Fun Game

[tankmjg24]

This is a combination post between ejections and war story.  This past Sunday I had a USSSA 15U tournament (that right there should be enough to know a problem is more than likely to occur haha).  I was on the plate for one of the loser bracket games (basically a thank you for coming game).  In the top of the 2nd inning, the runner from Team A tries to score from 2nd on a ball hit between short stop and third.  F7 makes a good throw to F2 and the runner is out by a good fifteen feet (he probably should have stopped and tried to go back to third).  F2 prepares to tag the runner and instead of sliding or trying to avoid the tag, little Jimmy (who is actually Big Jimmy haha) decides he is going to truck F2.  I call the malicious contact and eject him.  His coach comes running down the line fussing at the kid for what he did ( finally a coach that blames the player and not us) and proceeds to apologize to both me and F2.  In the meantime, Team B coaching staff gets upset over the situation and begins to drop some choice words (not overly horrendous but probably should not be said in church on Sunday) and begin ranting about how they should just run over the other teams catcher too (probably would not have been a good idea as Team A F2 was arguable the biggest kid there).  I decide this is a good time to bring the managers together and calm the situation down a bit.  It works and we continue on.  In the bottom of the 4th Team B coaches decide they are going to start complaining about every call we make (crazy thing is they are winning by 5 at this point).  I started off ignoring it but then things escalated to the point that I had to do the turn and stare.  At the end of the inning as the coach is walking back to his dugout (they are in the first base dugout) I hear him say "You have to be more consistent, this is getting about ridiculous, some of those are not even close".  After that statement I ask the coach if he is arguing balls and strikes to which he replies with a confused what are you talking about.  I ask him again and he goes no sir and goes and sits down.  He then comes back out of the dugout screaming.  He begins telling me that he was not talking to me but to his assistant coach (like I have not heard that line before  ) and that I have rabbit ears and that I am questioning his character.  At this point I probably should have ejected him, but decided to give him a second chance so I restrict him to the dugout.  He does not like this and begins to tell me how horrible I am, how horrible my partner is, and how he is going to make a phone call and we are never going to umpire again (not the case as the UIC has our back fully).  I eject him and turn and walk away.  He tries to get in front of me so that he can argue some more and bumps me in the process (not too concerned as he is probably 5 foot 5 if he is lucky).  My partner gets involved now and plays rodeo clown and eventually gets the coach to leave.  Top of 5 and the first batter for Team A walks.  Almost immediately he gets picked off first and is mad at himself and decides to spike the helmet into the ground.  Partner ejects and the again the coach jumps the player and apologizes to us.  I hear yells and see an angry mother in a full sprint from the hillside making her way towards the field (the field kind of sat in a valley and the bleachers were up on the hillside with the gates to enter the field being in the RF and LF corner).  She goes to the LF gate and begins making her way onto the field.  I am thinking that she is mad at my partner for the ejection and begin to go out towards him to intercept her.  Instead of going to my partner she goes into the dugout and grabs the kid that was ejected and begins to rip him a new one . I am speechless at this point and could only stand and watch.  She finishes her tongue lashing and leaves the field as peaceful as an angel. The game continued and we finished in the bottom of the 6th with a mercy rule.  Once the game was over, mother returns and snatches up her son and walks him out to my partner and I.  He proceeds to apologize for his actions and his mother assures us that it will never happen again.  All in all the game was rather slow and did not have good baseball.  Just another day at the park I guess .  

 

[mstaylor]

 

 

 Team B coaching staff gets upset over the situation and begins to drop some choice words (not overly horrendous but probably should not be said in church on Sunday) and begin ranting about how they should just run over the other teams catcher too 

Instead of bringing the coaches together I would have turned on him and told him," Enough, it's handled!" I would never allow a coach to suggest retribution by trucking players. I had a manager do that one night and I told him I suggest that not happen. If it does all involved will be leaving. 

 

 

I hear him say "You have to be more consistent, this is getting about ridiculous, some of those are not even close".  After that statement I ask the coach if he is arguing balls and strikes to which he replies with a confused what are you talking about.  I ask him again and he goes no sir and goes and sits down.  He then comes back out of the dugout screaming.  He begins telling me that he was not talking to me but to his assistant coach (like I have not heard that line before    ) and that I have rabbit ears and that I am questioning his character.  

Tell him," Don't even try it." I don't think USSSA has restriction as an option. Agreed that he probably should have gone but I understand keeping him. Once he took it further he punched his ticket. 

[Pete Peterson Sr]

Dugout restriction:  A new term for "delayed ejection". (In most cases)

[mstaylor]

Dugout restriction:  A new term for "delayed ejection". (In most cases)

I've said this many times, restriction has never occurred to me while on the field. 

[tankmjg24]

We had Team B earlier in the day and they lost a close game that landed them in the consolation bracket.  During the game nothing was said, but afterwards it was all our fault (small strike zone, missed calls in the field, etc).  This was not being said directly to us, however we could overhear their post game meeting (not sure if the coaches wanted us to hear or if they were just loud talkers).  The parents on the hillside were equally as bad.  Personally, this seemed like your average travel ball nightmare (spoiled kids who do no wrong and coaches that think they are all knowing and always right).

