When will he learn?!?!?

[James Walker]

Had a 14u game last night. Going great until the first pitch. Catcher set up about 8 inches outside and bam, pegs the mitt. I ball it and get the "if hes peging the mitt like that I gotta have that call". I ignore it and tell the catcher to move in just a bit and its a strike all day. Game starts moving on as the pitcher relaxes, maybe some ohs and ahs on close pitches, but nothin over the top. Top of the third, the kid tightens up again, and coach goes out for a visit. I wait for him to make it to the mound, record the visit and clean the plate. I walk out to break it up, and he says he needs more time. Sorry coach, if you ain't switchin, its time to break it up. He says okay, then tells his pitcher as he's walking away to make sure its over the plate, you aint get corners then stares me down. I meet his stare and shake my head and he quickly drops his gaze and gets off the field. No more problems till the bottom of the 5th. I call a strike on a letter high fastball, right over the inside third of the plate. He says that ain't been a strike all night. I take my mask off, put the stop sign up and tell him that's enough, we arent arguing balls and strikes. As the next pitch comes in, I hear him say you ain't called that all night. After the pitch (a ball), removed my mask and give him the ol heave Ho .

He quietly left the field and it was oddly quiet the remainder of the game. This is the second time I've dumped him, for the same thing. You would figure after the first time he would get the point.

[Thunderheads]

once a rat ........................

[BigUmpire]

Repeat:

"Eject early to eject less"

[James Walker]

once a rat ........................

Well Jeff, it gets better. Read my post "Bad spot...". It was a fairly eventful night for me.

Repeat:

"Eject early to eject less"

I usually don't have a problem. These coaches know that I will dump them and not to play games to see how far they can push me. But this knucklehead here just refuses to get with the program.

[JHSump]

Going great until the first pitch.

 

Haha...that's funny right there!

[ricka56]

Rats like this  never learn. He probably left quietly because he's had lots of pratice doing so.

 

Usually I ignore the first chirp, but that "I've got to have that" would probably have me looking over there (mask on) making sure I had my target ID'd. Next chirp, mask on "that's enough" emphatically, let him know you mean it. Next chirp, gone.

 

nip it in the bud

[maven]

He says okay, then tells his pitcher as he's walking away to make sure its over the plate, you aint get corners then stares me down. I meet his stare and shake my head and he quickly drops his gaze and gets off the field.

 

Your response seems confrontational to me. Once the meeting starts to break up, I'm hustling back to the plate. I don't hear little quibbles like "you ain't getting the corners," though I might hear an accusation of cheating. He can stare at my backside all day!

 

For me, stares and glares do not need to be addressed. I don't care what faces they make, and I'm not going to escalate the situation with a response to a look.

[bam]

 

He says okay, then tells his pitcher as he's walking away to make sure its over the plate, you aint get corners then stares me down. I meet his stare and shake my head and he quickly drops his gaze and gets off the field.

 

 

For me, stares and glares do not need to be addressed. I don't care what faces they make, and I'm not going to escalate the situation with a response to a look.

 

I had one m-f'er last week - 2 outs, bases loaded - banger at first I call out (almost all bangers are outs).  I was in C, since it was the 3d out I high-tail it to right-center - DEEP right center, while the first base coach is screaming "NO WAY! NO WAY!"  I get out there and turn around - this a-hole is 30 feet up the foul line from the infield dirt with his hands on his hips, glaring at me.  I turn and take 5 slow steps towards center, turn and take the same 5 back to my original position.  He hadn't moved an inch!  I took my notepad out of my back pocket, scribbled a little note, closed it, looked back up, held up the notepad, pointed at it and said (practically had to shout, I was out so deep) "There's your warning"

 

He turned around, went back to his bench and wasn't heard from again.

 

So, sometimes, stares DO need to be addressed. 

[James Walker]

If he's staring you down for the dugout, I ignore that. But when he's making it a point to stare you down, to get in your head, intimidate or whatever, it needs to be addressed.

[renegadewolf]

Going great until the first pitch.....  At least the plate meeting went without incident

[ricka56]

Had a 14u game last night. Going great until the first pitch. Catcher set up about 8 inches outside and bam, pegs the mitt. I ball it and get the "if hes peging the mitt like that I gotta have that call". I ignore it and tell the catcher to move in just a bit and its a strike all day.

One thing not yet mentioned. I wouldn't be telling F2 where to setup. Sometimes I'll say, "I'm not going that far" to F2, but I don't coach and suggest where he should go to get strikes.

[tldavis19]

 

Had a 14u game last night. Going great until the first pitch. Catcher set up about 8 inches outside and bam, pegs the mitt. I ball it and get the "if hes peging the mitt like that I gotta have that call". I ignore it and tell the catcher to move in just a bit and its a strike all day.

One thing not yet mentioned. I wouldn't be telling F2 where to setup. Sometimes I'll say, "I'm not going that far" to F2, but I don't coach and suggest where he should go to get strikes.

 

I'll tell the catcher to "move it in just a bit and he's got it" I give the catcher the information he needs, what he does with it is up to him. I'll discuss with a catcher, because I want strikes. Strikes lead to outs. If a little hint on where he needs to be to get the strike helps with that, I'll give it to him. As for the OP, I thought it was handled well. You made sure the coach knew you were in charge and there was going to be no complaining about balls and strikes.