Question...(ok, advice)

[blue23ll]

HTC: "Well you missed that call, so you go to your little partner & get it right!"

Me: Coach, are you asking me to get help? [dead silence] while walking away from coach*

 

* Next one who speaks loses. 

[HHolland71]

 

 

1. His first comment should have been met with an ejection. He insulted you as a team.

I don't know. Maybe his partner WAS little.

I don't think I would have ejected on the first comment, but there is no possible way the coach stays after saying, "You are out of your mind!" for the whole park to hear. Can you really do anything after the first comment, though? If you go for help, now he's just bullied you into doing what he wants. I can see where you're coming from, but this conversation has to end after he says that. I'm not so sure you can keep him in the game and not look confrontational when you tell him that you aren't going for help.

FWIW, I don't think going for help on this play is an option, so the subject should not be entertained.

 

Agreed. Partner (not little) was in C - no way he had any kind of angle over me. Hindsight: should've kept my mouth shut instead of the "asking or telling" question & dumped him after his assessment of the location of my mind.

[basejester]

Your partner is in C?  I think the PU has to tell the coach he's keeping the call straight away.

[grayhawk]

 

 

1. His first comment should have been met with an ejection. He insulted you as a team.

I don't know. Maybe his partner WAS little.

I don't think I would have ejected on the first comment, but there is no possible way the coach stays after saying, "You are out of your mind!" for the whole park to hear. Can you really do anything after the first comment, though? If you go for help, now he's just bullied you into doing what he wants. I can see where you're coming from, but this conversation has to end after he says that. I'm not so sure you can keep him in the game and not look confrontational when you tell him that you aren't going for help.

FWIW, I don't think going for help on this play is an option, so the subject should not be entertained.

 

 

After the first comment, I would simply let him know that it's my call and that I am 100% certain that it was touched over fair territory.  If he escalates it from there, it's on him.

 

Agree that I'm nether going for help, nor giving him any hope that I would do so.

[DVA7130]

Get rid of that asshat!

[woodiemiller]

Was the VT dugout on the 1B side (as it usually is)?  If so, I think I would laugh at him for thinking he had a better view than you did.  Absent that, if he says that and nothing else and walks back, then the matter is closed as far as I am concerned.

 

When did you talk the the PU?  Right after the play?  Later in the game?  I prefer not to speak with my partner soon after a disputed call.  Makes you look unsure of yourself.

 

I would also not call my assignor about something this trivial.  You made a call and the coach disagreed - so what?

 

About your position - on a steal, you should angle towards a point halfway between home and third and get set for the call.  I would think you could get more than 2 steps unless you were caught off guard.

Or towards home plate as it open up the angle & we all know, angle superceedes distance.

[JaxRolo]

Was the VT dugout on the 1B side (as it usually is)?  If so, I think I would laugh at him for thinking he had a better view than you did.  Absent that, if he says that and nothing else and walks back, then the matter is closed as far as I am concerned.

 

When did you talk the the PU?  Right after the play?  Later in the game?  I prefer not to speak with my partner soon after a disputed call.  Makes you look unsure of yourself.

 

I would also not call my assignor about something this trivial.  You made a call and the coach disagreed - so what?

 

About your position - on a steal, you should angle towards a point halfway between home and third and get set for the call.  I would think you could get more than 2 steps unless you were caught off guard.

^^^THIS

 

Very important! Taught at all clinics!

[FleasOf1000Camels]

Here's some stuff that may help you find that magic spot with R2 stealing:

 

As soon as you get to C, look for that 45' spot on 3b line.  Now look DIRECTLY beyond it, and fine some other 'landmark' that lines up with it.  Maybe it's a fence post, the edge of the dugout or a garbage can.  (Don't pick the hot MILF in the lawn chair...she might move).  Now, when the play starts to develop, you've got a focal point that's easier to locate than some unmarked spot on the baseline. 

 

Be sure you're using ALL your senses to clue you in to that runner being on the move.  If the sun's in left or center, you can probably see R2's shadow out of the corner of your eye, even when he's behind you.  Listen for the crunching of his cleats.  And READ the pitch (location and spin) just like you would if you were the runner.

