Field/Batters Box condition responsibility

[CougarUmp]

I will try to make this question quick.  Only back story is that the coaches hate each other.

 

8-9 year old boys Rec league game.   At the plate meeting before the game Visiting coach says the batters box isn't deep enough and asks the Home coach(field prep is his responsibility) to make it right.    By the way, the box IS too small.  It needs to be deeper by AT LEAST 1 ft.   I ask the Home coach to correct it and he blows a fuss and threatens to forfeit the game saying the Visiting coach had plenty of time prior to the start of the game to request the box be corrected and and he refuses to fix it.  Pissing match!

 

I'm a new umpire so here is how I handled it and why.   First, I asked the Home coach if he was serious about his forfeit comment.  He wasn't.  Second, will he fix the box?  He said no.    At that point I told both coaches FOR THE SAKE OF THE KIDS I will start the game and use my judgement as to where the rear of the box should be in relation to the batters back foot even if it is outside the line.

 

My question....What were my options at the plate meeting?  My end goal was to ultimately let the boys play.   

 

[JHSump]

You could literally order the Home coach to fix the boxes (see section 9, OBR, if that is what you are playing under).

 

But, that plays into the pissing match game.  "Umpire Soloman" would say, "Hmmm, They are too small.  Help me out guys.  Home coach, please rub out the back line of the LH batter's box, and Visiting coach, please rub out the back line of the RH battter's box."  (Assuming those are the sides they are on during the plate meeting.)

 

Me: I would just rub out the back lines myself with my foot, essentially recognizing the problem and fixing it, without involving any further discussion.  I would then tell the coaches I will use my judgment.  Then, finish the plate meeting and start the game.

[noumpere]

Umpire could just notice this as he approaches for the plate meeting and rub the line out or get it fixed then.  Then use the "judgement" line if needed during the plate meeting..

[CougarUmp]

You are making me feel better about my decision already.   I thought I was paid to officiate the kids.   Coaches and parents 99% of my headaches!

[MidAmUmp]

If they want to have a pissing match, be in charge and kick out the lines.  It's 8-9 yr. old baseball.  I don't know how old you are, but if you are in an age bracket that would command some authority (the age of the coaches or older) lecture them on setting a good example for their kids.

 

After the game report it to someone in charge of the league.  Let them deal with it from there.

[BretMan]

The first thing I'm going to do is let the alleged adult role model, who "blew a fuse" in front of his eight and nine year-old players, know that he needs to take it down a notch and chill out. If the guy's popping gaskets before the game even starts over something as frivolous as this, he needs to be made aware that his behavior is unacceptable and won't be tolerated.

 

Let them know, and let them know early, that if there's something that needs discussed we will discuss it, but we're not going to put up with hissy fits and temper tantrums. Shut it down before it gets any worse!

 

Once the coach gets calmed down...I'm going to ask him once again if he could please correct the line. It's funny how much more responsive to requests like that people can be once cooler heads prevail. If he again refuses...I'm not going to drag this out. I'll walk over, wipe out the line with my foot, then get them to playing ball.

 

If anyone asks how I'm going to call the batter's box, I'll just tell them, "It's my judgment. Now, let's play ball". And I'd better not hear one more peep about the batter's boxes! They had their chance...

 

After the game, this one probably deserves a follow-up with your league officials. Let them know which coaches are being tools and let them straighten it out.

[Texas Manny]

Tough situation because it is youth baseball. Technically speaking, the game should not progress until the matter is fixed. If the groundskeeper of the complex is available, then the fix could be done within a reasonable time. If not, then you're in a pickle.

 

As for the pissing match with the coaches, it sounds like he already knew that the boxes were short, so why didn't he have it fixed prior to the game?

 

Most likely I would have rubbed the back line out, and played the game. If the home coach belly aches about someone being out of the box, I'd just tell him that "I don't want to hear it. You created this mess by not fixing it, now live with it." 

 

I would, after the game is over, let someone in the association you belong to, in authority, know about it, so that it can be addressed through proper channels.

 

Why do adults get so outta wack at youth baseball games? I've never understood that.

[johnnyg08]

If they want to have a pissing match, be in charge and kick out the lines.  It's 8-9 yr. old baseball.  I don't know how old you are, but if you are in an age bracket that would command some authority (the age of the coaches or older) lecture them on setting a good example for their kids.

 

After the game report it to someone in charge of the league.  Let them deal with it from there.

 

 

They're 8,9 year old kids.  They don't need boxes.  If it's an issue, do what MidAmUmp says and kick them out.

 

If the home coach wants to forfeit, let him.  Easy for everybody. 

