Fall ball toss

[James Walker]

Had my last fall ball game today. It was between two decent teams, but nothing special. All in all, a nice, simple game... Until the bottom of the 3rd.

R2, no outs. Batter tips the ball. R2 takes 3rd. HM comes out and says he tipped it. I say, sure did skip. Then why's R2 at 3rd? It's a live ball. He argues and I tell him, its a live ball, runner stays. He goes back to his buckets mumblin and griping.

Next batter, kid squares to bunt. Ball comes outside, kid pulls bat back just a bit and doesn't attempt to make contact. I balled it. Hear the HM griping and look at him and he quiets down. Next pitch, kid squares to bunt again and this time, balls inside. The batter drops the bat and bails. Again, I ball the pitch.

HM says that's two blue. I pull off my mask, put up the stop sign and say THAT'S ENOUGH! HM jumps off his bucket saying I've had it in for him all season ( my second time doing his game, no problems the first ), that I need to do my job, learn the rules and stop missin calls. So, I dumped him. Then the fun started.

He's b!tchin and saying he's not leaving. As I turn to pull the kids off the field til he leaves my BU (president of the league) comes to talk to him. He asked him to leave at least 3 times. And he keeps refusing. So, president declares a forfeit and the games over. I didn't agree with that, but its his call.

I feel bad, not about the dump, but for the kids. It's not their fault their coach is a jacka$$. But they are the ones that had to suffer. And this isn't a normal fall ball team. It's mostly a travel team with 3 or 4 non travel players. And if this is how coaches can act in travel ball around my area, I'll stick to my rec league. IMO, its uncalled for and quiet frankly, disgusting. How is this teaching these kids anything about baseball?

[UMP45]

I have no problem with the forfeit. Sometimes we get caught up in all this "it's about the kids"! No it's about the integrity of the game. Let the parents worry about little Jimmy!

[James Walker]

In spring, yeah, it wouldn't bother me too much. But its fall ball. It's for learning and getting better. Some people just put wins/losses ahead of anything else.

[T-Rav]

It's still baseball and your the umpire, the man calling the shots not him. It's better to have this happen for him now rather than in the spring when it counts.

[scrounge]

it sucks but it's totally on that coach...he's the one that failed as a leader, as a role model, and as a person.

[Jocko]

I have no problem with the forfeit. Sometimes we get caught up in all this "it's about the kids"! No it's about the integrity of the game. Let the parents worry about little Jimmy!

Damn straight

[JaxRolo]

It's a shame these guys are allowed to coach.

A lot of states now have that upgraded laws against coaches that attack Umpires as a felony.

They should make a misdemeanor to even complain about a call.

[cyclonehokiece]

It's a shame these guys are allowed to coach.

A lot of states now have that upgraded laws against coaches that attack Umpires as a felony.

They should make a misdemeanor to even complain about a call.

Now, now Jax, do we need to clog up the courts even more and increase our costs (as we will now all need a personal lawyer). :fuel:

[James Walker]

Doubt they will play ball here in the spring. Like I said, its mostly a travel ball team. But if he does, he better check the travel ball "daddy" coach crap at the gate.

I got the whole you're taking the game from the kids routine. I have never wanted to tell a coach, "no dumba$$, you are. YOUR the one who can't control is emotions or follow simple instructions.". But I came close.

And I was really embarrassed for the league. We usually don't have problems like this, and when we do, it gets nipped pretty quick. No reason or excuse for this kind of garbage to happen. Especially at a 12u game.

After I changed, the coaches from the opposing team were still there. I went up to each and apologized for the coaches behavior. Was it a bad idea? I don't think so. As an ambassador of both the game of baseball and of the league, I felt it necessary. The kids deserve better than that. Yall can flame on me, but I'd be willing to bet I'd react the same way 9 times out of 10.

[Jocko]

I personally wouldnt speak for him. Simply because I dont want people speaking for me. YMMV

[kylejt]

Travel coaches don't have any supervision, thus, have no one to answer to.

Dump a coach in a travel ball tourney, and his team may not return. That's $ right out of the TD's pocket. So, many TDs allow the coaches to run the show, and run roughshod over umpires (in general). If coaches know no boundries, they'll push the limits. Plus, lots of travel coaches are guys who were booted from their local rec league.

[James Walker]

Apparently he has been a problem for the league. I'm doubting that they will let him coach come spring, but I doubt he will put his kid in rec ball.

[James Walker]

I personally wouldnt speak for him. Simply because I dont want people speaking for me. YMMV

Normally I wouldn't. But this group came from a different town and can only field enough kids for one fall ball team. So, I'm basically trying to convence them not to pull their kids out of fall ball next season.

