I guess I'm the rat in this story...

[RichMSN]

Copied from another location.  When I took this coaching gig for one season, I never dreamed I could be ejected from a game.  But here we are.

 

After a few months of parents questioning little things here and there, I finally found something where I had their full support.  Probably didn't hurt that I bought the first round at the team dinner the night before, though.

 

-----

 

I'm coaching my daughter's softball team this summer. 8U. I'd give anything for girls that could catch, pitch, hit, etc. but we're having fun and we're doing OK. We're playing a lot of 10U teams and actually won a 10U tournament a few weeks ago.

We're at a tournament this past weekend and end up the 3 seed out of 12 teams. We had a game against the 6 seed on Sunday to advance to the semifinal.

One umpire with a HS player on the bases. Hey, he was actually dressed in a uniform, which isn't a usual thing for us. At this age level, there are so many modified rules I have a hard time keeping them straight, so it's no big surprise that they are different from game to game and umpire to umpire.

First inning of the game, there was a throw that got through at second base. My runner came to third and I sent her home. The plate umpire yelled at me and the runner, "ONE BASE ON AN OVERTHROW!" I was a bit stunned, but figured that was one of the day's modifications, so I said, "No problem. If I run a girl too far, just let me know and we'll put her back."

"IF YOU KNOW THE RULE, WHY WOULD YOU RUN HER?" Top of his lungs.

Wow.

Next inning, I had a legitimate question about a rule modification. I asked for time, was granted it, and walked calmly to the plate umpire to ask the question. Before I could get a sentence out, he yelled at me, "SHUT UP AND GET BACK IN THE DUGOUT."

Stunned, I went back towards the dugout and the umpire followed me. I turned towards him and he then said, "ONE MORE WORD OUT OF YOU AND YOU'RE GONE."

I was so stunned that I think I said, "But..." and just like that, he ejected me.

I walked out without saying a word and ended up on a picnic bench in left field. After I left, one of my parents said something and he turned and yelled through the fence, "SHUT UP OR YOU'RE GONNA LEAVE."

The tournament director was sympathetic and came and talked to me and said I could return to the tourney if my team won.  This, despite the rule that an ejected coach is out of the tourney.  We didn't win. My kid was an absolute basket case, but she pitched the next inning really well.  We lost 4-3 in the bottom of the last inning on a booted grounder with 2 outs and R3.

So there it is. My first career ejection on the other side. I still don't know what hit me, other than the worst umpire I've ever seen.

[Thunderheads]

Geez Rich, ...I figured umpiring this long you'd learn to keep your mouth shut!? 

 

LOL

 

[maven]

Oh sure, it's always the umpire's fault.

[siz]

Now that's game management!  LOL!

[umpcoachfather]

probably ran out of umpires and ended up at the bottom of the barrel

[BaltimoreUmpire]

That's one case where I will say the ejection was not warrented I'm not one to disagree with an ejection normally the umpire has some reasonable defence but this is a case where the ejection was just BS, you didn't do anything to deserve an ejection.

[PonyUmpire]

'>

[GreyhoundAggie]

Talk about a short fuse.

 

Had to be one of the most frustrating experiences for you. Having to bite your tongue.

[grayhawk]

RatMSN?

[maven]

RatMSN?

 

THAT will leave a mark.

[BigUmpire]

Always 2 sides to EVERY story.

 

We have heard a  recanted version of one.

[RichMSN]

Always 2 sides to EVERY story.

 

We have heard a  recanted version of one.

 

Not sure what to say.  I guess my history on this site and others doesn't buy me any credibility.

 

That's OK.  I'll remember that when you post a story -- after all, there are two sides to every one.

[Jocko]

@RichMSN - what really impresses me the most was YOUR game management. Not sure I could have kept my tongue in check. Kudos to you. I'm sure it was your experience as an umpire. If you ever see him again, invite him to join UE. Of course, a smitty of this caliber wouldn't bother.

