Eject or Not Eject?

[scrounge]

I completely believe that the 99% statistic is 100% true 63% of the time on Tuesdays with a 47% chance of precipitation.

[Replacematt]

It doesn't get much clearer than that. He said YOUR zone sucked. I doesn't matter what he said before or after that as soon as he said your he made it personal

No. Just...no.

[Thunderheads]

 

It doesn't get much clearer than that. He said YOUR zone sucked. I doesn't matter what he said before or after that as soon as he said your he made it personal

No. Just...no.

 

Matt, you're letting someone say "Matt your zone sucks tonight?"

[Replacematt]

It doesn't get much clearer than that. He said YOUR zone sucked. I doesn't matter what he said before or after that as soon as he said your he made it personal

No. Just...no.

Matt, you're letting someone say "Matt your zone sucks tonight?"

If I have an issue, it's for arguing balls and strikes. That's not personal.

[Thunderheads]

 

 

 

It doesn't get much clearer than that. He said YOUR zone sucked. I doesn't matter what he said before or after that as soon as he said your he made it personal

No. Just...no.

 

Matt, you're letting someone say "Matt your zone sucks tonight?"

 

If I have an issue, it's for arguing balls and strikes. That's not personal.

 

Ok, ...how about this?

 

Matt, you suck tonight

 

THAT'S not personal?

[Replacematt]

It doesn't get much clearer than that. He said YOUR zone sucked. I doesn't matter what he said before or after that as soon as he said your he made it personal

No. Just...no.

Matt, you're letting someone say "Matt your zone sucks tonight?"

If I have an issue, it's for arguing balls and strikes. That's not personal.

Ok, ...how about this?

 

Matt, you suck tonight

 

THAT'S not personal?

That has nothing to do with the issue at hand.

[Thunderheads]

 

 

 

 

 

It doesn't get much clearer than that. He said YOUR zone sucked. I doesn't matter what he said before or after that as soon as he said your he made it personal

No. Just...no.

 

Matt, you're letting someone say "Matt your zone sucks tonight?"

 

If I have an issue, it's for arguing balls and strikes. That's not personal.

 

Ok, ...how about this?

 

Matt, you suck tonight

 

THAT'S not personal?

 

That has nothing to do with the issue at hand.

 

than I'm lost because the OP says the coach said "your zone suck tonight" and he wasn't tossed.

 

I'm finding it hard to believe that a site like this (where people EJ for FAR LESS) is saying that isn't a personal comment.

[JonnyCat]

Agree with Matt on this issue, and I wrote about it in my blog. (Shameless plug right there!) A coach does not have to like my zone, for instance, and he can express his displeasure. I'm not saying he wouldn't get tossed for a comment like "your zone sucks tonight", and I'm not disagreeing if someone does toss under those circumstances. It's your game, do what you like, do what you feel is necessary. However, the comment "your zone sucks tonight", is not personal. He is talking about your zone, and he doesn't like it. He has a right to not like it, and I don't care. What's the difference if he says "your zone sucks", or "the strike zone sucks tonight"? Nothing, he is talking about the zone. But people misunderstand the meaning of "making it personal." Both of the statements are in fact personal, but many would say that "I would toss for the former and not the latter." Both are talking about a specific subject, i.e. the zone, and both are in fact personal. In each statement, it is obvious it's your zone the coach is talking about.

 

The difference is in the statement, "you suck tonight."  That has nothing to do with anything other than he is attacking your competence, and that is grounds for ejection. Just as he would say, "you're horses$!t", he is not complaining about a particular play or thing, but rather he just wants to attack you, and that is the difference. A coach is entitled to his opinion about a play, etc, but not about someone's integrity or competence.

 

Again, not saying I wouldn't toss for that comment, but if he did it in passing that only he and I can hear, I'll probably give a simple "that's enough", and see what he does. But in my opinion, the statement "your zone sucks tonight", is not personally attacking me, but rather the zone. Hope I'm getting my point accross and not muddling the issue. LOL!

[johnnyg08]

For some umpires the coach might be right.  Maybe the umpire's strike zone does suck.  That comment, how ever true, could still be just as ejectable as it would be if it were a false statement.  

