Fan Wants to Talk

[zoops]

I'm guessing we've probably all had it happen where you're working in a ballpark (using that term loosely) where the few fans in attendance are right behind you or right next to the dugout, etc. and in between innings a fan (parent) yells "hey blue!" and when you look he says "can I ask you a question?"  Do you just say no, hear what he has to say and shut him down if he wants to be dumb, or...hard to just totally ignore when they're 15 feet away and you've got nowhere to really go.  

 

Had one last week where a rundown between home and 3rd in a low-level legion game had obstruction by one of the fielders...parent did the above to me between innings and just asked what had happened because he couldn't see the play from his straightlined view.  I kind of gave a stern look when he asked if he could ask a question and never said that yes he could, but I just stood there and kind of looked at him not really wanting to talk to him but he asked anyway.  I answered that the runner had to go around a fielder and he said ok and we went on our miserable ways.  

[Mike Prince]

"...a fan (parent) yells "hey blue!" and when you look..." - this is where things start to fall apart.  Don't look, don't acknowledge the people in the stands and life as an umpire just got a bunch easier for you.  If a coach yells "Hey Blue", don't turn around for him either - he will come to you if he has a legitimate conversation to have with you.

[noumpere]

If you have to ask, then don't do it.

 

Now, it can be done by some umpires in some games.  Not in all games and not by all umpires.

 

Or, just respond: my rate for a clinic is $xxx

[bam]

If I'm at a park with close fences/fans, I stand ON THE BASE LINE between innings. 

[grayhawk]

As the intensity of the games increases, the likelihood of me acknowledging a fan decreases.  I also find that most fans understand that the higher the stakes, the less they should try to engage the umpire one on one.  Of course, the higher the stakes, the more likely they are to yell at you from afar.

[Jesse]

If you have to ask, then don't do it.

 

Now, it can be done by some umpires in some games.  Not in all games and not by all umpires.

 

Or, just respond: my rate for a clinic is $xxx

^^ +1

Very well put. Some guys can get away with this, and some can't.

 

 

There's no real need to be overly hostile. In fact, there's no issue with having a good rapport with a fan down the 1B line. Obviously this all depends on what ballpark/field you're working on. I don't go overboard though, once the game starts I'm all business. 

 

I sometimes do games at this one field where parents will sit 10-15 away from me behind the 1B fence (that's how close the confines are) and when I'm working the bases and I walk over from my RF position just before the first pitch, I often toss them a "how are you doing?" But I'm very subtle with how I communicate with them. Sometimes someone will ask me a question, and depending on the situation I will indulge and discuss the particular play(s) that they are asking about. I'm okay with having a quick chat pre-game and post-game, but I'm there to do a job. If there was a dispute during the game, I keep my mouth shut and focus on the game. I don't even notice that fan anymore. I guess it's just apart of the job. 

[JaxRolo]

If you hear "Blue" then ignore them. Coaches should call you by first name.

[boyinr]

Stand as far away as possible and ignore. them. If they are too close and persist, walk to the other side. They will figure it out. Fans will turn on you quicker than a pet rattlesnake. Never engage them. My $0.02.

[JHSump]

I rarely interact with the fans.  Just a few polite words.

 

The other day I made a mistake answering a question at an 8U machine pitch game.  The program's machine pitch rules say the players are "learning the game."  I thought to myself, gee, so are the parents.

 

Between innings a parent in the very nearby stands wants to ask about an interference call I made against their team.  I think, ok, maybe this is a teaching moment.

 

XX  WRONG XX     (here, imagine a loud buzzer)

 

I explain that the runner had to avoid the fielder trying to catch the pop up.  But she begins to argue with me, and then all the parents around her join in.

 

I just repeated the same simple sentence, turned, and walked back over to the foul line where I normally stand.

 

End of lesson...for me.

[Dragon29]

As the BU, it's easy to stay away from inquiring fans, but on some fields you are kind of 'trapped' as a PU and that's when this type of thing usually happens (to me, anyway)

 

I concur that ignoring them is usually the best course of action; they'll figure it out and go away - usually with a comment about how arrogant the umpire is, but that's why they pay us the $$$

 

When I find myself in a situation where I feel I must at least acknowledge a fan (doesn't happen often, but it has happened - one persistent fan standing close and repeating, "Blue" over and over again and not getting that you are ignoring them) I tell them one thing only:  I am not permitted to discuss anything that relates to the game with you. - and then I turn away.  No further explanation or conversation.  I have started that with "I'm sorry" as well, but it's not necessary though I'm still polite about it.  Since they're not coming over to compliment my umpiring or discuss the weather, they just go away.

 

Side note: this happened to me last weekend; I had the dish and a fairly persitent fan who, after a little while, did figure out that I was ignoring him.  So, he makes his 'request' to my back.  "Blue, could you yell the count more often?  We need to know."   I just smiled.  (I've been told by my partners that I call the count more often than most guys, and I'm a trained singer/thespian, so voice projection is not an issue)

[blue23ll]

Where do you get this "thespian" training at? I was an Episcopalian once.

 

Hostile crowds at an 8U machine pitch game? Tell them when the next umpire clinic is and leave it at that, or let them do the games themselves...8U machine pitch and 6U coach pitch, just when you think it can't get any more insane..

[maven]

Don't talk to the fence.

maven

[BigUmpire]

"...a fan (parent) yells "hey blue!" and when you look..." - this is where things start to fall apart.  Don't look, don't acknowledge the people in the stands and life as an umpire just got a bunch easier for you.  If a coach yells "Hey Blue", don't turn around for him either - he will come to you if he has a legitimate conversation to have with you.

Great advice.

Rabbit ears gets you " stewed!"

[johnnyg08]

If I'm at a park with close fences/fans, I stand ON THE BASE LINE between innings. 

