Death Stare

[bluejerred]

Apparently, it has come to my attention that I have a very effective death stare.  I was raised by a cop, served in the military, and my wife has a great death stare herself so I guess I learned it from them.  I was PU last night, pitch comes in belt high but in the batters box.  Catcher framed it but even he knew it was inside and had nothing to say on it.  I call a ball.  F5 decided this was a good time to make a loud "SSTTTRRIIIKKKEEE" call right after my call.  I aggressively call time, take off my mask, take about 5 or 6 steps towards 3B and lazed his nose for a good 10 seconds.  I saw this 16 year old HS player shrink to the size of a decimal point.  Silence was broken when I heard the DTHC (it was his son) yell at him, "HEY!!!  SHUT UP KID!!!! YOU CAN'T SHOW HIM UP LIKE THAT!!  YOUR'E GONNA GET THROWN OUT!!!"

 

During my post-game, my partner told me that apparently I had scared F5, the runner on 3rd, the 3rd base coach, the OTHC near the 3B dugout, and even him a little bit.  They all thought they were about to get thrown out.  He also told me that the entire field/bleachers/birds/gophers were all completely silent and looking right at F5 when I targeted him.

 

Kid comes up to me after the inning and apologizes profusely.  I tell him, "hey, no problem young man, I think you got the message."  Nothing about my strike zone from anybody for the rest of the game except a few very polite questions.

 

Silence is golden and the fear of an ejection and being put in the spotlight can be more effective than an ejection itself.

[MikeSafari]

[umpstu]

Dude, work on that strike zone.

[JHSump]

I think we need a pic.  Just don't point it at me!

[bluejerred]

Dude, work on that strike zone.

You're probably right.  If it's in the box, they need to be turning early to hit that meatball!

[mrumpiresir]

Nice!

[Kevin_K]

For clarification purposes, is there much difference between the death stare and the STFU stare?

[bam]

For clarification purposes, is there much difference between the death stare and the STFU stare?

Death Stare kills.  STFU stare renders recipient speechless 

[MidAmUmp]

Keep your mask on or throw someone out. One of the unwritten rules...if the mask comes off, someone's going.

[Majordave]

Keep your mask on or throw someone out. One of the unwritten rules...if the mask comes off, someone's going.

That's what one of my buddies says at plate meetings. If I look at ya' I've heard ya'. If my mask comes off......somebody's leavin'". He's a VERY good HS umpire (this year's State Association ump of the year) in Kentucky. He's also a Kentucky State Trooper Sergeant and a poster boy/former recruiting officer for what Troopers should look like. I called him RoboCop/RoboUmp. Absolutely perfect physique and presence.

[bam]

Keep your mask on or throw someone out. One of the unwritten rules...if the mask comes off, someone's going.

That's what one of my buddies says at plate meetings. If I look at ya' I've heard ya'. If my mask comes off......somebody's leavin'". He's a VERY good HS umpire (this year's State Association ump of the year) in Kentucky. He's also a Kentucky State Trooper Sergeant and a poster boy/former recruiting officer for what Troopers should look like. I called him RoboCop/RoboUmp. Absolutely perfect physique and presence.

Completely unnecessary. Total cop move. Why threaten to toss someone at the plate meeting?

[KLAH316]

 

 

Keep your mask on or throw someone out. One of the unwritten rules...if the mask comes off, someone's going.

That's what one of my buddies says at plate meetings. If I look at ya' I've heard ya'. If my mask comes off......somebody's leavin'". He's a VERY good HS umpire (this year's State Association ump of the year) in Kentucky. He's also a Kentucky State Trooper Sergeant and a poster boy/former recruiting officer for what Troopers should look like. I called him RoboCop/RoboUmp. Absolutely perfect physique and presence.

Completely unnecessary. Total cop move. Why threaten to toss someone at the plate meeting?

 

@bam, That has nothing to do with being a "Cop Move"..... I've been a cop for 19+ years and never get aggressive when unprovoked.

[Majordave]

@bam

He prefaces it with a statement about not wanting to eject anyone so to avoid having to do that here's my guidelines.

I don't do it but it works for him.

If you've ever umpired in Kentucky, especially the rural part or in summer ball, his statement would fall under preventative umpiring. There are some absolute idiots coaching baseball there. I swear some of them only coach so they can get into it with the umpires.

[RingEmUp]

I umpired for 6 years in Kentucky so I know all about this.  @Majordave speaks the truth.