FYC.

[catoblue]

The ABUA site had a thread on this same topic (some of the same folks as here contributed).

There appear to be two opposing schools of thought on the FYC.

One - it's a valid tool for teaching a lesson (for mature players that can understand what's happening) in very specific, infrequent situations.

Two - It's a bad reflection on the umpire, taking away from his integrity.

I'm in school of thought number three - I understand the comparison to a 15 yard unsportsmanlike penalty in football, and think that under the right circumstances, with the right umpire, I can see it as a valid mechanic. The games I call do not involve mature players who would grasp what was going on, and most likely the highest level I'll ever work would be HS ball, so I don't ever see this being a technique that I will personally ever use. However, I also wouldn't have an issue with someone using it in some of the situations mentioned in this thread. In particular, the catcher that would rather let the Ump take a pelting, and the guy that drew where he thought the pitch was (knowing that with an EJ, he was looking at a fine). Those are situations where the FYC probably did more to correct a player's attitude than an EJ ever could.

[BrianC14]

I do not use this "mechanic" (a strange thing to call this sort of thing, IMO) and I do not like it.

[dash_riprock]

Next time he came to bat as he's approaching the box I said to the catcher, "Oh, look it's my best friend." with as much sarcasm as I could lay on.

You've just told players from both teams that you are choosing sides. Is that what you want?

Was his strike zone going to be much bigger? Yes.

That is being intentionally inconsistent. Is that the reputation you want?

Did it effect the outcome of the game? No.

Maybe not, but it could have. Suppose the batter hit a walk-off homer on the next pitch (the one that was going to be your FYC). Now what does "your friend" F2 think? A player who should have been dumped just cost his team the game. You now have lost credibility with both teams.

If you want to send a message, dump the batter. Do you think he will "get it" any more by allowing him to stay?

My bottom line on the FYC: don't do it. If he crosses the line, toss him on the spot. The message can't be any clearer.

[Umpire in Chief]

Valid points dash.

I have some new feelings/insight into the FYC I'll share shortly - when this thread has reached the end.

[LMSANS]

Valid points dash.

I have some new feelings/insight into the FYC I'll share shortly - when this thread has reached the end.

How do you define end?

:cheers:

[HokieUmp]

How do you define end?

Before we get there, I'll tell my story.

Adult game - so we all know what we're dealing with right away.

Had a guy that had been kind of a pain all game at the plate. I got a first pitch strike on his 1st 2 AB, and got a little stink-eye in return. During the second AB, he mumbled "looks like every 1st pitch is a strike," but he at least was smart enough to keep looking straight ahead. A little irritated, but I'm okay.

By his 3rd time up, though, he was now also pitching for his team, and was a whiny biatch there, too. I don't know if he was still pitching by the time he came up to bat, but between the earlier crap and his crap on the mound, I was no longer in the mood.

First pitch - strike. And don't get me wrong - that wasn't an FY strike, it was a fine pitch. But he did the whole "whip the head around like a %^$ parrot" to look at me again, and I decided to take care of it.

Since I really couldn't just dump him, I called time, and decided the plate had too much dirt on it. But I was talking to him before I even got around to start cleaning. "You keep looking turning around on me like that, and your day's gonna get shorter. You got a bat in your hand - start using it."

Honestly, by the time I got back around to start play again, I was done; I said my piece, and let him know I was sick of it. And since it was adult baseball, and not very good adult baseball, I can't say for sure if the catcher called for it, or maybe the pitcher just missed badly (it happens a lot); either way, the next pitch was well outside, even for the "2-3 ball" school, and I was ready to say "Ball."

But apparently, my new friend had taken my words to heart, and either decided to be a hitter, or figured the next pitch was a strike, no matter where, because he swung at it, and dribbled out to F4. He made some angry sounds as he ran to 1B, and I expected I'd have to run him when he passed back by the plate area, heading back to the dugout. But he stayed quiet.

Was I going to get him with an FYC? No, not really - as I said, I'd said what I wanted to. Did he think I would? Yeah, it seems that he did. But the result was what I wanted - he shut the h3ll up for the rest of the day, and got to stay in the game.

So, maybe, there's a "third rail," if you will, to the FYC, between the "yeah, I'll use it, and maybe enjoy it," and the "you're a mortal sinner, and a cheat, if you use one," schools of thought. If the level of play has enough clue about the FYC - or, at least think you and your partner suck, and are the worst ever - plant the seed that you're going to 'Eff 'em, and then it's you for teh win! (as the kids on the InterGoogle say)

[LMSANS]

Now there's a fine example of preventive umpiring.