Umpire Diplomacy

[blueman]

High school level and above. R1 on 1st with less than 2 outs. BR2 hits a line drive to F4 which is caught. R1 is off the bag too far and knows he is dead meat so he just stands in the base line. When F4 throws to F3 to double up R1 the ball sails over F3's head and goes into DBT. You point to R1 and say, "You 3rd base!". R1 looks at you and asks "Do I have to go touch 1st base?". Of course, you know he needs to tag up, but do you:

A. Tell the runner yes

B. Tell the runner you don't know or shrug your shoulders

C. Just stare at him like you don't know what he is talking about and hope he takes the hint.

D. Wish he did not ask you that question because if he goes to 3rd without tagging up the OC will start a ruckus when you call the runner out upon proper appeal because you told him to go to 3rd base.

[MCump]

High school level and above. R1 on 1st with less than 2 outs. BR2 hits a line drive to F4 which is caught. R1 is off the bag too far and knows he is dead meat so he just stands in the base line. When F4 throws to F3 to double up R1 the ball sails over F3's head and goes into DBT. You point to R1 and say, "You 3rd base!". R1 looks at you and asks "Do I have to go touch 1st base?". Of course, you know he needs to tag up, but do you:

A. Tell the runner yes

B. Tell the runner you don't know or shrug your shoulders

C. Just stare at him like you don't know what he is talking about and hope he takes the hint.

D. Wish he did not ask you that question because if he goes to 3rd without tagging up the OC will start a ruckus when you call the runner out upon proper appeal because you told him to go to 3rd base.

HS Level and above means this is a competitive game and the results matter. I have to go with C. A is giving him a distinct advantage, B is a lie, and D going to happen no matter what.

Great post.

[tiger49]

My answer would be A, and probably done with a simple nod of the head. He asked a question you gave the proper answer. This is not coaching. No different than a manager asking a question.

[1dumbquestion]

High school level and above. R1 on 1st with less than 2 outs. BR2 hits a line drive to F4 which is caught. R1 is off the bag too far and knows he is dead meat so he just stands in the base line. When F4 throws to F3 to double up R1 the ball sails over F3's head and goes into DBT. You point to R1 and say, "You 3rd base!". R1 looks at you and asks "Do I have to go touch 1st base?". Of course, you know he needs to tag up, but do you:

A. Tell the runner yes

B. Tell the runner you don't know or shrug your shoulders

C. Just stare at him like you don't know what he is talking about and hope he takes the hint.

D. Wish he did not ask you that question because if he goes to 3rd without tagging up the OC will start a ruckus when you call the runner out upon proper appeal because you told him to go to 3rd base.

E. after making the award turn and jog back your position.

[amarillo]

I would like to think that I would do C. however in the moment and being honest with myself I am probably saying something that would get me in hot water with the defensive coach like Duh! How about answering a question with a question "What makes you ask if you have to go back and touch first?"

[mstaylor]

I would tell him he has to run the bases correctly and let him do what he wants.

[yawetag]

I would tell him he has to run the bases correctly and let him do what he wants.

+1. My first thought was "Ask your coach."

[catsbackr]

I will choose A.

I am not coaching, I am responding to a rules question. Afterall, the ball is dead.

Would you not answer a rules question from a coach?

[AZump78]

I love the responses added, especially "ask your coach!" Being somewhat witty an able to think on your feet is what separates the masses of "good" umpires from the truly "great" ones.

Back to the question: If you say "A" you are wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong!!!!

You can NEVER coach a player. If this is a HS game there might not be many repercussion; if this is a college game, a mistake like this could seriously jeopardize your college umpiring career.

[amarillo]

Same situation and the 1st base coach asks the question instead of the player. Now what?

[jjb]

" I can't help you, Coach"

[Mr Umpire]

My answer to the runner is "Your base award is 3B." while going to position C. I am not going to stare at him b/c that might clue him in and also be coaching. If he continues, I will continue with telling him I am not going to discuss/answer anything during this inning.

For those who answer A, only answer the question after your answer has no bearing on the play. Meaning, not until the next pitch is thrown which makes any and all of the previous actions a moot point. Never answer a rule question during a play or when it is possible for your answer to influence the play. That is coaching if it is done during the actual play involved. If he were asking about something 3 innings ago, that is one thing as long as the answer has no bearing on the current play. My advice is to not answer any questions during any play currently going on.

