:I call time and walk to the dugout and lay it out in no uncertain terms: Not another word on balls and strikes. I do the pregnant pause then say next time I hear anything they'll be watching from the parking lot. Pitcher walks the batter (bases loaded now). Visitor's team belts a base clearing double with next batter. I then hear the coaches complaining LOUDLY that shouldn't have happened. Then the loudmouth says "hey blue, they were your 3 runs, not ours". I call time and walk over and say "that's enough". Then the loudmouth says "sure, call strikes". I think the YOUR RUNS statement bothered me.

Stupid me, the sun is directly in my eyes and I can't see exactly who said it and tell them "OK, who said that". They suddenly get quiet. I ask my partner (he's got the other angle) and he points to loudmouth. I eject him. Sure got quiet after he left. Had to wait about 3 minutes for him to finish spouting off on his way to the parking lot but I didn't care. 3 innings or 18 I get paid.

Bottom line to this is that I remembered reading here that "we only regret those who we WISH we had ejected". AMEN. I don't like ejecting but this was worth it. :HD:I had a group of parents tell me after the game that they were very HAPPY I ejected him. He made an ass out of himself, etc. It's not his first time, etc. For the record, I was not looking for approval from the parents, friends, etc. but it did make me feel better about it. I probably would have left him in the game for another inning or so but thanks to input here it made the difference. No carping at all after the ejection until the game was over. HC came over and told me quote "you had no right to eject him, he was only giving his opinion". B)

Edited May 28, 2009 by therefump

[arbiter22]

Personally, I think you should have dumped him when he said that those runs are yours (it's a personal comment)... What you could have done because you didn't know (couldn't see) who it was is, was say, "You're done." or whatever you say and make the mechanic. One of two things will happen, the rat that said it will leave or you pick whoever you think said it. If you get the wrong one too bad so sad. Just the same, there's nothing wrong with your partner helping out. He sounds like someone that's got your back.

As for Coach King Rat telling you after the game that his coach shouldn't have been ran, I would tell him that if he doesn't want his coaches getting dumped then take control of his coaches like he should be doing.

But I would like to say good job, good ejection! Sounds like you tried to give them a couple chances to stay in the game.

[therefump]

Thanks. Yea, I'm generally too lenient and felt it hit home when whoever wrote that "regrets for not ejecting". The RAT wouldn't own up to it so I went to my partner. Yea, he definitely had my back. He thought it was funny after the fact truth be told. He's had numerous run-ins with both teams before. This was my first time with this particular league in American Legion. Anyway, I guess I made an impression.

[noumpere]

their pitcher throws a very nice breaking ball that does the old over top of the belt and breaks behind the plate right into the catchers mitt about knee high.

That's a strike.

And you waited way too long to address the situation.

[Ump Rube]

When I have had problems with chattering from a coach in the dugout and I have not been able to directly determine the offender I run the Head Coach. Typically when this happens he says he didn't say it (not that he would throw the other coach under the bus and tell me who did), and I reply that he is the only one who should be talking to me at all so he is responsible for what comes out of people's mouths in the dugout.

[LMSANS]

A couple of years ago, I had a team yelling about balks (there were none). I couldn't see who from the bench was yelling (there was more than one). I went to the HC, who was coaching first and said "If I hear any more balk calls from the dugout, you're gone." He says "me? I didn't say anything". " I can't tell who is saying it and you're the man in charge of that dugout." I didn't hear anything the rest of the game.

[catoblue]

That's a strike.

And you waited way too long to address the situation.

My thoughts exactly - just over belt high... if it's over the plate it's a strike.

LL=top of knees to armpits

OBR=midpoint (between top of pants and top of shoulders) to hollow below the kneecap (not that MLB guys call it that way)

...and yes, the issue with the coach was addressed waaaaaayyy later than it should have been.

[mstaylor]

I agree that somebody would have left on the they are your runs comment but good toss anyway. It sounds like it was faster then you have in the past but still a little late.

Edited May 29, 2009 by mstaylor

[arbiter22]

When I have had problems with chattering from a coach in the dugout and I have not been able to directly determine the offender I run the Head Coach. Typically when this happens he says he didn't say it (not that he would throw the other coach under the bus and tell me who did), and I reply that he is the only one who should be talking to me at all so he is responsible for what comes out of people's mouths in the dugout.

