shoulda, shoulda, shoulda!

[ShinySideUp]

HS Varsity two city teams - rivals. VT is known as one of "those teams," and partner reminds me that this will likely be a lively one.

Sure enough, chirping in the first, warned the bench (through VM) in the second, and EJ in the 4th. Easy one ... 1B coach came down the line screaming at me after a strike call.

Problem in the 5th ... HT batting, and batter gets just enough of a high fast one to deflect it into my mask, right at my forehead, and then over the backstop. Clearly no intent by F1, and F2 immediately asks for time "to go talk to my pitcher."

Two separate voices from the stands behind me: "Nice pitch Bob. Throw it there again" (and yes, the names are changed). They LIKE the fact that I got clocked.

No problem, they're spectators, and the HT AD is in the scoring booth if they get out of hand.

VM brings me a (different) foul ball and as he hands it to me, I say, "Jerry, your fans are pretty low to cheer after a shot like that."

Well, "jerry" goes BALLISTIC. "I don't believe this! I can't control my fans! My catcher called time so you'd have a minute to breathe, and now THIS!?!" etc. But ... he didn't say anything personal, and he walked away as soon as he started ranting.

So I let him go. Then...

he got to the dugout and kicked the cooler from one end of the dugout clear to the other end. I looked over, and he wasn't cursing or yelling, and was actually getting ready to sit down, so I let it go.

After the game, the ADs from both schools were on hand (the HT AD called the other AD when his coach got ejected), and they said they were surprised I hadn't EJed the VM when he kicked the cooler.

I figured, I set him off with my comment about the fans, and I wasn't bothered enough to halt the game and MAKE him deal with them. I just shoulda kept my mouth shut.

(Side note: my partner and both ADs said my strike zone was consistent and pretty good - that the pitches the VT was whining about were, as I called them, inside. Consistently.)

sigh. shoulda kept my mouth shut. OR, shoulda EJed VM. didn't do either.

[Mr Umpire]

sigh. shoulda kept my mouth shut. OR, shoulda EJed VM. didn't do either.

Live and learn. I probably wouldn't EJ the VM after that since it would have been my fault. So, I don't think the EJ would have been warranted by you.

And, now, you know to stick with the game and keep your comments to yourself. If there is nothing you are/can do about it, then don't even acknowledge it. Again, live and learn.