Wait... What!?

[mjr_2013]

LL Minors, I'm on the Plate... Game is going fine other than the occasional ball the catcher takes a nap on (what else is new)... I had taken one to the cup and the pitch right after to the mask, but I was fine, teams were fine, life was fine...

We're in between the TOP and bottom of the 5th, and we are on our own time now (8:15 limit, it was 8:20)... The pitcher was getting his warm ups in, and right after the 5th pitch, I tell the catcher "balls in"... At the same time, someone behind the backstop yelled out "Come on blue, let's go!" in an aggrevated tone.

My partner, who is standing next to me in foul territory between home and first, tells me in a complete joking and sarcastic tone while grinning "Ooh, I hope that was ________ [the league president who was in attendence], or I'm gonna have to kick somebody out!"

I laugh at the joke, and start walking towards the plate... I haven't even taken a step when the HM says "You ain't kicking anybody out! It was just a mouth let's play ball!"

I look back at my partner like : and he is looking back like .... I look over and the manager is already in his dugout with his back turned so I made nothing of it, and we played the last three outs in order.

And all this happened while his team was up 11-1.

:shrug:

[johnnyg08]

Weird. Do they serve beer at these games?

[Thunderheads]

Weird. Do they serve beer at these games?

:spit:

[Welpe]

My partner, who is standing next to me in foul territory between home and first, tells me in a complete joking and sarcastic tone while grinning "Ooh, I hope that was ________ [the league president who was in attendence], or I'm gonna have to kick somebody out!"

I laugh at the joke, and start walking towards the plate... I haven't even taken a step when the HM says "You ain't kicking anybody out! It was just a mouth let's play ball!"

I'm not saying your partner was out of line or over the TOP but this does go to show we have to be careful with what we're saying out there, especially when it comes to these daddyball games. Another reason why I try to avoid coming in as a BU betwewen innings if at all possible.

That said, I do find it entertaining how coaches think they can dictate to the umpires how to run the game.

[bam]

This is exactly why umpires should stay away from each other during games.

Having said that, I'm having a discreet discussion with the coach after the game regarding field decorum, including letting him know somebody could still get kicked out at this point.

[semper_fi_72]

Who are you going to kick out and why?

Come on Blue lets go?

Sounds like someone wants to get home, No Big Deal.

You can not control anything outside the fence.

Even if vulgarity was used, you can not do anything except request a Board Member to handle something outside the fence.

Turn down your Rabbit Ears, don't talk to partners between innings and especially be careful what you say, when you say it.

[mjr_2013]

I'm annoyed by the view that umpires should stay away from each other during the game, particularily in youth leagues. Yes, you're working a job, but that doesn't mean you can't be friends with your partner... If I was to ever make umpiring my profession or my career, then sure, I will maintain the "correct" position throughout the games... But most of us are doing this as a fun way to stay involved in the game we love. And by being anti social with the one person who is your friend on the diamond, that is taking away 95% of the fun.

Think of it this way - how would it be viewed if you worked at a grocery store and refused to talk to your co workers anytime you were all on break?

There are things that can be helped by a meeting between innings - small advice, questions, establishing yourselves to everyone watching that you are a team together... There is very little that can be hurt by meetings if you conduct them appropriately.

:rantoff:

[Welpe]

Like it or not, that is the accepted protocol. Our job is to adjudicate the game and to keep it moving, not socialize. We're not bag boys at a grocery store, we're umpires.

[Replacematt]

Think of it this way - how would it be viewed if you worked at a grocery store and refused to talk to your co workers anytime you were all on break?

You're never on break as an umpire, unless there's a delay and you retire to your locker room.

There are things that can be helped by a meeting between innings - small advice, questions, establishing yourselves to everyone watching that you are a team together... There is very little that can be hurt by meetings if you conduct them appropriately.

Correct. The OP was not conducted appropriately. Socializing is generally not a good reason to get together during a game for this very reason. Getting on the same page, a discreet convo about participant behavior, etc. are valid reasons.

[NCAAump2]

Agreed with everyone else who is not a fan of coming in between half-innings. I worked the plate on a HS varsity game today (with a guy in our association who is known to be a jerk at times) who came in almost EVERY half inning because he wasn't "going to stand out there with his thumb up his ass just because the 'college guys' want you to." I just looked at him like, "really?" Depending on who I'm working with (and I'm on the bases), I'll come in once, MAYBE twice to talk about a specific play that happened a couple innings before or something like that.

When I'm working the plate, I want to be left alone (for the most part.) If I'm working with a good friend, he'll come maybe every other inning to point something out. I mean I've got things to do between innings (get baseballs if needed, count pitches, gather my thoughts, etc.)

Main point, unless I tell you otherwise, stay out in short right field where you belong.

[SanDiegoSteve]

You're never on break as an umpire, unless there's a delay and you retire to your locker room.

I need to start working at the stadiums where you work all your games so I can retire to my locker room. :shakehead:

[SanDiegoSteve]

When I'm the BU, maybe one time a game if it's a REALLY boring game. Otherwise, I'm very happy to be in short right field between innings counting pitches. On the plate I don't mind a time or two to get a brief visit, as long as it doesn't take me away from anything I need to do. But I agree that some umpires abuse the privilege.