Let the PU toss him??

[BrianDawn95]

Working 3rd Base in the City Championship Tourney last night. The PU has LL Regional experience and he is calling a VERY good and CONSISTENT game behind the plate. From 3rd I can tell he is calling some pitches a tad low, but he is totally consistent for the WHOLE game. Right behind me was a VERY vociferous parent leaning over the fence down the left field line. "GET IT OUT OF THE DIRT, BLUE!!!!" He would yell for everyone to hear. "NO WAY, BLUE!!! THAT WAS WAY LOW!!!!" "COME ON BLUE, THAT WAS NOT A STRIKE!!!!!"

I turned and looked at him a couple if times, as did the PU, but neither of us said anything to the parent. Honestly, if I were the PU, I would have warned the guy and RUN him before this point, but this PU said nothing. I took the tack that the PU is way more experienced than me and that he would say something when he'd had enough of the heckling.

So, should I have said something to the guy or should I have done what I did and let the PU handle it? Should I have stood up for the PU and told the guy to chill out???

Thanks,

Brian

Edited June 22, 2009 by BrianDawn95
spelling

[mstaylor]

We have no authority over the fans unless they become such a disturbance that it needs to be stopped. This is generally reserved for drunks, rude or foul speaking or personal type attacks on the participants. This ddoesn't seem to be the case here, just a parent with a big mouth. If it is a case of needing to get rid of somebody, we stop the game, put the players in the dugouts and tell the game administrators to take care of it. Do not restart the game until the situation is solved. If that means finishing another night then so be it.

This is a lengthy way of saying, don't try to cover your partner, leave it alone.

Edited June 26, 2009 by mstaylor

[Umpire in Chief]

Putting up with idiots is part of the job. I can sometimes get some amusement from listening to them now.

There have only been 2 fans which I have ever needed to address. 1 I improperly ejected in my 4th game ever before I knew we couldn't do that, but I was really bad and in way over my head. The other was a spectator who was directly behind the backstop and a relative of the home catcher. Top half of an inning a call didn't go his way. Bottom half I banged him out at home. I believe there was alcohol involved but he was just beyond obnoxious. I went to the home coach who was winning easily and asked him to take care of it. Unfortunately, I also didn't handle it too well because I let him get under my skin. I believe I told the home coach, "You're going to have to do something about that or I'm going to start sending people home." In hind sight I didn't need to make any threats.

[SNIPERBBB]

I pretty much hear all comments from the crowd as uninformed so in that context I find their comments amusing. For me, they have to be an exceptionally stupid to get dumped. I have a pretty slow fuse anyways as far as ejecting people to start with.

[BrianDawn95]

Thanks guys! The same parent was out tonight in another game. I was working second this game. Every time he yelled something while his team was in the field, I tried to make myself fart. Strangely enough, that was comforting.

[Umpire in Chief]

Thanks guys! The same parent was out tonight in another game. I was working second this game. Every time he yelled something while his team was in the field, I tried to make myself fart. Strangely enough, that was comforting.

:shakehead:

[MCLEOD36]

lol...Yes, and then you darn near killed the catcher, he ducked and you take one in the teeth.....

I just take an aspirin before the game and RELAX...

[BrianDawn95]

Oh!!! i was was just kidding!!

[rainier]

Ignore the fans until it becomes a situation where you cannot do your job. Only twice have I ever said something to a fan. Once because he was yelling obsenities at the PU from directly behind him (who was a 16yo kid and not confrontational) and the other was to a fan a few weeks ago who was talking smack to the opposing teams batters as they were hitting.

The latter guy responded with something like "in case you haven't noticed, we're at a baseball game". Mind you, we're at a 12 yo game. His coach stepped in and took care of the problem.

[SATURDAY]

If a fan becomes so obnoxious as to where I can no longer concentrate, I feel it is necessary to stop the game and resolve the issue.

I umpired a small tournament championship game and a fan was shouting at me the entire game. When his son came to the plate and he started to shout curse words. I immeadiately confronted the fan and told him I would gladly give him my umpires gear and he could umpire the rest of the game for me. Like magic he changed from a rude fan to complimenting me on what a wonderful job I was doing.

I suspect alcohol was also involved.

Normally if there are rude fans, my league president is around to take care of the issue.

Lesson: Unless fans are threatening you, shouting rude or obscene things, or alcohol is involved, try to ignore them.

[Jboval]

If a fan becomes so obnoxious as to where I can no longer concentrate, I feel it is necessary to stop the game and resolve the issue.

I umpired a small tournament championship game and a fan was shouting at me the entire game. When his son came to the plate and he started to shout curse words. I immeadiately confronted the fan and told him I would gladly give him my umpires gear and he could umpire the rest of the game for me. Like magic he changed from a rude fan to complimenting me on what a wonderful job I was doing.

I suspect alcohol was also involved.

Normally if there are rude fans, my league president is around to take care of the issue.

Lesson: Unless fans are threatening you, shouting rude or obscene things, or alcohol is involved, try to ignore them.

I have, once, said something to a fan. It was the biggest mistake I ever made, and never since have I even acknowledged a fan or his/her existence when they are upset with me. In your described situation, I would of stopped play, sent both teams to the dugout, and let the tournament director, or both managers, know that I was not going to continue the game until that fan was removed. I would never lower myself to making a smart ass comment to a fan. It lets them know that you have reached your limit, that they are under your skin, and I want them to derive no satisfaction from this knowledge.

If it is bad enough to affect you and the game, stop the game until the situation is taken care of. Don't be afraid to make that fan someone else's problem, for it is not our duty to control anything off the field, nor can we be expected to do so.