Not an <acronym title='Eject'>EJ</acronym>, But My First Warning... as a Coach

[TNCoach]

Conference Championship Game. Bottom 3, R2, No Outs. Down 3-2. 3-4 curve balls had already had players diving out of the way only to break back across for strikes.

The PU and I have a history-- not a bad one with me mind you but he has done 4 of my games in the past 3 years. The first one was ho-hum without problems. The second one was in the conference championship game in 2010. We fell behind in that one early, came back to tie it, only to have the TOP seeded team score the "winning" run. I came out and argued and convinced him he had missed something, he and his partner changed the call, he got cussed by the TOP seeded coach and their fans, and had us come back to win in the 8th inning. The third time was this year against the same team we beat in the 2010 championship. Fans were on him before it even started. He had a player mouth and he followed him up the line to the dugout telling him to shut down the backtalk. He then got reported to our association by their former head coach who had been the coach in 2010. This was the fourth game, and that former coach we beat in the 2010 championship was keeping the book.

As I had said, there had been several curve balls start way in and break back over for strikes as players dove out of the way. I teach my players to turn slightly on the inside pitch until they recognize the pitch as a curve or fastball. Fastball you get the heck out of Dodge, curveball you wait for the break and hit and if it doesn't, attempt to pull out last second. I realize you can't always, but that is what I want them to be able to do.

This curveball was one of the big looping ones. Batter turned, ball didn't break, he pulled his back foot out toward me in the third base coaching box (he's a righty). Plunk! In the back. "Dead ball! Batter stays here! Didn't attempt to get out of the way." I jog in and say, "J----- (The umpire's name), that was another one of those curveballs that we have seen break right back over for a strike already today." He said, "I agree coach, but he has to make an attempt to get out of the way." I told him I teach my players to wait and turn back if they recognize the curve ball in case it does break back. And in this instance he even stepped toward me at third with his foot. He said, I understand that coach but it wasn't enough for him to get out of the way on a pitch that slow. Then he said, "Coach, if they do the same I am going to get them on it too." Before I turned to walk away I said, "I will hold you to that," and laughed as I turned. About 4-5 steps back toward my box he says somewhat quietly, "Oh and by the way, that's your warning." I snapped back around wondering why I was now getting a warning. He put his mask on and I hear my batter say, "That's bulls----." The mask came back off and he said, "What was that batter?" My batter repeated it and he gave him a warning as well.

Between innings as I was jogging across the field, the PU greeted me at my on-deck circle and I asked him what was the warning for. He explained why he warned my batter. I would have probably tossed or at least put my batter in the dugout if I had been him. I told him I meant the one on me. He wouldn't tell me and just said don't worry about it.

Next inning he called a strike over the head of my batter. During a pitching change during the inning, he comes to the 3B coaching box and says, "Sorry coach, I f----ing blew the H--L out of that call on D---- (My batter's name)." Between innings he came into my dugout to get some water out of our cooler and told my player the same.

Strange warning, but I guess I will never forget my first one.

[catsbackr]

Sounds like this guy may be in over his head.

FED says a player can't allow himself to be hit, not that he has to make an attempt to avoid. IMO, if the pitcher throw whatever pitch in the batter's box and it hit the batter, unless the batter leans into it, batter is going to first. Your warning should have been made during your converstation involving the HPB. Your batter should have been ejected, there is no restricting for players.

Sounds like this umpire is working the same schools too much, too.

[umpcoachfather]

Sounds like he is over reacting and should be acting more professionally. Not sure what level and age of players, but in FED the batter is getting tossed for swearing. if he is keeping your batter in the box for not moving, that's what we are told to follow and it's his judgement, If I see a heater inside, and they turn their back, they usually get first, most of the time you can tell if they are "taking one for the team" again depends on level of play. As far as ownig up to a bad pitch call, he's most likely "making up" for his decorum. Maybe, I have to know the guy. I mention the rule about moving on a HBP at the plate meeting, I've even gone as far as telling them to remind the parents, as they dont know and cause most of the problems, these are for teams who are well know to have "over zealous parents in the stands" Our association actually pushed to have the caoaches send letters home to parents informing them of some rules.