UGGH...

[mjr_2013]

First LL Majors game I have worked on the plate this year... 1st place team v. 2nd place team... Everything is fine and dandy (a few whines and moans from the peanut gallery, but nothing out of the ordinary) until the TOP of the 6th (last) inning.

AT is up 4-1... 1 out, R3, hopper to the pitcher... R3 runs towards home and F1 throws it home... F2 runs up the 3BL to tag the runner and does so somewhat aggressively... R3 tries to get around the F2, and he keeps pushing the tag on him... Everyone starts yelling from "He has to slide!" to "What is with the tag?". I can tell both R3 and F2 are PO'd at each other, so I get in between them and tell the R3 to go to his dugout.

R3 does so, and I call time, warning both teams to watch the sportsmanship.

Now the AM runs to me, asking what the result of the play was (I had announced it, but it was probably drowned out by yelling and forgotten by the warnings)

Me: Runner is out.

AM: Why?!

Me: He tagged him.

AM: Ok. That's all I wanted to hear.

My mind:

Very next batter... The DT begins intentionally walking him... For reasons apparent to no one, R1 steals on ball 2... They nail him out at 2nd for the 3rd out and R1 starts throwing a miny fit, setting his helmet on the ground and kicking it a little bit at a time... I tell AM that he needs to control his player and he does (kind of)... The AM starts throwing a hissy fit in the dugout about how this is the most disgusting game he has seen all year (keep in mind he is winning 4-1 and needs 3 outs to end the game)... I ask for "someone to come warm up the pitcher". The catcher was the one who was out at 2nd... He responds "No, it's a little league rule that we're not supposed to." when we've been nice enough to allow coaches to warm up his pitcher all game. I tell him, "Have a player on the bench do it."... He says, "no".

I'm getting pissed now, and I walk over and tell him so that only me and him can hear, "You need to calm down now or you're gone."... He relaxes a bit, the three outs come in order, and I get the hell out of there before anyone could even think the word "Blue".

UGGH.

1) Did I handle this well?

2) Should I have made any ejections?

3) Any similar stories?

--A bright spot from the game--

My UIC was evaluating me, and he said he had nothing but complements (good voice, consistent zone, etc.)... He also said he would like me to work some Juniors games this summer when he originally hadn't planned on having any sub-18 year olds work the summer. :D :D

[KLAH316]

Sounds like you controlled the situation well.....

However, as the Umpire you should never encourage coaches to disregard Specific LL Rules (Coaches warming up pitchers). Local rules also can not override the "Green Book". In that case, once the catcher comes out - "Throw it down". Play Ball!

[The Adjudicator]

Sounds like your game management was fine, I'm with KLAH about coaches not warming up pitchers. It's against the rules do not allow it.

To elaborate I read a story many years ago about a dad warming up his son between innings, pitch hit the front edge of plate as dad turned his head to avoid and took it to the side of the head. Passed away that evening. Since I read that article I have never allowed a coach to warm up a pitcher on my watch.

[cyclonehokiece]

If you were to toss anyone, it would of probably been the AM. However, I am perfectly ok with how you handled it. I had a similar hard tag today, however, a coach couldn't hold his tounge so that story is in the EJ section.

[mjr_2013]

Sounds like you controlled the situation well.....

However, as the Umpire you should never encourage coaches to disregard Specific LL Rules (Coaches warming up pitchers). Local rules also can not override the "Green Book". In that case, once the catcher comes out - "Throw it down". Play Ball!

I didn't encourage it. It was more that me, my partner, and all league umps have ignored the rule through the season... I know we shouldn't, but it gets the game moving along and 2 or 3 pitches don't hurt anyone. I'm not proud of it, I just feel that I need to pick my battles - the stuff that the whole league has cracked down on that I know other umps aren't enforcing (including thrown bats, jewelry, swinging bats before their at bat).

When he remarked that coaches couldn't warm up pitchers, I told him to have a kid who was on the bench do it, which is legal.

[mjr_2013]

If you were to toss anyone, it would of probably been the AM. However, I am perfectly ok with how you handled it. I had a similar hard tag today, however, a coach couldn't hold his tounge so that story is in the EJ section.

AM = Away Manager, not assistant... Sorry, should have specified.

[mjr_2013]

Sounds like you controlled the situation well.....

However, as the Umpire you should never encourage coaches to disregard Specific LL Rules (Coaches warming up pitchers). Local rules also can not override the "Green Book". In that case, once the catcher comes out - "Throw it down". Play Ball!

I didn't encourage it. It was more that me, my partner, and all league umps have ignored the rule through the season... I know we shouldn't, but it gets the game moving along and 2 or 3 pitches don't hurt anyone. I'm not proud of it, I just feel that I need to pick my battles - the stuff that the whole league has cracked down on that I know other umps aren't enforcing (including thrown bats, jewelry, swinging bats before their at bat).

When he remarked that coaches couldn't warm up pitchers, I told him to have a kid who was on the bench do it, which is legal.

Forgot to mention in the OP, when the F2 did come out, I told him balls in pretty quickly.. . He stared at me then took another before calling balls in, just to try and annoy me.

Immaturity runs from the coaches down apparently!

[johnnyg08]

One anecdotal story doesn't make warming up pitchers unsafe. Yes, the story, is sad, sad, sad nobody would disagree with that.

HOWEVER, if a coach states something about the rules, don't then encourage him to break the rules.