 

Situation has everything to do w/ this one.

[HokieUmp]

 

Guys, he's right...I would agree that 99% of the time, an umpire is to blame: the guys who didn't take care of business in earlier games.

After being on the administrative side of incidents and ejections in a parks and rec. office for nine years, I agree that umpires are at least complicit in most ejections (I'm not sure its 99%). Passion is part of umpiring (or at least is should be) and sometimes that passion can boil over in the heat of the moment. It doesn't excuse either side but I think its naive to think that most ejections are based solely on the player.

 

I disagree with the notion that "you have to get the player out of you," especially in terms of game management. Embrace the fact that you are or were a player. Embrace that you are or were a coach. Understanding those perspectives will make you better at handling conflict and in turn, a better umpire. One of the most important tools for managing conflict is empathy. The ability to have empathy doesn't make you a "coach's umpire" or a "player's umpire." It allows you to gain more information about how to handle a stressful situation and make better decisions.

 

I intend on playing and coaching as long as my knees and patience will allow. I expect to have a better understanding for all facets of the game though my multiple endeavors. 

 

 

This is such pro-coach 'homerism,' it's just laughable.

 

I don't really have a lot of scalps.  Maybe 6-7 EJs that I can remember, over about 500-600 games.  Let me tell you about three of them - about half that total - and then you can tell me where I was complicit.  Aside from just happening to be on the field as the umpire at the time.

 

1.  In Australia, I called a pitch a strike on a batter.  (Underage - and that matters here.)  Batter turns to me and says "You have to be F*#King joking."  My reply:  "No, I'm not, and you're done."  <Ding!>  So where I was I complicit there?  I'm MORE guilty of leaving messes for future umpires if I don't launch that guy.  It doesn't even matter if the pitch call was right or not - but it was over the inside black of the plate, thigh-high.

 

2.  Head/3rd base coach, Little League.  Two close plays that went against his team at 3rd base, and I'm working the game solo.  After the second one, he yelled out to me - for all to hear - "That's two you've missed, Blue."  <Ding!>  Those were the first words spoken on the issue - what else am I to do?

 

3.  Adult league.  Batter didn't like a strike call.  I felt it hit the outside black.  Without a word he looks at me, and then draws a line parallel to the plate, about 4 inches off the black.  <Ding!>

 

So, please, do tell - other than being the guy in the blue shirt that was assigned to the game, where was my complicity in their jackassery?  Other than mind-reading, these things kind of happened when they happened, and there really wasn't a lot of pre-jackassery that I can recall in any of these.  If anything, there might have been grumbling in the dugout, but we're not supposed to be rabbits out there.

 

Edited to add:  I got empathy, all right - I got empathy coming out my ears.  I reserve that empathy to think to myself "boy, it's gonna suck for THAT guy to miss the end of the ballgame, sitting out in his car like that."

[johnnyg08]

 

 

Guys, he's right...I would agree that 99% of the time, an umpire is to blame: the guys who didn't take care of business in earlier games.

After being on the administrative side of incidents and ejections in a parks and rec. office for nine years, I agree that umpires are at least complicit in most ejections (I'm not sure its 99%). Passion is part of umpiring (or at least is should be) and sometimes that passion can boil over in the heat of the moment. It doesn't excuse either side but I think its naive to think that most ejections are based solely on the player.

 

I disagree with the notion that "you have to get the player out of you," especially in terms of game management. Embrace the fact that you are or were a player. Embrace that you are or were a coach. Understanding those perspectives will make you better at handling conflict and in turn, a better umpire. One of the most important tools for managing conflict is empathy. The ability to have empathy doesn't make you a "coach's umpire" or a "player's umpire." It allows you to gain more information about how to handle a stressful situation and make better decisions.

 

I intend on playing and coaching as long as my knees and patience will allow. I expect to have a better understanding for all facets of the game though my multiple endeavors. 

 

 

This is such pro-coach 'homerism,' it's just laughable.

 

I don't really have a lot of scalps.  Maybe 6-7 EJs that I can remember, over about 500-600 games.  Let me tell you about three of them - about half that total - and then you can tell me where I was complicit.  Aside from just happening to be on the field as the umpire at the time.