[BRUMP]

@RichMSN - what really impresses me the most was YOUR game management. Not sure I could have kept my tongue in check. Kudos to you. I'm sure it was your experience as an umpire. If you ever see him again, invite him to join UE. Of course, a smitty of this caliber wouldn't bother.

 

or better yet @RichMSN invite him to a professional stadium next yr to watch a professional umpire do his second straight HS state tournament

[BigUmpire]

Always 2 sides to EVERY story. We have heard a recanted version of one.

Not sure what to say. I guess my history on this site and others doesn't buy me any credibility. That's OK. I'll remember that when you post a story -- after all, there are two sides to every one.

Rich Sorry did not realize this was you. You are one of the paragons on this site. My mistake. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[RichMSN]

 

 

Always 2 sides to EVERY story.

We have heard a recanted version of one.

Not sure what to say. I guess my history on this site and others doesn't buy me any credibility.

That's OK. I'll remember that when you post a story -- after all, there are two sides to every one.

 

Rich

Sorry did not realize this was you.

You are one of the paragons on this site.

My mistake.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

 

And my apologies as well.  Even if you did make the comment, I need to have thicker skin.  

 

This whole thing affected me like you wouldn't believe.  I was embarrassed and emotional at times and when I tried to explain to my daughter what happened, I completely lost it.  Even today I still feel a little under the weather, even after I told our board the story last night and those guys stood there laughing at me.

 

If anything, this is a real reminder to me that I need to consider youth coaches when I'm out doing my annual LL community service.  I know how to talk to an umpire and did everything the right way and still got myself ejected.  I need to, as an umpire, take a deep breath and realize that not everybody will and have some patience as I get through July.

[RichMSN]

 

@RichMSN - what really impresses me the most was YOUR game management. Not sure I could have kept my tongue in check. Kudos to you. I'm sure it was your experience as an umpire. If you ever see him again, invite him to join UE. Of course, a smitty of this caliber wouldn't bother.

 

or better yet @RichMSN invite him to a professional stadium next yr to watch a professional umpire do his second straight HS state tournament

 

 

The whole week was a blast.  I worked 5 games and 4 of them were 1-run games, 3 of them going extra innings (8, 8, and 9 innings).  Took a turn at every 4-man position and worked U1 in an extra game that I picked up when the schedule got adjusted.

 

My plate was a 1-run game, but I did that in 6.5 and 1:40.

 

Already looking forward to next year.

[cyclonehokiece]

Sounds like a redass got you, but more power to you to just walk away.  I know plenty of people (me probably included) would of ripped the guy a new one.  I hate it when people do stuff to you that screws you, especially when you are in the right. 

[treydawgmt]

Yes Rich, great job.  I know that I would have stood there and yelled for quite some time.  Which would have worked out worse overall.  You probably did what was best overall for the situation and hopefully the umpire will either get some training, or won't get anymore games.  (Although it's probably not likely at all...)

[DVA7130]

If there was ever a legitimate time to go off....

[Mad Mike]

I can't help but wonder if the umpire, who was definitely a redass in this situation, knew Rich was an umpire? And if the redass umpire knew that for a fact, then he wasn't going to let Rich get a word in at all, lest he get "shown up" by another umpire or proven wrong? Just wondering because this particular umpire's behavior sure seemed awful for no reason.

[BigUmpire]

I can't help but wonder if the umpire, who was definitely a redass in this situation, knew Rich was an umpire? And if the redass umpire knew that for a fact, then he wasn't going to let Rich get a word in at all, lest he get "shown up" by another umpire or proven wrong? Just wondering because this particular umpire's behavior sure seemed awful for no reason.

Mad Mike MAY be Smart Mike!

[T-Rav]

Rich, he must have known that you were an accomplished football, basketball, and baseball official and thought that he could show you who's the boss on his field. 

 

Unfortunately guys like this are too much of a common place in youth softball, half the softball officials I have worked with are just plain scary out on the field.