Question on something that came up

[LA ump]

I was behind the plate working a HS freshman game. This game has a mercy of of 10 runs after 5. Going into the Top of 5, I ask the home book the score. The book is being kept by a parent of one the players. She states to me that I don't need to know that, it shouldn't affect me and refuses to tell me.

I handled it by talking to the coach telling him what happened and had him tell me the score and he talked to the parent.

How would you handle this situation?

[BrianC14]

I was behind the plate working a HS freshman game. This game has a mercy of of 10 runs after 5. Going into the Top of 5, I ask the home book the score. The book is being kept by a parent of one the players. She states to me that I don't need to know that, it shouldn't affect me and refuses to tell me.

I handled it by talking to the coach telling him what happened and had him tell me the score and he talked to the parent.

How would you handle this situation?

Here's how I'd handle it:

And then like you, I'd go ask the head coach. :notworthy:

[boyinr]

Let me hazard a guess.....the home team was behind and her son was on the mound and getting shelled or in search of the strike zone? Someone was having a bad day.

I can't think of any better way than the way you did it. If the rules say the game is over after 10/5 then it is over and you need to know the score in this situation.

Edited June 5, 2010 by boyinr

[willv28]

That's funny. Was this parent in the dugout or outside? I no idea the reasoning that goes on in people's head. Apparently she's in charge... How are you supposed to know the situation you're in...

I swear my IQ gets cut in half for two days after every game.

[mstaylor]

Tell her if you didn't need to know you wouldn't have asked. :wave:

[Stan W.]

you handled it fine...........leave it to the coach to handle this petulant scorekeeper.......you might want to remind the coach that co-operation with the umpire is required by rule....... so that he can pass on to mommy/scorekeeper that her continued participation is at our pleasure......

somethings just arent worth getting yourself all worked up over............

[txump81]

:wow:"Well you being here affects me, and you need to leave":D:wave:

J/K. You handled it well.

I have never had a problem getting the score when asked. Most of the time the team that is up by 10 gives it as soon as that time is reached as they are ready to go. Or if there is a per inning limit, the defensive team is very vocal as soon as the limit is reached.

[noumpere]

Let me ask -- why do you need to know?

[semper_fi_72]

You handled it fine.

No need to even bother with someone like that.

Let HC handle it.

One thing I do is to take one of the line-ups and make a lil box score on the back.

I track the runs scored each inning there as well as trips to the mound etc.

I always find the official book before the game and introduce myself to them.

After each half inning most of them are signaling me how many runs scored with their fingers, if any and I don't even have to approach them to ask.

[Mr Umpire]

Let me ask -- why do you need to know?

OK. How will the umpire know to end the ball game? Many don't know the run rule and will continue if the umpire doesn't end the game. So, if they don't know the rule and the umpire doesn't know the score, who is going to end the game when it should be ended?

[LA ump]

Thanks for the replies Guys. She was sitting right by the dugout. It seems like each year I have something weird happen. Like Last HS game of the season last year, I had a coach and a player on his team go at it in the dugout. The other players had to restrain them both. Oh well, I guess it keeps me on my toes.

Edited June 5, 2010 by oregon ump
Spelling

[Big Red]

oregon,

Along the preventative approach mentioned by semper, here's something yawetag (Andrew) posted in another thread after I mentioned similar problems w/ "scorekeeper moms" dorking up the books. Just click on the photo to see it full size.

I'm definitely going to start using and I'm sure would help others with that aspect of game mgmt, such as you in the situation you bring up.

Again, not my idea, just passing it on...full credit to yawetag and he will e-mail it to you if you contact him:

I've always had an issue with the books at the local park, so I made my own way of keeping track. I printed small scorecards on card stock; each card is the size of a playing card.

On my indi-clicker-thingy, I use "Inning" to keep track of the runs for that half-inning. After the third out, I record the runs on my card, then zero it out.

I began using it on the high school fields, too, but only as the BU. At the plate, I use the margin of one of the lineup cards. As BU, I can use the back of the card to write down information for warnings and ejections, as well as little notes for me to remember for my journal for the game.

[noumpere]

OK. How will the umpire know to end the ball game? Many don't know the run rule and will continue if the umpire doesn't end the game.

I guess at the levels I work, everyone knows the run rule. If I work at a park without a scoreboard, then if the teams start lining up to shake hands, then I know the game is over. (And there are usually plenty of hints in the last inning -- keping (or trying to) the batter off second, defense yelling "one more out", etc.)

[Umpire in Chief]

When I want to know the score I try to ask the coach of the team which is winning.

[Rich Ives]

When I want to know the score I try to ask the coach of the team which is winning.

Knowing the score would help in knowing who to ask. :rollinglaugh:

[Dragon29]

I swear my IQ gets cut in half for two days after every game.

Really? Do you coach, or just watch your kids play for two days after every game you umpire?

Seriously, as PU on a mercy-rule game, I ask about the score between the 4th & 5th innings unless I'm sure it's fairly close, then I don't bother to ask. As BU, I never ask about the score. One of my favorite moments (typically in lower level games and usually when I'm in the field) is when a defensive player looks at me and asks, "What's the score?" I always tell them something along the lines of, "I don't know and I don't care." (OK - So, I'm easily amused)

[yawetag]

a defensive player looks at me and asks, "What's the score?" I always tell them something along the lines of, "I don't know and I don't care." (OK - So, I'm easily amused)

I keep the score and still tell them this.