For a lot of these kids, fall ball is the only time they will see significant playing time and I'd prefer that they don't lose that chance because of some jacka$$.

[Jocko]

I personally wouldnt speak for him. Simply because I dont want people speaking for me. YMMV

Normally I wouldn't. But this group came from a different town and can only field enough kids for one fall ball team. So, I'm basically trying to convence them not to pull their kids out of fall ball next season.

For a lot of these kids, fall ball is the only time they will see significant playing time and I'd prefer that they don't lose that chance because of some jacka$$.

you said the prez was there, right? He saw all this 1st hand. Black ball the dickhead and don't let him coach again.

[James Walker]

I personally wouldnt speak for him. Simply because I dont want people speaking for me. YMMV

Normally I wouldn't. But this group came from a different town and can only field enough kids for one fall ball team. So, I'm basically trying to convence them not to pull their kids out of fall ball next season.

For a lot of these kids, fall ball is the only time they will see significant playing time and I'd prefer that they don't lose that chance because of some jacka$$.

you said the prez was there, right? He saw all this 1st hand. Black ball the dickhead and don't let him coach again.

Depends on if its pres decision or board. This pres is all about the $money$. But I doubt he will be allowed back. If not, I know I'll get a lot of his games. And it'll work out. Either he'll behave or he'll repeat this and be banned.

[mstaylor]

As I've said before, whenever the phrase,"It's about the kids" is uttered there is a jerk nearby. I find it to be coach speak for we want to cheat and you won't let us.

[James Walker]

As I've said before, whenever the phrase,"It's about the kids" is uttered there is a jerk nearby. I find it to be coach speak for we want to cheat and you won't let us.

Truer words have never been spoken.

[guitarplaya2007]

My number one pet peeve is when coaches call me "blue" I'm out there doing my job and they are doing theirs, if they have a problem I've told them my name at the plate and they've told me theirs use my name and I'll use yours, it creates a much less argumentative atmosphere and makes you more approachable when there is a contested call/ ruling, just by calling them by name it seems to disarm them a bit when they are running and yelling at you, but don't ever call them by the wrong name that gets em fired up!!!

[BRUMP]

My number one pet peeve is when coaches call me "blue" I'm out there doing my job and they are doing theirs, if they have a problem I've told them my name at the plate and they've told me theirs use my name and I'll use yours, it creates a much less argumentative atmosphere and makes you more approachable when there is a contested call/ ruling, just by calling them by name it seems to disarm them a bit when they are running and yelling at you, but don't ever call them by the wrong name that gets em fired up!!!

I only do youth-MS ball and in those levels I am called blue exclusively during travel ball and MS. In the LL where I do a good amount of games just about everybody knows me by name now but when I was first starting I was always blue. Being called blue doesn't bother me, but I do prefer being called by my first name. What I don't like is when one team knows me well and one doesn't. When one team calls me blue and the other "Bobby" it can lead to a perceived favoritism. I had one guy make some remarks to me as I was walking to my car after one game with a local team I know well and one that I've never seen. He said "you know this team well, you must travel with them. That might explain your crap calls."

[th3]

just don't call me late for dinner ^_^

[mstaylor]

I don't get ruffled if coaches call me blue. At HS and above, they generally do call me by name. In lower levels many coaches think t is disrespectful to use your name. It is no different then they call you ump. Some guys just aren't any good at remembering names. I have a HS coach that also coaches in the Men's wooden bat league and fully knows my name, but once the game starts he will only call me by Mr. Ump or Mr. Umpire. Now if he comes out to ask if I need water or something not related to a call he will use my name. He was just raised that way, to him it is all about respect.

[jmpnjmy]

My number one pet peeve is when coaches call me "blue" I'm out there doing my job and they are doing theirs, if they have a problem I've told them my name at the plate and they've told me theirs use my name and I'll use yours, it creates a much less argumentative atmosphere and makes you more approachable when there is a contested call/ ruling, just by calling them by name it seems to disarm them a bit when they are running and yelling at you, but don't ever call them by the wrong name that gets em fired up!!!

I'm like th3, you can call me just about anything. I prefer blue or mr umpire over calling me the wrong name though. I had one game where a coach kept calling me Kevin. I didnt even realize it until my partner told me. At one point the coach came out in a huff about a call he didn't like. Starts out with calling me Kevin, again, and starts in with what he thought was the correct call so I started calling him Barney. He didn't like that and said his name is John (which I knew) and if I paid attention more I would know that. I told him I did know that and my name is Jim not Kevin. He stopped immediately with a funny look on his face, turned around and went back to the dugout. I almost laughed out loud right there.