[sdix00]

Notes on warming up pitchers in LL.

1. While there are unfortunate instances where adults are injured, the root the rule is not safety, it is player participation. As in, why allow an adult to warm up a pitcher while one of the kids rides the pine? LL is for kids. LL used to require a player in the coaches box for the same reason. LL also does not allow the opposing team's catcher to warm up a pitcher for the same reasons (don't ask me if I enforce this). Get the bench players involved in the game.

2. Pitchers do not take "warm-up" pitches between innings. They are already warmed up. Rather, pitchers take "prepatory" pitches in order to reacquaint with the mound.

I tell managers at lower levels "60 seconds from the third out to the first pitch. Hustle them in and out." (The clock actually starts when the pitcher takes the mound, oh well.) Generally, the pitcher might squeeze 3-4 pitches in, and I am already over a minute when I tell him "one pitch".

Deep into the season, managers start talking like "one minute, hustle up guys".

[JaxRolo]

1. No

2. Yes

3. Many

[Pete Peterson Sr]

1. No

2. Yes

3. Many

Jax, the gentleman posted this thread to try to learn. Do you think answering his questions with NO elaboration is helping that process ? You are a frequent poster, and I find most of your posts interesting, and informative. Why the short answers ?

[JaxRolo]

1. No

2. Yes

3. Many

Jax, the gentleman posted this thread to try to learn. Do you think answering his questions with NO elaboration is helping that process ? You are a frequent poster, and I find most of your posts interesting, and informative. Why the short answers ?

My apologies. I will elaborate tomorrow. Had LASIK late yesterday. I was on my iPhone and can't see really well yet

[dumbdumb]

Notes on warming up pitchers in LL.

1. While there are unfortunate instances where adults are injured, the root the rule is not safety, it is player participation. As in, why allow an adult to warm up a pitcher while one of the kids rides the pine? LL is for kids. LL used to require a player in the coaches box for the same reason. LL also does not allow the opposing team's catcher to warm up a pitcher for the same reasons (don't ask me if I enforce this). Get the bench players involved in the game.

2. Pitchers do not take "warm-up" pitches between innings. They are already warmed up. Rather, pitchers take "prepatory" pitches in order to reacquaint with the mound.

I tell managers at lower levels "60 seconds from the third out to the first pitch. Hustle them in and out." (The clock actually starts when the pitcher takes the mound, oh well.) Generally, the pitcher might squeeze 3-4 pitches in, and I am already over a minute when I tell him "one pitch".

Deep into the season, managers start talking like "one minute, hustle up guys".

How do they handle it for the LL tournaments. Is it one minute and how long do they let the pitcher take getting to the mound after the 3rd out. It seems like they should get the same amount of time like the tournaments, when it comes to this issue. Catchers need to be ready or a backup if that is legal to get the prepatory time going.

[mjr_2013]

1. No

2. Yes

3. Many

Jax, the gentleman posted this thread to try to learn. Do you think answering his questions with NO elaboration is helping that process ? You are a frequent poster, and I find most of your posts interesting, and informative. Why the short answers ?

My apologies. I will elaborate tomorrow. Had LASIK late yesterday. I was on my iPhone and can't see really well yet

haha... No need for apologies Jax, I'm an umpire; I don't have feelings, remember?

Hope the procedure went well!

[SanDiegoSteve]

If you were to toss anyone, it would of probably been the AM. However, I am perfectly ok with how you handled it. I had a similar hard tag today, however, a coach couldn't hold his tounge so that story is in the EJ section.

AM = Away Manager, not assistant... Sorry, should have specified.

It is more in keeping with the shorthand to use HT and VT, HC and VC, or HM and VM, instead of "away." I like Ass. for assistant coach, it fits better. I would have run the manager/coach the minute he said "No" to a command that I issued. He was showing you up by refusing to supply a bench player to warm pitcher. He was cutting into your time by making you wait for Grumpy to take his time putting on his gear and shuffle slowly out to home plate.

[mjr_2013]

If you were to toss anyone, it would of probably been the AM. However, I am perfectly ok with how you handled it. I had a similar hard tag today, however, a coach couldn't hold his tounge so that story is in the EJ section.

AM = Away Manager, not assistant... Sorry, should have specified.

It is more in keeping with the shorthand to use HT and VT, HC and VC, or HM and VM, instead of "away." I like Ass. for assistant coach, it fits better. I would have run the manager/coach the minute he said "No" to a command that I issued. He was showing you up by refusing to supply a bench player to warm pitcher. He was cutting into your time by making you wait for Grumpy to take his time putting on his gear and shuffle slowly out to home plate.

Looking back, I agree. He really was just trying to show me up, not add in a correct rule (as far as a coach warming up a pitcher)...

As far as the abbreviation goes, you are correct. I posted this after about 7 hours at the park, so I was pretty exhausted. lol.

[mjr_2013]

In the league I umpire, I know one player somewhat personally... He is my friends younger brother, and he goes to a bunch of the same parties as me and so I know him as a pretty cool kid.

Coincidentally, he is the kid that was the R3 that started this whole ordeal Naturally, I gave him a poke in the ribs about it the next time I saw him (yesterday). I told him that those were the first sportsmanship warnings I had ever given out, and he told me: "You had this look on your face when you made those warnings. I don't even know how to describe it... You looked... You looked..... You looked PISSED."

I started cracking up.