 

1.  In Australia, I called a pitch a strike on a batter.  (Underage - and that matters here.)  Batter turns to me and says "You have to be F*#King joking."  My reply:  "No, I'm not, and you're done."  <Ding!>  So where I was I complicit there?  I'm MORE guilty of leaving messes for future umpires if I don't launch that guy.  It doesn't even matter if the pitch call was right or not - but it was over the inside black of the plate, thigh-high.

 

2.  Head/3rd base coach, Little League.  Two close plays that went against his team at 3rd base, and I'm working the game solo.  After the second one, he yelled out to me - for all to hear - "That's two you've missed, Blue."  <Ding!>  Those were the first words spoken on the issue - what else am I to do?

 

3.  Adult league.  Batter didn't like a strike call.  I felt it hit the outside black.  Without a word he looks at me, and then draws a line parallel to the plate, about 4 inches off the black.  <Ding!>

 

So, please, do tell - other than being the guy in the blue shirt that was assigned to the game, where was my complicity in their jackassery?  Other than mind-reading, these things kind of happened when they happened, and there really wasn't a lot of pre-jackassery that I can recall in any of these.  If anything, there might have been grumbling in the dugout, but we're not supposed to be rabbits out there.

 

Edited to add:  I got empathy, all right - I got empathy coming out my ears.  I reserve that empathy to think to myself "boy, it's gonna suck for THAT guy to miss the end of the ballgame, sitting out in his car like that."

 

 

Wanna work together tomorrow?

[Replacematt]

It doesn't get much clearer than that. He said YOUR zone sucked. I doesn't matter what he said before or after that as soon as he said your he made it personal

No. Just...no.

Matt, you're letting someone say "Matt your zone sucks tonight?"

If I have an issue, it's for arguing balls and strikes. That's not personal.

Ok, ...how about this?

 

Matt, you suck tonight

 

THAT'S not personal?

That has nothing to do with the issue at hand.

than I'm lost because the OP says the coach said "your zone suck tonight" and he wasn't tossed.

 

I'm finding it hard to believe that a site like this (where people EJ for FAR LESS) is saying that isn't a personal comment.

Yes, he said that. Not "You suck tonight." You're moving the goalposts.

[WIUMP]

 

 

Guys, he's right...I would agree that 99% of the time, an umpire is to blame: the guys who didn't take care of business in earlier games.

After being on the administrative side of incidents and ejections in a parks and rec. office for nine years, I agree that umpires are at least complicit in most ejections (I'm not sure its 99%). Passion is part of umpiring (or at least is should be) and sometimes that passion can boil over in the heat of the moment. It doesn't excuse either side but I think its naive to think that most ejections are based solely on the player.

 

I disagree with the notion that "you have to get the player out of you," especially in terms of game management. Embrace the fact that you are or were a player. Embrace that you are or were a coach. Understanding those perspectives will make you better at handling conflict and in turn, a better umpire. One of the most important tools for managing conflict is empathy. The ability to have empathy doesn't make you a "coach's umpire" or a "player's umpire." It allows you to gain more information about how to handle a stressful situation and make better decisions.

 

I intend on playing and coaching as long as my knees and patience will allow. I expect to have a better understanding for all facets of the game though my multiple endeavors. 

 

 

This is such pro-coach 'homerism,' it's just laughable.

 

So, please, do tell - other than being the guy in the blue shirt that was assigned to the game, where was my complicity in their jackassery?

I have no doubt that there many instances where the player or coach hangs himself and gives the umpire no choice, your scenarios illustrate that. In your scenarios, no empathy is needed.  I assume, however, that since you take time to visit umpiring websites and moderate umpiring forums that you have a grasp on your craft, as do many others on this board. I've seen games get out of hand due to asshattery by players and coaches and ineptitude by umpires who either don't seek to work on their craft or who are not cut out for umpiring. I've read the ejections reports and field supervisor reports when this happens. In this administrative role, we are hardly able to be a pro-coach homers. First, umpires are contracted by us which already puts us in a position to defend the umpires' actions. Second, the umpire has total jurisdiction so the ejection stands as do the accompanying penalties depending on the league.