 

The coach for Team A came up afterwards and apologized again for his two players and thanked us for our game management.  I found out that the player who ran the catcher over had never played a game of baseball prior to that tournament and that he did not realize you could not run over the catcher because he saw it on TV.  I think both the players ejected from Team A learned a lesson.

 

I think that USSSA does not have the option to restrict like high school does, however our local tournament guidelines has implemented it.  In high school if a coach gets a little animated I find that the restriction serves its point.  Of course most coaches know that if they get ejected they have stiff penalties and a meeting with the AD afterward.  Now in travel ball these penalties do not exist (for the most part) and coaches think they can do whatever they please.

[JaxRolo]

I am done with USSSA Poorly run! At least in my area.

[Specks]

I think that USSSA does not have the option to restrict like high school does, however our local tournament guidelines has implemented it.  In high school if a coach gets a little animated I find that the restriction serves its point.  Of course most coaches know that if they get ejected they have stiff penalties and a meeting with the AD afterward. 

Agree, here the HS coaches (mostly) understand the restriction is a gift and stop. The downside is they know the restriction is the next step to ejection so sometimes they will gripe/argue/whatever right to the restriction and then stop. They know where the line is and go right to it, I think if that wasn't expected here it would be easier because the coaches would be a little more careful. The travel coaches don't know what restriction means so it does no good, just frustrates me. For travel ball, if it's worthy of a restriction just cut out the middle step and dump him.

[mstaylor]

I simply have never found a restrictable offense. I have seen situations I have shut down and situations where I have tossed. 

[BRUMP]

the only time i would consider restricting is when two coaches from opposite teams start jawing at each other

[mstaylor]

Quieter if you just dump them, you're going to eventually.

[grayhawk]

I've restricted once, by rule. Care to guess what for?

[BigUmpire]

Georgia USSSA April 1, 2013 Rulebook

 

 

RULE 10.00 – SPORTSMANSHIP & EJECTIONS

10.01 All managers, coaches, sponsors, spectators and players shall be expected to conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike manner at all times. Any manager, coach, sponsor, spectator or player whose conduct is unbecoming or abusive shall at a minimum be reprimanded with a warning and if warranted, the offending party shall be ejected from the game at the discretion of the Umpire(s) and / or the League / Tournament Director.

10.02 Any manager, coach, sponsor, spectator or player leaving their position in the field, on base, on the bench or in the dugout, dugout area or grandstands to participate in a fight, brawl or altercation shall be immediately ejected from the game, the venue and shall be suspended. Local law enforcement shall be notified.

 10.03 Any manager, coach, sponsor, player or other dugout personnel shall be confined to the dugout for the remainder of a game as an alternative to an ejection at the sole discretion of the Umpire(s).  

 

  

Quieter if you just dump them, you're going to eventually.

Almost always true.

[Richvee]

This is a combination post between ejections and war story.  This past Sunday I had a USSSA 15U tournament (that right there should be enough to know a problem is more than likely to occur haha).  I was on the plate for one of the loser bracket games (basically a thank you for coming game).  In the top of the 2nd inning, the runner from Team A tries to score from 2nd on a ball hit between short stop and third.  F7 makes a good throw to F2 and the runner is out by a good fifteen feet (he probably should have stopped and tried to go back to third).  F2 prepares to tag the runner and instead of sliding or trying to avoid the tag, little Jimmy (who is actually Big Jimmy haha) decides he is going to truck F2.  I call the malicious contact and eject him.  His coach comes running down the line fussing at the kid for what he did ( finally a coach that blames the player and not us) and proceeds to apologize to both me and F2.  In the meantime, Team B coaching staff gets upset over the situation 

Crazy...Up to this point, I had the EXACT same sitch. Team A coach apologized and gave R2 an earful.  My team B coach was angry, but didn't use any choice words or threaten retaliation. But he was visibly irate. I told team B coach "take it easy, it's been handled." I'm watching him from the playing field side of the fence as he's pacing behind the fence when he stops and grabs a garbage can with both hands...I yelled "Don't to it coach!!!!".  He stopped, and continued walking away down the LF line. He came back an inning later (probably after a smoke or two) much calmer. Between the next inning he walked by and said "Thanks for stopping me. I was this close to chucking that can" I told him "you're welcome- you were this close to not coming back from your walk to the parking lot". He smiled and nodded.  

[Pete Peterson Sr]

I've restricted once, by rule. Care to guess what for?

 

Illegal bat ?

[mstaylor]

I've restricted once, by rule. Care to guess what for?

Not attending the plate meeting

[grayhawk]

 

I've restricted once, by rule. Care to guess what for?

 

Illegal bat ?

 

 

Ding ding ding!

[grayhawk]

 

I've restricted once, by rule. Care to guess what for?

Not attending the plate meeting

 

 

I've had that happen only once, but the coach was stuck in traffic, so no penalty.

[Pete Peterson Sr]

 

 

I've restricted once, by rule. Care to guess what for?

 

Illegal bat ?

 

 

Ding ding ding!

 

 

 I'll take "Reasons for ejection", for $400 next, please Alex......