 

I'm NOT fast, and never was...but I was always a good base-runner, and those same instincts also help me get to the right spots as an umpire.  My goal is to get at LEAST 4 steps towards that 45', and get there in time to get feet, shoulders and head SET before the ball and/or runner arrive.

 

Once I 'see' the play, I like to take a 'creep' toward the bag...watching to be sure F5 held the ball thru the tag.  Then make the call.  This way, once you actually ANNOUNCE the call, you've got BOTH angle AND distance.  Do this and nobody's ever going to be able to say you're out of position.

 

As to whether you ought to have ejected over the first comment.  I'd say no, but I would suggest NOT making ANY response or even acknowledgment of his comment.  Coaches and fans see plays with their hearts, and a coach with passion for the game will let off some steam here and there.  Bark back at him, and you may just find yourself heading down the road that leads to an ejection.  Turn away from it, and it will either stop (which is what you want) OR he'll escalate it all by himself...in which case, he needs to go.

[MidAmUmp]

Here's some stuff that may help you find that magic spot with R2 stealing:

 

Going to have to disagree here...

 

As soon as you get to C, look for that 45' spot on 3b line.  Now look DIRECTLY beyond it, and fine some other 'landmark' that lines up with it.  Maybe it's a fence post, the edge of the dugout or a garbage can.  (Don't pick the hot MILF in the lawn chair...she might move).  Now, when the play starts to develop, you've got a focal point that's easier to locate than some unmarked spot on the baseline. Don't be a spot umpire.  C is 1/2 way between the mound and 2nd base.  Too many guys are too deep in C (or B for that matter).  Starting in the correct position will get you where you need to be.  You don't need a landmark to find "X".

 

Be sure you're using ALL your senses to clue you in to that runner being on the move.  If the sun's in left or center, you can probably see R2's shadow out of the corner of your eye, even when he's behind you.  Listen for the crunching of his cleats.  And READ the pitch (location and spin) just like you would if you were the runner.  "He's going!" is always a good indicator that the runner is stealing.  But yes, listen as much as you see.

 

I'm NOT fast, and never was...but I was always a good base-runner, and those same instincts also help me get to the right spots as an umpire.  My goal is to get at LEAST 4 steps towards that 45', and get there in time to get feet, shoulders and head SET before the ball and/or runner arrive.  It's 2 steps, 1 towards the 45 with your right foot and 1 towards the base with your left foot.  Again, if you start in the right position that's all you need to take.  You must be stopped/set before the ball gets there.  In all likelihood anymore than 2 steps (unless the level of play is really slow) and you'll be late.

 

Once I 'see' the play, I like to take a 'creep' toward the bag...watching to be sure F5 held the ball thru the tag.  Then make the call.  This way, once you actually ANNOUNCE the call, you've got BOTH angle AND distance.  Do this and nobody's ever going to be able to say you're out of position.  No need to take cheat steps.  Start in the right spot, take 1 step up, 1 step over, stopped & set and you have a perfect angle for the play every time.

 

As to whether you ought to have ejected over the first comment.  I'd say no, but I would suggest NOT making ANY response or even acknowledgment of his comment.  Coaches and fans see plays with their hearts, and a coach with passion for the game will let off some steam here and there.  Bark back at him, and you may just find yourself heading down the road that leads to an ejection.  Turn away from it, and it will either stop (which is what you want) OR he'll escalate it all by himself...in which case, he needs to go.  Ignoring him only shows he won and he'll do it again and worse.  You're not there to be his stress relief toy.  Tell him to knock it off...that's enough...something like that.  If he continues then you officially warn him, and if he won't stop you eject him.

[PonyUmpire]

The "you missed the call, so go to your little partner and get help" comment is egregious, and needs to be addressed.  It's flat out bullying; the coach is advertising the fact that he has ZERO respect for the umpiring crew.  The correct response would be a firm "that's enough", or "knock it off".  Personally, I'd probably bait him with an "excuse me coach!?", and then run him for whatever inane comment he would inevitably say next.  YMMV 

[philaump]

Second comment definitely deserves an ejection