 

My point is that so many situations could be handled better by umpires, especially inexperienced or lazy umpires. In your scenarios, you said that if you failed to act, other umpires would have to clean up your mess. That is the point I'm trying to make. Poorly handled situations might not even pop up in the same game. It could be the same tournament or down the road a bit.

 

I'll leave you with 3 scenarios from my experiences:

• I played on an adult team for a manager who was out of control but never got tossed even though he did crap like you mention. In one of those games, things spiraled out of control to a point where two other players on the opposing team had been ejected for the same actions that our manager got away with.
• In another game, that same manager was arguing balls and strikes from the bench. I would have dumped him. Instead the UIC walks toward our bench and says loud enough for everyone to hear, "that's enough of your bull sh!t..."–no ejection, though. Manager kept chirping all game about balls and strikes. Later in the game, our catcher, while batting, gets called for interference during a SB attempt. When he came out to catch the next inning, he asked for rule clarification and was immediately tossed. 
• I was assistant coaching a varsity game at the Metrodome. R3 tags on fly ball. Play at the plate. R3 slides awkwardly (IDK WTF he was doing), gets his feet tied up in the turf-dirt transition and hits the catcher pretty hard. It looked a lot worse than it probably was. Still, it was malicious contact. R3 ejected which includes a one game suspension. Umpire handled the play so decisively and professionally that the game was hardly delayed. His brief explanation to our HC, was clear and concise while still showing empathy for our player who appeared to have accidentally cost himself a game.
• I have a lot more. Many start with a hot head coach or player or parent who is not dealt with appropriately and end with a giant mess.

Edited to add: I think you have "empathy" and "sympathy" mixed up. 

[Replacematt]

• I was assistant coaching a varsity game at the Metrodome. R3 tags on fly ball. Play at the plate. R3 slides awkwardly (IDK WTF he was doing), gets his feet tied up in the turf-dirt transition and hits the catcher pretty hard. It looked a lot worse than it probably was. Still, it was malicious contact. R3 ejected which includes a one game suspension. Umpire handled the play so decisively and professionally that the game was hardly delayed. His brief explanation to our HC, was clear and concise while still showing empathy for our player who appeared to have accidentally cost himself a game.

He kicked the SH*# out of this call. Just saying.

[WIUMP]

 

• I was assistant coaching a varsity game at the Metrodome. R3 tags on fly ball. Play at the plate. R3 slides awkwardly (IDK WTF he was doing), gets his feet tied up in the turf-dirt transition and hits the catcher pretty hard. It looked a lot worse than it probably was. Still, it was malicious contact. R3 ejected which includes a one game suspension. Umpire handled the play so decisively and professionally that the game was hardly delayed. His brief explanation to our HC, was clear and concise while still showing empathy for our player who appeared to have accidentally cost himself a game.

He kicked the SH*# out of this call. Just saying.

 

F2 was not in an illegal position (which doesn't necessarily matter for MC, I know.) Contact WAS avoidable, not after he started his sliding abortion thing, but still avoidable. Contact WAS above the waist. Contact WAS excessive. I know R3 did not have intent to injure but anyone watching would have said otherwise. 

 

Basically, R3 looked like he didn't make up his mind b/t head first or feet first. Instead spikes catch in turf before dirt cutout. He stumbles a bit trying to regain his balance (think NFL player who is barely tripped up trying to maintain balance to goal line) and hits F2 in the chest at almost full speed with his shoulder down.  

[Replacematt]

• I was assistant coaching a varsity game at the Metrodome. R3 tags on fly ball. Play at the plate. R3 slides awkwardly (IDK WTF he was doing), gets his feet tied up in the turf-dirt transition and hits the catcher pretty hard. It looked a lot worse than it probably was. Still, it was malicious contact. R3 ejected which includes a one game suspension. Umpire handled the play so decisively and professionally that the game was hardly delayed. His brief explanation to our HC, was clear and concise while still showing empathy for our player who appeared to have accidentally cost himself a game.

He kicked the SH*# out of this call. Just saying.

F2 was not in an illegal position (which doesn't necessarily matter for MC, I know.) Contact WAS avoidable, not after he started his sliding abortion thing, but still avoidable. Contact WAS above the waist. Contact WAS excessive. I know R3 did not have intent to injure but anyone watching would have said otherwise. 