[yawetag]

My answer to the runner is "Your base award is 3B." while going to position C. I am not going to stare at him b/c that might clue him in and also be coaching. If he continues, I will continue with telling him I am not going to discuss/answer anything during this inning.

Don't you think you should at least keep an eye on him to make sure he does or doesn't retouch 1B?

I love the responses added, especially "ask your coach!"

My real job has times where I'm asked several times a night to help someone with a procedure. Every time I'm asked, the stock answer is "Ask your supervisor." My job isn't to tell the employees what their job is, but to make sure they do their job.

It's the same on the baseball field.

[Mr Umpire]

My answer to the runner is "Your base award is 3B." while going to position C. I am not going to stare at him b/c that might clue him in and also be coaching. If he continues, I will continue with telling him I am not going to discuss/answer anything during this inning.

Don't you think you should at least keep an eye on him to make sure he does or doesn't retouch 1B?

But that is not the same as staring at him. I can go to my position and glance over at him to see what he is doing.

[AZump78]

My answer to the runner is "Your base award is 3B." while going to position C. I am not going to stare at him b/c that might clue him in and also be coaching. If he continues, I will continue with telling him I am not going to discuss/answer anything during this inning.

Don't you think you should at least keep an eye on him to make sure he does or doesn't retouch 1B?

I love the responses added, especially "ask your coach!"

My real job has times where I'm asked several times a night to help someone with a procedure. Every time I'm asked, the stock answer is "Ask your supervisor." My job isn't to tell the employees what their job is, but to make sure they do their job.

It's the same on the baseball field.

I see where you are going, but I have to disagree with the analogy.

As an umpire, your job is not to "make sure they do their job."

You are there to administer the game, make judgement calls, and enforce penalties if rules are violated.

As an umpire, I don't have to worry about making sure they do their job, that is the coaching staff's job-I am just there to notice when they don't

[1dumbquestion]

after reading the many opinions I'm looking again at the first line of the OP 'high school level and above" and sticking with my answer of E. award the base and jog back to your position. if this were pre-shaving age kids than maybe a little nod or something may be reasonable but these kids/adults should be able run bases one their own by now. 1

[yawetag]

As an umpire, I don't have to worry about making sure they do their job, that is the coaching staff's job-I am just there to notice when they don't

And that's the scope of my real job.

[amarillo]

Of course if that player/coach doesn't know the rule what are the odds of the defensive team knowing to appeal?

[cookie]

Would

" I did my job; now you do yours."

suffice? I was taught this a few years ago as a way of responding to questions in situations like this...

[yawetag]

Would

" I did my job; now you do yours."

suffice? I was taught this a few years ago as a way of responding to questions in situations like this...

To me, it sounds over-the-top.

[NovaScotiaBlue]

I will echo what has been said by others...

Award bases and move to your position. IMHO, the guy standing there in foul territory by 1st base (the coach)

should be the one to remind the runner to tag up before advancing.

[Fittske24]

The "jogging back to your position" doesn't work here, because even on base awards, it is your responsibility as base umpire (assuming a 2-man crew here) to watch all touches of the awarded bases. I have been told every legitimate question from a coach and or player deserves a legitimate answer. You should NEVER instruct the player on what should be done. In this scenario I find the following responses somewhat appropriate but risky:

"You should ask your coach", or "That is for you to decide".

I tend to stay away from these because it may come off as being a tad bit arrogant, and it is still instructing the player to do somthing....

The phrase that I use for every question such as this, i use the simple phrase: "I am not allowed to tell you that."

This removes all liability from you, the umpire for any improper action taken by the player. It forces the player to make the decision on his own to consult his coach, return to tag up or put himself in jeopardy.

[Dragon29]

I have to admit that my first instinct when I read the OP was to answer something like, "You may run the bases as you see fit." which is obviously pretty vague. In retrospect, I really like the "Ask your coach" &/or "I can't tell you that" type answers.

As far as the 1BC asking, that's easy. "I can't help you, Coach."

[Stan W.]

I will echo what has been said by others...

Award bases and move to your position. IMHO, the guy standing there in foul territory by 1st base (the coach)

should be the one to remind the runner to tag up before advancing.

HS and above.....it 's got to be the above.....we should not be coaching and should not be arrogant.......and they have a coach right there to instruct the runner......let him do that job.....

[Jboval]

Kind of surprised no one has come up with this but I think "I am only here to observe and rule on what you do, not tell you how to do it." or "you do what you think is right, and I will tell you afterward if it was or not"