Fact or Fiction???

[Umpire in Chief]

As many of you know I'm all over the internet and umpiring boards all day long. One thing that I keep noticing is the comments umpires make to caoches as their ejecting them or arguing with them. I cannot imagine doing anything inflamitory towards a coach, no matter how much he deserves it. I've had a million situations when on the way home I'm thinking, I should have told that SOB ...

Examples:

Coach: That's 2 you've missed so far...

Umpire: The thirds in the parking lot go get it

Coach: Blue, youre missing a good game...

Umpire: Yeah, they assigned me here instead.

My question is do you actually say things like this or have you actually heard others say these things?

[LMSANS]

That's a fact, Jack! NOT

I, like you, would have trouble saying anything inflammatory.

I usually turn off the jabbering from the dugout. Then I turn to quote Mr. Siegel "that's enough!" In over 350 games, I've only had 3 EJ's. Maybe 2 or 3 more I should have.

My most recent EJ was a freshman that couldn't keep his mouth shut. In this case I told the player "you're gone!" and I said to the coach "Bob, you need a new first baseman..." and explained why. That is about as witty as my retorts get on the field.

[Umpire in Chief]

The wittiest I ever got with a coach was a banger at first I called the runner out. The Asst coach in the 1st base box starts with the "a tie goes to the runner" spiel (which tells me I nailed that call). I slowly walked over to the coach and quietly told him, "They changed that rule a few years ago, coach. Now the runner has to beat the ball."

He replied, "oh, I'll have to look that one up again."

I actually stole that line from a partner who does make tounge and cheek remarks, but never anything inflammatory.

[Kyle_Stevens]

The Asst coach in the 1st base box starts with the "a tie goes to the runner" spiel (which tells me I nailed that call). I slowly walked over to the coach and quietly told him, "They changed that rule a few years ago, coach. Now the runner has to beat the ball."

He replied, "oh, I'll have to look that one up again."

This is pretty clever!

[SanDiegoSteve]

Coach: That's two you've missed now! (while holding up the obligatory 2 fingers)

Me: And you won't be around to see the third, you're gone!

The coach just learned a valuable lesson, and will not show up the next umpire in such a fashion. I like to leave it a little better for the next guy. Too many umpires let coaches walk all over them, and that sets a really bad example.

Most HS coaches rarely gave me a problem, mostly because they knew from expeience that I wasn't going to put up with a lot of BS from them. There were, of course, a few slow learners out there.:)

[mstaylor]

I'm new to the board so I'm going through some old threads. I generally don't get too smart with coaches. I have told coaches on the "tie goes to the runner" statement that ties goes to the umpire and we get an out. I never say it unless things are fairly relaxed.

[Old Nr 24]

Maybe I'm just a smart-ass, but yes, I have used what I felt were some pretty clever comments for an ejection. I have also ejected players and/or coaches when they had to ask if I had ejected them, it was that low key. I think it all depends on the situation, the level of play, and how abusive a player or coach's conduct is that warranted the ejection. Sometimes we just have to make a point, and what better way than a clever comment to go along with the ejection? It's like ice cream on your pie!

But my favorite "ejection" was actually a non-ejection, and I've had the pleasure of having two in my checkered past. My true favorite was a Legion game where I completely kicked a call at second. For God's sake, the runner was lying on the bag when the tag came down, but I had a brain freeze and called him out! His coach appeared to have been launched by catapult from the dugout, steam coming from his ears as he ran toward me. As we came together I quietly said, "Hold on, Stan. I kicked it and we all know it. I don't know why, but I kicked, and we're gonna have to live with the call because if I change it the guy from the other dugout is gonna get tossed, and I don't want that." Stan stares at me and asks," What do I do now? I was ready for a good argument!" I suggest he yell at me to keep my head in the game and go sit down. Thank God, he took my advice.

[mstaylor]

Dave, I did that in a college tournament once. Tailor made 6/3 groundout and I call him safe. When I got to the mound, the manager was there. After a brief discussion he asked if I saw out and called him safe. I started leading toward his dugout, explained that was exactly what happened but we were going to have to live with it. He said OK, went to the dugout and never said another word. The fans on the other hand were relentless. :wave:

[LMSANS]

Dave, I did that in a college tournament once. Tailor made 6/3 groundout and I call him safe. When I got to the mound, the manager was there. After a brief discussion he asked if I saw out and called him safe. I started leading toward his dugout, explained that was exactly what happened but we were going to have to live with it. He said OK, went to the dugout and never said another word. The fans on the other hand were relentless.

In terms of "getting the call right", why wouldn't you reverse your call? Maybe conference with your partner, or something. Come away and call him out.:wave:

[BrianC14]

My $0.02 on:

Ejections:

I confess to not understanding what a "low-key" ejection is.

In the past, we've discussed on this (and other) forums that coaches and players eject themselves, we umpires merely provide the "when".

If a coach/player ejects himself, there should never be a doubt as to the fact that he has been ejected. I keep myself out of the gutters they are in - - if they get personal, I don't provide some clever commentary prior to the ejection, as I don't think it's necessary, nor do I find it professional. A simple " (insert coaches name here, or player's number) you're done.", and walk away.

On 'Kicked Calls':

I recently attended a DII game in which U1 was in "B". There was a banger at first, and he was straight-lined on the play; he called the B/R 'Out', to much disgust from the offensive team. In my view from the stands, (I was sitting 1B line extended), F3 never touched the bag, nor was there a swipe tag. Offensive manager asked that U1 get help... and the three umpires convened, and after 1/2 minute of discussion, the call was corrected to "Safe".