 

If you're going to put the boxes in, put them in correctly.

[CougarUmp]

I agree with you guys.   I'm 43 years old.  I wasn't bullied.   My base umpire was a high school kid.   He thanked me after the game for being there as if I had rescued him from a house fire. 

 

And yes, I did report everything to the proper people for what it's worth.   Covering my you know what. 

[ricka56]

I'm a new umpire so here is how I handled it and why. 

Sound like you handled things properly.

You are making me feel better about my decision already.   I thought I was paid to officiate the kids.   Coaches and parents 99% of my headaches!

I'm all for parental support/attendence, but if coaches/parents can't behave in front of the kids, they get a "time-out" (like I used with my two-year olds) in the parking lot.

[Aging_Arbiter]

 

I'm a new umpire so here is how I handled it and why. 

Sound like you handled things properly.

You are making me feel better about my decision already.   I thought I was paid to officiate the kids.   Coaches and parents 99% of my headaches!

I'm all for parental support/attendence, but if coaches/parents can't behave in front of the kids, they get a "time-out" (like I used with my two-year olds) in the parking lot.

 

You sent your two year olds to the parking lot?  Daaaaang.  I'd hate to see what happend if they didn't finish their dinner!

[mstaylor]

The original question is simple, have him fix it or kick the lines out, makes no real difference. The real problem is the one upmanship game the two coaches are playing. The VC waited until game time to say something simply to prick the HC. Of course, he rose to the bait and flips. Shut that crap down fast and hard. I have no problem excusing an idiot coach. I will shut him down but if he chooses not to do so, then he goes home. Handling stupid managers is far more important than the box size. 

My brother was a prime example of running into a problem coach on his first game. Nine pitches into the game, the manager thought there was a CI. Neither umpire had it and the manager started into a snit fit. My brother told him to calm it down, it wasn't needed around the kids. He failed to heed the warning and continued to escalate. My brother repeated that it wasn't to happen around the kids. Then he told him that he did not have to be there for the whole game. Conversation over. 

[TheGeneral]

Y'all get boxes for your 8-9 year olds? We're lucky to have foul lines or a backstop around here!

[ricka56]

 

I'm all for parental support/attendence, but if coaches/parents can't behave in front of the kids, they get a "time-out" (like I used with my two-year olds) in the parking lot.

You sent your two year olds to the parking lot?  Daaaaang.  I'd hate to see what happend if they didn't finish their dinner!

 

Hey, its not like I leave my 2-year old in the parking lot where someone could kidnap him...that would be irresponsible.

 

...I hand-cuff him to the gate.

[BT_Blue]

I'm all for parental support/attendence, but if coaches/parents can't behave in front of the kids, they get a "time-out" (like I used with my two-year olds) in the parking lot.

You sent your two year olds to the parking lot?  Daaaaang.  I'd hate to see what happend if they didn't finish their dinner!

Hey, its not like I leave my 2-year old in the parking lot where someone could kidnap him...I hand-cuff him to the gate.

This is Parenting 101 right here. I am learning so much for when my wife and I finally have children.

[lawump]

If I can eject two head coaches at the same time in an American Legion regional semi-final game for verbally going at it with each other and ignoring my repeated warnings to knock it off...then you can certainly get rid of these two boneheads.  Get rid of them early and have a quiet game.

 

Now seriously:  Tell the home coach to fix the lines...they were drawn wrong.  If he's pissed at the visiting coach...then he should have painted the lines correct to begin with.  Sure, the VC is engaging in gamesmanship...but the HC drew the poor lines and opened the door for the VC to engage in the gamesmanship. 

 

Heck, in a MLB game this year (or last year) the umpires made the home team re-draw the batter's box lines when one team's player complained that the boxes were drawn wrong and the umpires determined he was correct.  If they can do it in MLB...you can do it here. 

 

If the HC refuses to redraw...tell him you're not starting the game.  Don't ask him if he is going to redraw; tell him he has to redraw them.  (If he says, "I'm not going to redraw them," respond with, "someone is going to redraw them if we are playing tonight and if it ain't going to be you I will find someone but you won't be around to see who that someone is going to be.")  Then, an inning or two later, when these two head coaches keep playing gamesmanship games...dump them and let them have at it in the parking lot. 

[Jocko]

How many times have we taken a field without a running lane or coaches boxes? Or sh!tty crooked foul lines? Do we make them draw them? Not usually. I said that to say this.... piss on the lines. They generally disappear before too long anyway, right? Not only would I kick out the rear lines, I'd remove both boxes entirely. Draw em right or stfu. Play!!!