Legion HS Ejection

[mazzamouth]

Legion = Big Boys. If it's only me the batter and the catcher that hear, I'll let him off with a "that's enough" Anything more like yelling and/or making a scene, gone.

Legion is also Junior legion which has 14-16 yr old players as well.

[catoblue]

A little off topic...assignor moved me to work the plate in a 12u playoff game for a league I have never worked, saying some of the parents/coaches are a little abusive and wanted me to work the game (compliment, I guess). Early in the game R2 is sent home on a base hit and is out by a mile for 3rd out. As coach is walking back to dugout, one of his players voices his displeasure with the coaches decision to send R2. Coach says nothing about it. Same player comes into pitch later in the game and throws four pitches over F2's head and is promptly removed by same coach and moved to 2b. As new pitcher warms up, coach is standing next to F1 and I see he starts to have a discussion with his just removed second baseman, in hearing distance of BU. While F1 is completing his warm up pitches, BU yells "time!" I am thinking WTF as BU has a talk with the coach and second baseman. Coach eventually goes to dugout and the game ends an inning later. Post game I ask BU what the time out/conversation was all about and he told me when the coach pulled the previous F1 (same kid jawing at his coach for sending the runner) he told the coach to "F-OFF." When I asked him why the kid stayed in the game, he said the f bomb was directed at the coach, not the BU. Hard for me to believe (as a coach) the coach would allow that, but even harder to believe my BU allowed it.

On a side note - when BU called time (while time was already obviously out), being that it was a little strange, should I have walked out to find out what was going on?

older kids (Legion, HS, etc) I'd leave it for the coach to handle in most cases, but in this sitch, it's 12U ball... at this level, an F-bomb ends your day every time, regardless of who it's directed at.

[plateumpire29]

I've got one for you. Middle of July, toward the end of a long rainless season, 98 in the shade, and I'm on the plate in the middle of a sand trap for a 16u travel game. After an inside corner punch-out, the third batter of the game proceeds to draw a line 4 inches alongside the plate with the knob of his bat. I said "excuse me, but may I see your bat?" Looking at me quizzically, he hands me the bat. I tell him to follow me. He does so as I draw a line with his bat from the plate to the dugout. When we get to the bench, I hand him the bat and give him the big heave-ho. Now comes the coach asking what had happened. Upon learning of the transgression, the coach explained that they had traveled some 30 miles and requested that he be able to stay on the bench. I said yes, as long as he kept his mouth shut. That line to the dugout remained for the rest of the game as no one dared to erase it. Every time I looked behind me I saw somebody demonstrating what I had done and laughing like hell about it. After the game, the kid came to me and apologized. I told him, middle of May and 60 degrees, he might have gotten off with a warning, but not under those conditions. I had several parents congratulate me for not putting up with any BS.

[TX-UIC]

I've got one for you. Middle of July, toward the end of a long rainless season, 98 in the shade, and I'm on the plate in the middle of a sand trap for a 16u travel game. After an inside corner punch-out, the third batter of the game proceeds to draw a line 4 inches alongside the plate with the knob of his bat. I said "excuse me, but may I see your bat?" Looking at me quizzically, he hands me the bat. I tell him to follow me. He does so as I draw a line with his bat from the plate to the dugout. When we get to the bench, I hand him the bat and give him the big heave-ho. Now comes the coach asking what had happened. Upon learning of the transgression, the coach explained that they had traveled some 30 miles and requested that he be able to stay on the bench. I said yes, as long as he kept his mouth shut. That line to the dugout remained for the rest of the game as no one dared to erase it. Every time I looked behind me I saw somebody demonstrating what I had done and laughing like hell about it. After the game, the kid came to me and apologized. I told him, middle of May and 60 degrees, he might have gotten off with a warning, but not under those conditions. I had several parents congratulate me for not putting up with any BS.

No matter 20 degrees and snowing through 110 degrees in the sun... draw a line you almost will always be dumped 99.99% of the time. Except for one time during an Adult league 18-28 MABL game Sunday morning about 99 degrees with no wind. Batter did not like my call and drew a line. I told the catcher to have the pitcher throw it anywhere he wanted... even bounce it and he would get it. He calls a pitch-out with no one on... Strike 3! Batter looks up at me and says where was that and I told him I didn't know cause there were no lines. Batter heads back to the dugout and the catcher looks at me and say "every umpire I know would have dumped him for drawing a line". I reply "normally I would dump him but why should he get to go home when we have to stay out here in this heat. and I guarantee an 0-fer day with all strike outs for him." He just laughed and the guy went 0-4 with all strike outs.

But in HS / Legion / BR / anything else he is done!

[JaxRolo]

I've got one for you. Middle of July, toward the end of a long rainless season, 98 in the shade, and I'm on the plate in the middle of a sand trap for a 16u travel game. After an inside corner punch-out, the third batter of the game proceeds to draw a line 4 inches alongside the plate with the knob of his bat. I said "excuse me, but may I see your bat?" Looking at me quizzically, he hands me the bat. I tell him to follow me. He does so as I draw a line with his bat from the plate to the dugout.

Not to be critical of your ways but I think your asking for trouble doing that.

[mstaylor]

Not to be critical of your ways but I think your asking for trouble doing that.

You are tossing him for showing you up, but then you do the same to him. He drops a F bomb or draws a line, dump him period. Don't use language or commit an action that you would toss the player or manager for doing.

[plateumpire29]

That story has never failed to get plenty of laughs every time I've told it. The moral of the story is treat your elders with respect. I illustrated for the youngster, in a way that neither he nor anyone else who was there will soon forget, that a veteran umpire with 23 years experience is not to be trifled with by a 16 year old. He was only the second person I'd dumped all season, in a total of about 100 games. Looking for trouble? No, he was and he found it.

[spiritump]

you did the same thing that got the player run--using your logic you should of been run also--who are you to show a player up--just run him and move on

[jnazz]

you did the same thing that got the player run--using your logic you should of been run also--who are you to show a player up--just run him and move on

Agreed! Teaching lessons is walking a slippery slope. He's lucky the coach didn't jump all over him. There are a lot of "umpire hater" coaches out there that are just drooling for an umpire to pull something like this. Be very careful!

[Dragon29]

. . . Batter did not like my call and drew a line. I told the catcher to have the pitcher throw it anywhere he wanted... even bounce it and he would get it. He calls a pitch-out with no one on... Strike 3! Batter looks up at me and says where was that and I told him I didn't know cause there were no lines. Batter heads back to the dugout and the catcher looks at me and say "every umpire I know would have dumped him for drawing a line". I reply "normally I would dump him but why should he get to go home when we have to stay out here in this heat. and I guarantee an 0-fer day with all strike outs for him." He just laughed and the guy went 0-4 with all strike outs. . .

Wow! Where you are, the F-U call may be accepted; around here there's no way!

Even if there was, I'm not a believer in that kind of punitive umpiring and here's why - It calls your honesty, ability and integrity into question. You can tell whoever you like why you did what you did, and you may have great reasons, but it doesn't change the fact that you operated outside of the rules (&, I would argue, outside the spirit of the rules) in full view of at least three players who knew what you were doing.

Dump him. It's over.