What would you do....with this Umpire

[therefump]

Hey y'all,

Do you act like this guy? I have a fellow I work a lot of games (probably 100 a year). We do everything from Connie Mac (14+ yr) through Perky League (16 yrs to ???? (it's semipro). He's very knowledgeable about rules. He loves the game. HOWEVER, here’s the problem. The guy is going through some very very serious personal problems right now. It’s affecting his game, severely.

Last week, while doing a very competitive American Legion game his strike zone was all over the place. He’s not like that, normally. Both pitchers complained letting me hear them curse at him when in the B or C position. Quietly, I told each first base coach that I did not want to show up the pitchers but that in no certain terms was I going to allow it to continue. They concurred and it stopped for the most part…..the cursing under their breath that is. Still, the game was competitive. During the 6th inning with the score tied and the home team with runners on 2nd and 3rd with 2 outs, my partner calls a batter out on a called 3rd strike. Batter is furious. As I’m walking to get water I hear a bat and helmet thrown. It’s the batter going to his dugout. The visiting HC immediately complains to the PU. I hear the yelling and turn to see what’s going on. The PU is getting into a shouting match with the visiting HC. He’s complaining that the player needs to be ejected for throwing equipment. He goes further saying it’s not the spirit of Legion baseball (meaning, the code of conduct read before every game). My partner immediately chases after him bating him saying “what did you say, what did you say”. He went from 0 to 60 mph in no time. My partner acts like an irate coach getting in the coaches face. Worse, he slightly bumps the coach who immediately turns to me and complains. I politely pull my partner away and tell the HC I didn’t see the thrown bat but I’ll watch for it. It was ugly. I can’t throw my partner.

In the next inning the visiting HC asks me to put my name and my partners name in his scorebook. I comply and w/o looking up I tell him that I understood his argument and would be vigilant for the rest of the game. He tries to pursue the argument but I tell him to “let it go” and walk away.

Finally, we go extra innings and the home team wins it by 1 in the bottom of the 9th. Here we go again. My partner starts chirping at the HC and an argument breaks out. I have to drag him off the field. It was embarrassing.

Fortunately, the HC complains to my assignor about the situation but says I “acted very professionally given the situation”.

Well, 2 days later while we did a Connie Mac game, they started with 9 players and one left sick. We agree that they can play with 8 but when the kid’s position who left comes up it’s an automatic out. Other team gets the Commissioner on the phone and he wants the game killed. I try and stop the game (I’m BU) but my partner starts shouting with me to get back into position. I ALMOST walked off the field. We did stop the game at the end of the inning. I have refused to work with him since.

What would you do?

[yawetag]

What would you do?

The way the umpire acted is completely unprofessional. Because you do so many games with him, I'm sure you both have a close friendship. If so, talk to him. Find a night without a game and go for frosty beverages or food. Tell him what you've observed.

It looks like the guy needs to take a break from umpiring until his personal life can get straightened out. I somewhat know how he feels. Luckily, I realized it before any problems occurred on the field, and have decided to take a break until softball season starts (and maybe beyond).

If he really enjoys umpiring, and values you as a partner and friend, he'll listen to what you have to say. If he really feels it's a problem, he'll take the much-needed break.

[semper_fi_72]

If your working 100 + games a year with him you should be able to talk to him.

If he is having personal problems you can sympathize with him but remind him when he steps on the field it is like any other job, he has to leave his personal problems behind and work the game professionally.

If he can't do that he needs to take the time off until he can.

We all have bad days and periods in our life.

Don't refuse to work with him, try to help him work out the problem if you can.

We are all Brothers of the Blue.

[therefump]

Good replies so far. I should've mentioned that I did talk to him the next day before our run-in. He didn't want to hear it. That's why I decided to not work with him after he blew up at me on the field.

I talked with our assignor and we both agreed that he's carrying his problems on the field. He had a long chat with him. That's how I found out about the coach's comments about me in that Legion game. Coach said I handled the entire situation professionally.

I may start working with him shortly. He's been calling and talking about his games with me.

[tommy]

A few years back I went through a pretty bad divorce. my children were 3 & 5 years old at the time and their mom just up and left us one day. for about a year I was worthless, my partner who I work at least 100 games a year with for the past 10 years or so came to my house one night and told me he would not work with me any longer and that I should quit working all together because I was taking my frustrations out on the players and coaches. It was a huge eye opener, here's my best friend telling me he wont work with me. I asked him for one more game, I got my SH*# together and got back in to the game of life. my children are now 8 & 10 I have custody and a great new woman. my partner and I are still at it working games like we were still in our twenties, just with a lot of tylenol and 5 hour energy drinks.

If your partner is ready you can get through to him. if he is not ready for the game of life he has no business doing the game of baseball...... good luck

[Umpire in Chief]

Shoot strait with him as your friend away from the field. In the long run I'd bet he appreciates it.

[Don]

With friends like that you don't need enemies. If he does not respond to constructive criticism, that must be given, cut the tie, and your losses. Being associated with this guy by working with him will not help your games.