Agreed.

[Mr Umpire]

Regardless of it being a little late, it's a good thing you did get it.

And, as far as being a little late, the main thing you do not want to wait is this. What if the coach didn't say another word? You missed the opportunity to show him that is enough and he is not allowed to say it. Now, he thinks he can say it again with you behind the plate and you won't do anything about it. So, basically, anytime a coach uses "You" in their complaint like that then get rid of them. Don't let them get personal and you will quiet them much quicker than letting them shoot their mouth off more.

And, for those complaining about the strike zone on here, each umpire's zone is different and we should know that and know better than to say anything. For one, it is no higher than the belly button. For others, it is to the lower part of the center of the rib cage. For more still, it is just below the batter's chin. So, do not sound like the Rats who were being described in the OP. B) If you don't like his zone, then take his games and call your zone. We are here for advice, camaraderie, read stories of what happened, or help with the rules. Not judgment on something which cannot be judged on except for the one who is calling it. Your zone may not be up to par as well and no one feels like telling you that. As long as it is the same for both sides, then both better adjust. Consistency is all that can be asked for. Anything else is wishful thinking and hoping all will be the same.

[therefump]

Regardless of it being a little late, it's a good thing you did get it.

And, as far as being a little late, the main thing you do not want to wait is this. What if the coach didn't say another word? You missed the opportunity to show him that is enough and he is not allowed to say it. Now, he thinks he can say it again with you behind the plate and you won't do anything about it. So, basically, anytime a coach uses "You" in their complaint like that then get rid of them. Don't let them get personal and you will quiet them much quicker than letting them shoot their mouth off more.

And, for those complaining about the strike zone on here, each umpire's zone is different and we should know that and know better than to say anything. For one, it is no higher than the belly button. For others, it is to the lower part of the center of the rib cage. For more still, it is just below the batter's chin. So, do not sound like the Rats who were being described in the OP. B) If you don't like his zone, then take his games and call your zone. We are here for advice, camaraderie, read stories of what happened, or help with the rules. Not judgment on something which cannot be judged on except for the one who is calling it. Your zone may not be up to par as well and no one feels like telling you that. As long as it is the same for both sides, then both better adjust. Consistency is all that can be asked for. Anything else is wishful thinking and hoping all will be the same.

Thank you. Very eloquently said. I wasn't going to comment on the STRIKE since it was a HTBT. I used to be somewhat overzealous in the late 90s for tossing people (going through a divorce didn't help even though I tried to keep it out of the game:mad:) so I scaled back my tosses. Probably overcorrected. Reading this board struck home about the REGRETS for not tossing. Also, the YOU was the trigger for the toss. I took that personally and rightly so. I didn't cost them 3 or 4 runs, their pitcher did. He tossed a softball pitch to the batter and he banged it off the fence to clear the bases. That's why I had to laugh :rollinglaugh:at the coaches comment (internally) before tossing him. :agasp_:

[Mr Umpire]

Thank you. Very eloquently said. I wasn't going to comment on the STRIKE since it was a HTBT. I used to be somewhat overzealous in the late 90s for tossing people (going through a divorce didn't help even though I tried to keep it out of the game:mad:) so I scaled back my tosses. Probably overcorrected. Reading this board struck home about the REGRETS for not tossing. Also, the YOU was the trigger for the toss. I took that personally and rightly so. I didn't cost them 3 or 4 runs, their pitcher did. He tossed a softball pitch to the batter and he banged it off the fence to clear the bases. That's why I had to laugh :rollinglaugh:at the coaches comment (internally) before tossing him.

It always bothers me when other umpires say anything about another umpire's judgment. But, do not like it themselves which is what we are saying when we eject a coach for arguing a judgment call. Whether or not the rules support the ejection still says the same thing.

Well, I guess think of it this way. Every Rat is your ex-wife. Now, go get them.B)

[catoblue]

And, for those complaining about the strike zone on here, each umpire's zone is different and we should know that and know better than to say anything.

...

As long as it is the same for both sides, then both better adjust. Consistency is all that can be asked for. Anything else is wishful thinking and hoping all will be the same.

Good point - my bad.