Walk In the Park

[Watch the Ball]

Witnessed a SH*# show the other day. I just moved to Florida and I was taking my dog for a walk around a local baseball field and I stopped to watch a few innings. This is the mess that took place.

It was a mens league game in the top of the 7th home team is losing 10-1 with runner on second. Batter hits a no doubt triple the incoming throw from the left fielder hits a bucket on the dead ball line near the on deck circle. Home plate umpire kills the ball and base umpire sends the batter runner home. The home team first baseman starts flipping out about how the bucket can’t be on the line and that it shouldn't be a dead ball. The base umpire says “That ball is out of play that’s all dead ball over there.” The first baseman continues to mumble and walks up to the pitcher and says “Don't pitch Im gonna get this clown to throw me out.” So the pitcher walks around the mound in obvious attempt to delay for the first baseman. So I look down to first and the first baseman is yelling at the base umpire. This is the conversation that took place from what I could hear:

First-baseman: You're F*#King brutal

Base Umpire: You're F*#King done! (with a great hook)

First-baseman: You’re a piece of F*#King SH*#! My dad gave you a good job...blah blah blah about personal stuff, absolutely nothing to do with baseball. Totally over the line.

Base Umpire: You can go F*#K yourself “Bill” I am not going to have this conversation with you right now.

First-basemen: You're a piece of SH*#! F*#K you! More personal insults mixed with curses. Get a real F*#King job!

Base Umpire: Ok Bill maybe I should continue my playing career like you and play mens league until Im 40, or maybe I should go umpire professional baseball. I don’t know seems like a tough choice.

Out of nowhere this knucklehead from the dugout came running and screaming and made it a 2 on 1 as it was clear the young base umpire was to clever for the crotchety washed up guy. This guy pops off so bad I had to cover my pups ears. This knucklehead barely got two words out before he was ran. At this point I figured his partner had to be around somewhere. I look and locate his partner standing next to the catcher at the back edge of the dirt circle. This poor kid is getting tag teamed but doing pretty well with these two half witted morons. After finally hearing enough four letter words to the face to his face the base umpire says “Look at you two F*#King morons, sweet MSBL league champions jacket you wear that to the recess? Grow the F*#K up and get the F*#K out of my face as he walks into right field.

The two guys left but the obvious insults from the dugout and as they were walking out were inevitable. I stayed to talk with the two after. The base umpire was young and enthusiastic. He was still a little jacked up from the confrontations but he has very high goals and I wished him the best of luck at umpire school in Jan and exchanged information. Apparently he had worked for the guys father and he got laid off and it was bitter. Just thought I’d share.

The base umpire emailed my today before I sent this and told me he had the team two nights later and both the guys were playing and there was no suspension or anything to either player. At first I was just posting to get your thoughts on the situation, but now Im interested in getting your thoughts on the situation and the lack of penalty to either player? Thoughts? Comments?

[semper_fi_72]

Forget the players.

The umpire should be fired for the way he handled himself.

I don't care what level of ball it is, a Umpire never uses profanity.

He must stay under control at all times.

He was totally unprofessional.

If that is the way he conducts himself on the field he should save his money and not go to school as he will never make it as a umpire.

If I was the PU and he was dropping all those F Bombs I would have gone out and run him also and finished the game solo.

He would never step on a field with me again.

[JamesC]

I completely agree with Semper. I am a very hot headed person, but once I step on that field I know how to keep it under control. I too am young, but I know that doesn't mean people get to walk over me. If you throw jabs just as hard as the other guy, that's only going to prolong the debate. Just toss him, and walk away. This guy definitely handled it the wrong way. He may be a good umpire, but there is more to "umpiring" than safes and outs. 100% of the time you have to be the better man. Sometimes that is hard for some people.

[mstaylor]

In an adult league you can allow some language in a discussion. Once it goes beyond the two of you then it can't be allowed by either. Besides the language the umpire got personal with the players and that can't happen at any level. Remember never say something that you would toss a player or manager for.

[UmpTTS43]

Forget the players.

The umpire should be fired for the way he handled himself.

I don't care what level of ball it is, a Umpire never uses profanity.

He must stay under control at all times.

He was totally unprofessional.

If that is the way he conducts himself on the field he should save his money and not go to school as he will never make it as a umpire.

If I was the PU and he was dropping all those F Bombs I would have gone out and run him also and finished the game solo.

He would never step on a field with me again.

Is true in college ball and below. Adult league is a different cat. You "F*#K" me, I "F*#K" you. Professional ball, indy leagues to MLB, all bets are off. If you think cursing will prevent him from becoming a professional umpire, you have never been to school or worked with pro umpires. To players and coaches, "F*#K" is just another adjective used quite often and without thought.

[jnazz]

I agree with UMPTT is some respects. In some leagues profanity in a conversation is acceptable as long as it's not personally directed and as long as the fans cannot hear the exchange (obvisouly in this post, this is not the case). This is a men's league with children watching (I assume).

I know emotions can get involved in umpiring, BUT we are held to a higher standard. We must keep our cool and be the bigger man. If the young umpire would've come out of the confrontation without going "over the line", he would've had the respect of the players involved. Now he will forever be known as the young, cocky, unprofessional umpire and never have the respect of the two teams. He should've dumped U3 as soon as he got personal and walked away.

[Mr Umpire]

I do not agree with using profanity on the field but that is my preference. To each their own. However, it is adult league and all bets are off. Some of them don't care about "respecting" the umpire unless all calls go their way. F3 proved that with his "outside of baseball" comments. Even if BU did not say it, these 2 morons would probably still have acted the same. It just may not have lasted as long. But, I doubt that considering F3.

And, as far as voice level, at many fields I have been on, the fence is not that far from 1B. He may have been standing near 1B. No one knows that yet.

Regardless, if anyone is concerned about children hearing it, then start with F3 first. Then, look at the BU. I am not condoning the BU's behavior but I bet he only did it b/c of F3. So, F3 got as good as he gave. Also, if anyone thinks he hurt his professional career, he didn't. In fact, he proved he will do fine when a manager comes at him like that. Only the manager's father won't have fired the BU so no need for the personal attack.

And, I haven't heard anyone attacking the PU. If he did his job, this may have been diffused a whole lot faster. Many variables caused the actions. But, they all stem from F3.