 

 

I'm in shallow right field.

[Stan W.]

based on past experience........I have found that in-game interaction with fans rarely turns out well...........pregame interaction with game participants is cordial and approachable.........in game interactions with participants is professional and as brief as possible............after game interaction is rare, unless you know our post game exit strategy.....

[johnnyg08]

based on past experience........I have found that in-game interaction with fans rarely turns out well...........pregame interaction with game participants is cordial and approachable.........in game interactions with participants is professional and as brief as possible............after game interaction is rare, unless you know our post game exit strategy.....

The thing is that you never know what they're going to say and by rule, you have minimal recourse. During the game, nothing good can come from it.

[BalkHawk]

Fan: "Hey, Blue!"

Me: (facing forward) ("I wonder what's for supper?")

Fan: "Blue, BLUE!"

Me: (taking two steps away from fan) ("Two more innings til coldbeer!")

F4: "Hey, Blue. That fan is trying to get your attention."

Me: "Did you just call me a c***sucker?!"

[mstaylor]

I am one that seems to be able to get away with it. Of course, it depends how they ask. I can usually engage and defuse in most cases. If not,I just walk away. In the case of the interference call, if you choose to explain and they want to argue, simply tell them it is a very coming baseball myth and walk away.

Sent from my C771 using Tapatalk 2

[SoCal Lurker]

 

XX  WRONG XX     (here, imagine a loud buzzer)

 

I explain that the runner had to avoid the fielder trying to catch the pop up.  But she begins to argue with me, and then all the parents around her join in.

 

I just repeated the same simple sentence, turned, and walked back over to the foul line where I normally stand.

 

End of lesson...for me.

 

I learned this morning at my son's game that it can only be interference if the runner makes contact.    It must be so, since when the first base coach was done complaining about the call and telling U that there has to be contact, the third base coach came down to explain it too.  The silly U kept insisting it was enough to hinder the play and stuck with his call.     When will these Us read the rules!!! 

[BigUmpire]

 

 

XX  WRONG XX     (here, imagine a loud buzzer)

 

I explain that the runner had to avoid the fielder trying to catch the pop up.  But she begins to argue with me, and then all the parents around her join in.

 

I just repeated the same simple sentence, turned, and walked back over to the foul line where I normally stand.

 

End of lesson...for me.

 

I learned this morning at my son's game that it can only be interference if the runner makes contact.    It must be so, since when the first base coach was done complaining about the call and telling U that there has to be contact, the third base coach came down to explain it too.  The silly U kept insisting it was enough to hinder the play and stuck with his call.     When will these Us read the rules!!! 

 

• “No, there does not need to be contact for interference -.mstaylor

[ump570]

XX  WRONG XX     (here, imagine a loud buzzer)

 

I explain that the runner had to avoid the fielder trying to catch the pop up.  But she begins to argue with me, and then all the parents around her join in.

 

I just repeated the same simple sentence, turned, and walked back over to the foul line where I normally stand.

 

End of lesson...for me.

 

I learned this morning at my son's game that it can only be interference if the runner makes contact.    It must be so, since when the first base coach was done complaining about the call and telling U that there has to be contact, the third base coach came down to explain it too.  The silly U kept insisting it was enough to hinder the play and stuck with his call.     When will these Us read the rules!!! 

Both coaches are wrong. Contact is not required. I just posted a thread about this issue. Read it and learn. Coaches don't know the rules. Some do, but most don't

[noumpere]

 

 

XX  WRONG XX     (here, imagine a loud buzzer)

 

I explain that the runner had to avoid the fielder trying to catch the pop up.  But she begins to argue with me, and then all the parents around her join in.

 

I just repeated the same simple sentence, turned, and walked back over to the foul line where I normally stand.

 

End of lesson...for me.

 

I learned this morning at my son's game that it can only be interference if the runner makes contact.    It must be so, since when the first base coach was done complaining about the call and telling U that there has to be contact, the third base coach came down to explain it too.  The silly U kept insisting it was enough to hinder the play and stuck with his call.     When will these Us read the rules!!! 

Both coaches are wrong. Contact is not required. I just posted a thread about this issue. Read it and learn. Coaches don't know the rules. Some do, but most don't

 

The three smilies weren't enough to notice the sarcasm?  Your blind enough to be an umpire.

[umpire_scott]

My $.02 is that I try and "seem" as approachable as possible until there is reason to not be.  I've had many fans ask for rules interpretations on plays.  I'm more than happy to educate them.  I figure I'm doing every other umpire a favor.  The more fans that know the rules the better.  I would never ignore a fan that legitimately wanted to ask a question.  Just like I would not ignore a fan that said "Blue, i feel for you it must be mighty hot out here with all that gear on, how many games do you have?"  If under the circumstances I felt it was best to not engage in a conversation with them, I would simply tell them that.  That being said if you go to your proper position between innings you are much less likely to be out in a position to be asked a question by a fan.

My $.02 is that I try and "seem" as approachable as possible until there is reason to not be.  I've had many fans ask for rules interpretations on plays.  I'm more than happy to educate them.  I figure I'm doing every other umpire a favor.  The more fans that know the rules the better.  I would never ignore a fan that legitimately wanted to ask a question.  Just like I would not ignore a fan that said "Blue, i feel for you it must be mighty hot out here with all that gear on, how many games do you have?"  If under the circumstances I felt it was best to not engage in a conversation with them, I would simply tell them that.  That being said if you go to your proper position between innings you are much less likely to be out in a position to be asked a question by a fan.

[blue23ll]

Is there an echo in here?

 

As far as doing other umpires a favor, that's assuming the person you 'explained' it to can remember the correct explanation.

[BigUmpire]

In general anytime you go to the fence, for any reason not much good will come out of it.

Think about it.