Your thoughts on coach's remark?

[SJA]

While watching a Major LL game yesterday, a coach was warming up the pitcher (no-no) and he made the remark to the pitcher "pitch it at their face" several times with a "smirk". Myself and other spectators clearly heard this. He HOPEFULLY was joking, but I thought it was in VERY BAD taste and the consequences that COULD occur, even if by accident a batter was hit in the face.

I'll be honest, I'd have ejected him, joking or not.

Your thoughts please gentlemen?

SJA

[Aging_Arbiter]

While watching a Major LL game yesterday, a coach was warming up the pitcher (no-no) and he made the remark to the pitcher "pitch it at their face" several times with a "smirk". Myself and other spectators clearly heard this. He HOPEFULLY was joking, but I thought it was in VERY BAD taste and the consequences that COULD occur, even if by accident a batter was hit in the face.

I'll be honest, I'd have ejected him, joking or not.

Your thoughts please gentlemen?

SJA

Watching a game.......what did the crew on the field do?

 

Yes, if I'm on the field and heard that, not only is he gone, but I'd like to hear him justify "joking" about that to the BOD.

[SJA]

The volunteer ump didn't say anything. I honestly don't know if he was paying attention.

:-(

[James Walker]

If I'm watching this and the crew isn't going to do anything about it, its time to find a board member to take care of this problem coach and the umpires. Kids shoukdnt be throwing at the batter, especially above the shoulder.

If I'm on the field, this coach is gone quick, fast and in a hurry. Followed by a bench warning to both sides and a quick reminder to F1 that its not going to happen. No need for this crap to happen in a baseball game, especially a game being played by children.

[Mad Mike]

If you are an umpire, I think you address it right then and there. If you have had any other issues with this coach in the game, you might be able to judge whether this should be ejection material. At a minimum, you restrict him to the dugout. You also make sure the pitcher knows that if he throws at anyone he and his manager are going to be ejected.

 

If you are in the stands, if there are no BOD around, I think you have to mention this to the opposing manager so he can inform the umpire of the situation and "place it on the record" so that if they throw at a player, it is pretty clear what should happen next.

 

Sometimes, as umpires, we don't hear what was said all the time. I have no problem with a coach bringing a concern to me. We are there to protect the players. Now, I am not going to take formal action on something I did not see or hear, but I would want the feedback from the opposing coach.

 

Does anybody think in this situation, if you did not hear it or see it, that once you were told, you could take a moment to talk to the alleged offending coach and place him on notice what was said and tell him you are watching for anything unsportsmanlike or not?

 

Seems to me that if you have this conversation with him and he decides to go out and tell his pitcher to not throw at the other team, you just headed off trouble and saved a kid from getting hurt. It probably also confirms that what you were told was not a mere joke by the manager. Otherwise, why would he go out to the mound and tell his kid not to throw at anybody because the ump will eject us both?

[HeadHunterLA]

Might be he was talking about throwing a curve ball starting at the batter's face, or not.  I sure would address it immediately for some clarification.

[semper_fi_72]

The volunteer ump didn't say anything. I honestly don't know if he was paying attention.

:-(

Being a Volunteer or a Paid Umpire is not relevant.

They are the Umpire on the Field.

There are Great Volunteer Umpires and awful Paid Umpires.

I know Volunteer Umpires that I would work any where at any time with.

I also know paid Umpires I have blocked in Arbiter or do not want to work with them ever.

 

First, LL Rules say no Coach can warm up a F1.  So yes first No No that should have been handled by the Umpire.

Second, If I hear it and am the Umpire a warning will be issued unless I am 100% sure he actually meant for F1 to throw at the batter.

Third, There better be a Board Member on site or you have another violation of LL Rules.

[SJA]

First off, I guess a should have stated that the "volunteer ump" was literally a guy out of the stands. NOT a regular "LL VU".

Sorry about the confusion.

[semper_fi_72]

First off, I guess a should have stated that the "volunteer ump" was literally a guy out of the stands. NOT a regular "LL VU".

Sorry about the confusion.

Case closed.

There was no umpire on the field.

Just one of the Dads helping out.

Needless to say the League, managers and coaches may learn the hard way one day when there is a serious problem and the insurance claim is rejected, because they failed to ensure LL rules and regulations where not being followed or enforced.

Insurance does not protect you from stupid.  It protects you when you do everything right and something still happens.

Why do you think we ask "Are all your players legally and properly equipped in accordance with LL Rules to play this contest today"?

The only acceptable answer is a Verbal Yes from the Manager.

[Dannytheman]

I am leaning to teaching the kid a curve ball.  But I know if I heard that I would say something.  It would be a humor type injection. But made with serious tone. More for the adults ears than the kids.