Umpire Ethics?

[bassfam11]

Background: I have an 18-year-old son (high school senior). He played ball thru his sophomore year and played LL, and fall baseball. During my many years of coaching I had the pleasure of seeing and coaching many kids in my area. A lot of those kids are still playing at various high schools in the area.

So I am umpiring a LL senior game and one the coaches is the father of a player I coached a few years back, his younger brother was on this team. The player I coached is playing for the district championship against a team I have umpired twice this season. Both times I had their #1 pitcher who is pitching in championship game. The father asked me what he threw and what was the best approach for having success as a hitter. I told him my thoughts but now feel that perhaps it was inappropriate.

Any thoughts?

[mstaylor]

I would say it is inappropriate. When presented with a question like this, just tell them that you can't really discuss other teams. It's not the end of the world but it's good to recognize the problem.

[Umpire in Chief]

The nerve to ask you that it's way off base it puts you in a bad position either way.

[therefump]

Any thoughts?

Way over the top. Best way to answer that is the Amnesia defense. Something similar happened about 10 years ago and that was my reply. Today, I could really get away with it but back then I had to "lie". :clap:

[Mr Umpire]

We are not scouts for other teams. If they want to know this, then they need to go to the games themselves.

It sucks that he put you in such a bad position. If anything, all I would say is he threw pretty well but that is all. Nothing more. My excuse is "I call too many games to remember anything about 1 particular game." If they persist, then I tell them "I am not in a position to give any information about a team." I try to do it nice at first and then get point blank with them if they insist.

Now, you have learned why many umpires give it up too early. We have to deal with some sticky situations and some can't handle that kind of pressure. These coaches/parents/players have no idea how hard it is sometimes to do some of the things we have to do. But, we still have to do them.

Live and learn. You will now know how to handle it if asked again. We have all made mistakes like this and thought about it later as "Maybe I shouldn't have." Well, now, you know you shouldn't have.

Edited May 30, 2009 by Mr Umpire

[bassfam11]

Thanks for the feed back. It was definitely one those, "damn, wish I didn't do that" moments :clap:

[Stan W.]

I agree with the advice you have gotten so far...and I agree 100% with Mr. umpire....It did really suck that he put you in such a bad position.

His advice to say..."If anything, all I would say is he threw pretty well but that is all" is excellent....

In the times I have been in this postition, I fall back on what I call the "Bull Durham" approach.

"You're gonna have to learn your clichés. You're gonna have to study them, you're gonna have to know them. They're your friends. Write this down: "We gotta play it one day at a time."

My comments would be .... "Have your boys swingin them bats coach", "put the ball in play and good things can happen"...."Make sure you play good fundamental baseball".....

you get the idea...I am with Mr. Umpire when they persist....then tell them "I am not in a position to give any information about a team." I also try to do it nice at first and then get point blank with them if they insist.

Dont beat yourself up on it....you live and learn.

[catoblue]

I'd be straight with him and simply tell him I can't discuss it because, as an official, that is a conflict of interest.

[treedog24]

I would of told him he throws "baseballs" and any other no commital statement you can make and his team should "come to hit."

[LMSANS]

I'd be straight with him and simply tell him I can't discuss it because, as an official, that is a conflict of interest.

I'm with Cat

[nolanadair]

I don't think that you should of told the coach any thing about the pitcher. You are there to umpire, not scout the other team. Even if you are helping your friend, you still should not divulge any information that can give the other team any kind of advantage.