Strange arguement

[Umpire in Chief]

I had a very strange "argument" in a game tonight.

Sit:

Visitors at bat R1, 1 out.

R1 was an easy out at 2nd, the BR was closer and it was close but not what I would call a banger. I gave it a moderate sell, then go off to inspect the grass in shallow right center field.

I noticed the visiting coach coming out to me so I walked out to meet him.

He is calmly disputing the call at first. He starts out by saying, "Warren, you're a good umpire..." Well I know I'm getting buttered up for something.He continues, "and I know my team is playing worse than $h1t, but my guy was safe by at least a step. I saw you had a good angle and position, but so did I..."

I said, "I appreciate it, but I had him out and I'm very confident in my call, which which I assure you has nothing to do with the way your guys are playing."

He continues, saying how bad his team is and how he'd love to be tossed and he said it several times. After the third time or so I tell him I'm not going to toss him.

He goes on for a moment and concludes with "I really appreciate you and your partner being out here, ya'll do a great job and work hard so keep it up." as he walks away.

I was left pretty confused, I didn't know if these were true compliments, backhanded compliments or if he was hoping to be tossed by suggesting it so much. He didn't put up much of an argument about the out. Maybe he was trying to rally his team and just wanted to be seen going out to confront me, but it was confusing.

[SanDiegoSteve]

• He probably knew you got the call right
  
• He wanted to get ran to fire up his team
  
• He realized that wasn't going to happen, so at least he looked like he was fighting for his team
  
• You helped him out and did a good deed
  

[yawetag]

I'd find it difficult to eject a coach for telling the truth. :D

[TNCoach]

Probably a ploy to get the team fired up. I have requested a technical in basketball before.

[Mike Prince]

One of my dings on a HS evaluation last season was that I had a coach come to me exactly in this type of scenario and I took a few steps towards him to meet him as he came out and got my attention. I was told I should make him come to me if I am where I am supposed to be already.

In any case, mine came out a bit differently as he wanted to get run but he wasn't too convincing and I only restricted him to the dugout . Once I restricted him the offense was throwing it down and I was hustling to to "A" with a "conversation's over coach", and he had little choice but to take his restriction to the third base dugout and watch from there.

Really have to wonder what some coaches' thought process is when they come out like that.

[Rich Ives]

Really have to wonder what some coaches' thought process is when they come out like that.

Go back and read bullet 2 in Steve's post and TN's post.

[Mike Prince]

Really have to wonder what some coaches' thought process is when they come out like that.

Go back and read bullet 2 in Steve's post and TN's post.

Thanks Rich, I don't know what I would do without you...:)

[bam]

I've played on a couple pretty good ball teams and whenever our coach tried to get himself thrown out to "fire the team up" we knew we were toast. I've never really understood that particular coaching tactic.

[cyclonehokiece]

Just like the line "I am protecting my player," when he really isn't arguing, but making it kinda look like it. I do give a little more credence to this, especially if he tells knucklehead player to go back to bench/position/where he should be, but not much.

[crazyaboutcoues]

At a FED State championship game two years ago I had a banger at 3rd base. The coach yells from the dugout "you gotta be kiding me" he calls time and stomps his way to third base. When he gets to me he tells me Mr. umpire you made the right call, i'm just here to get my team going. He asked me how I was enjoying the tournament and where I was from, after a quick conversation he throws his hands up in the air and walked back to his dugout shaking his head. They ended up winning the state championship.

guess it worked for him...

[Rich Ives]

Really have to wonder what some coaches' thought process is when they come out like that.

Go back and read bullet 2 in Steve's post and TN's post.

Thanks Rich, I don't know what I would do without you...

So why did you muse about it?

[Mike Prince]

So why did you muse about it?

I suppose that I had the crazy idea that it was actually possible there may be additional anecdotal evidence over what had already been posted (actually TN posted while I was responding). I typed that statement thinking just maybe it might provoke additional conversation that would add value to the thread (vs. unnecessary sniping).

I hope that answers your question Rich.

Others - sorry for the interruption.

[kylejt]

At our local LL park, a year after a coach went 38-0 with his regular season team, and took the All Star team to third in the world, his next team was not so hot. After dropping 5 straight, he came out to me on the bases, on a close call. He got nearly nose to nose, then started scooting dirt over my shoes with his foot.

"Kyle, what's is going to take for you to throw me out of this game?"

"Marty, if I have to stay for this $#/+, so do you. Off you go."

He then turned, and trudged back to the dugout. (None of the colorful language was said out of local earshot)

[KLAH316]

He got nearly nose to nose, then started scooting dirt over my shoes with his foot.

Not sure I would have let him stay for this.... even if it was an act to get tossed!!

It would appear to others that as the umpire you were spineless to react. - We know that's not true though!

[Pops]

In a youth game a couple of years ago, I had a 14 year old who was having a bad game come up to me and say, "I can't stand my dad's mouth any more...can you toss me out of the game?" I told him to do the best he could and didn't toss him. Even 14 year olds can act that way under pressure. By the way, he doubled his next AB.