As Larry described it, U1 came away from the conference, and gave an emphatic 'Safe" signal. Now, it's the Defensive coach's turn to get his word in.... the play was described to him by U1, and he left, apparently satisfied; he never put up much of a squawk, I suspect, because the play took place right in front of his dugout. He may not have liked the reversal, but it was the right call, and the crew worked together to get it right. That's just one of those times where a crew conference was beneficial to all; after the game, I spoke to U1 (member of my HS association as well) and he said that he allowed himself to get caught in the working area, and should have taken a few steps to his left so as to avoid being straight-lined on the play (the throw to F3 was high and to F3's left/glove side).

[mstaylor]

In Brian's sitch, a conference is OK. The PU has a look at the F3 being off the bag. In my case there is absolutely no reason to get together. The F3 touched the bag, the ball beat the runner, I screwed up and called safe. In this case getting together is completely the wrong thing to do. I can't reverse myself or loose all credibility for the rest of the game. I admitted it to the manager what happened and he understood that it wouldn't be changed. It was bad but the only outcome that can happen in this situation.

[BrianC14]

In Brian's sitch, a conference is OK. The PU has a look at the F3 being off the bag. In my case there is absolutely no reason to get together. The F3 touched the bag, the ball beat the runner, I screwed up and called safe. In this case getting together is completely the wrong thing to do. I can't reverse myself or loose all credibility for the rest of the game. I admitted it to the manager what happened and he understood that it wouldn't be changed. It was bad but the only outcome that can happen in this situation.

Yep, agreed here... I've booted my share on calls that are 100% mine - - one that stands out from a Legion game last summer... ouch! R1 stealing, and I'm out of position, and all I see is "arseholes and elbows"... "OUT!" I try to sell it, but never even had myself convinced. The guy may well have been safe by a mile, but what are ya gonna do?

"Try not to suck." :)

[BT_Blue]

A couple years ago I was working the bases during a HS varsity summer ball game. Ground ball to F6 who tosses it to F4 at second and on the first for your normal 6-4-3 DP. Only problem is that the batter was three or four steps beyond first base when F3 caught the ball. I punched the kid out and immediately knew I screwed the pooch.

The DHC, who was known to be a bit of a hot head, comes out. I meet him half way and he calmly asks me "Arik, you know you kicked that call right?". I tell him "yes, I did." He quietly says to me "ok, well make sure we keep our head in the game." I tell him sure thing and he walks away.

I couldnt get mad at him cause I know I kicked it really bad.

[DonInKansas]

I had something similar during an NBC game last summer. I'm on the stick, R2. Ball hit down the 1st base line curves and kicks up a small amount of chalk. I saw the ball fair. Unfortunately, my eyes and my brain were completely lacking in communication because the next thing I knew, my hands were up and for some reason "FOUL!" came out of my mouth, followed by a muttered expletive a moment later.

The HC, who can be a bit of a hothead, comes down from the 3rd base coaching box and I know my ass is in a sling. I'm just calculating how long I should let him chew my ass before he hits the parking lot. He merely says to me, "You know why I'm here, right?" I say, "Yup, but once I call it foul, it stays foul." He tells he knows that and heads back to the box. We finish up without incident, much to my relief.

[mstaylor]

I had a manager that was a yakker. I had a double play sitch where the F4 dropped the ball on the exchange. I called the out at second and announced the ball was dropped on the exchange. The manager disagreed in sisting I had turned to first and didn't see the drop. I assured him I was on it and nothing was going to change. This is a fairly relaxed men's league and he kept worrying it. Nothing over the top but at one point he said I should be able to admit it when I make a mistake. I told him I would when I made one but I was good on this one.

A week later I have him again with me on the plate. He has a R3, one run down late in the game and there is a good D1 LHer on the mound. He came set, took his hand out of his glove, fixed his hat and pitched. I braincramped and didn't balk him. Well here comes my best friend, who asked me if I saw him take his hand out of his glove and go back in. I said yes. Then he asked if me if it didn't realize it was a balk. I said no. He says OK and went back to third.

The best argument I ever had with him and I was 100% wrong.

[MCLEOD36]

One of my favorites, pitcher batting, the pitcher twitched and didnt balk him. He threw a ball, the pitcher who was batting looked at me and goes didnt he just balk. I go yes, but a very subtle balk. I was like shoot, I missed it. The batter K's and then turns to me and goes, what is a subtle balk, is that new? I go nope, that is when a blue misses one. He smiled and goes, can I get one of those subtle ones too....

[Bob Bainter]

As many of you know I'm all over the internet and umpiring boards all day long. One thing that I keep noticing is the comments umpires make to caoches as their ejecting them or arguing with them. I cannot imagine doing anything inflamitory towards a coach, no matter how much he deserves it. I've had a million situations when on the way home I'm thinking, I should have told that SOB ...

Examples:

Coach: That's 2 you've missed so far...

Umpire: The thirds in the parking lot go get it

Coach: Blue, youre missing a good game...

Umpire: Yeah, they assigned me here instead.

My question is do you actually say things like this or have you actually heard others say these things?

Don't believe everything you hear...a lot of people "claim" some great one liners during an ejection...but war stories are just that most of the time...war stories...and the only thing they ever lead to are umpires causing more trouble than it's worth.

Not that I haven't used a bad line in my career...:crybaby2:

[arbiter22]

Coach: Blue, youre missing a good game...

Umpire: Yeah, they assigned me here instead.

That's actually pretty funny. I'm so gonna use this one. Let me make a suggestion, If a coach says, "You're missing a good game." There is a good chance he's about to leave. (It's a personal statement.)

Oh, and just my opinion saying something of this nature is not necessarily a bad thing. It's ok to put a coach in his place with a response like this... Just pick your spots.

ps I know I know some people will disagree with me. Its just my opinion.