 

Basically, R3 looked like he didn't make up his mind b/t head first or feet first. Instead spikes catch in turf before dirt cutout. He stumbles a bit trying to regain his balance (think NFL player who is barely tripped up trying to maintain balance to goal line) and hits F2 in the chest at almost full speed with his shoulder down.

He accidentally hit a catcher. Not MC.

[WIUMP]

 

 

 

• I was assistant coaching a varsity game at the Metrodome. R3 tags on fly ball. Play at the plate. R3 slides awkwardly (IDK WTF he was doing), gets his feet tied up in the turf-dirt transition and hits the catcher pretty hard. It looked a lot worse than it probably was. Still, it was malicious contact. R3 ejected which includes a one game suspension. Umpire handled the play so decisively and professionally that the game was hardly delayed. His brief explanation to our HC, was clear and concise while still showing empathy for our player who appeared to have accidentally cost himself a game.

He kicked the SH*# out of this call. Just saying.

 

F2 was not in an illegal position (which doesn't necessarily matter for MC, I know.) Contact WAS avoidable, not after he started his sliding abortion thing, but still avoidable. Contact WAS above the waist. Contact WAS excessive. I know R3 did not have intent to injure but anyone watching would have said otherwise. 

 

Basically, R3 looked like he didn't make up his mind b/t head first or feet first. Instead spikes catch in turf before dirt cutout. He stumbles a bit trying to regain his balance (think NFL player who is barely tripped up trying to maintain balance to goal line) and hits F2 in the chest at almost full speed with his shoulder down.

 

He accidentally hit a catcher. Not MC.

 

Interpreting intent is a tricky game. I'm not saying you wouldn't have seen the play differently but I disagree with "kicking the s#!t out of the play." 

 

I think the entire discussion of "eject or nah" has so much gray area that message boards cannot possibly do justice to the situations. I don't think that  means we shouldn't discuss them, though. I've read almost everything on this discussion board about ejections, including the thread about baiting coaches (lol). The ejection is probably the part of umpiring that I have the most apprehension about and fear I will handle the worst. I like the discussion of thought processes and analysis. It is very helpful as a new umpire. It is really hard, however, to understand all the nuance of a situation unfolding in real time unless you are there in real time.

[Replacematt]

• I was assistant coaching a varsity game at the Metrodome. R3 tags on fly ball. Play at the plate. R3 slides awkwardly (IDK WTF he was doing), gets his feet tied up in the turf-dirt transition and hits the catcher pretty hard. It looked a lot worse than it probably was. Still, it was malicious contact. R3 ejected which includes a one game suspension. Umpire handled the play so decisively and professionally that the game was hardly delayed. His brief explanation to our HC, was clear and concise while still showing empathy for our player who appeared to have accidentally cost himself a game.

He kicked the SH*# out of this call. Just saying.

F2 was not in an illegal position (which doesn't necessarily matter for MC, I know.) Contact WAS avoidable, not after he started his sliding abortion thing, but still avoidable. Contact WAS above the waist. Contact WAS excessive. I know R3 did not have intent to injure but anyone watching would have said otherwise. 

 

Basically, R3 looked like he didn't make up his mind b/t head first or feet first. Instead spikes catch in turf before dirt cutout. He stumbles a bit trying to regain his balance (think NFL player who is barely tripped up trying to maintain balance to goal line) and hits F2 in the chest at almost full speed with his shoulder down.

He accidentally hit a catcher. Not MC.

Interpreting intent is a tricky game. I'm not saying you wouldn't have seen the play differently but I disagree with "kicking the s#!t out of the play." 

 

I think the entire discussion of "eject or nah" has so much gray area that message boards cannot possibly do justice to the situations. I don't think that  means we shouldn't discuss them, though. I've read almost everything on this discussion board about ejections, including the thread about baiting coaches (lol). The ejection is probably the part of umpiring that I have the most apprehension about and fear I will handle the worst. I like the discussion of thought processes and analysis. It is very helpful as a new umpire. It is really hard, however, to understand all the nuance of a situation unfolding in real time unless you are there in real time.

An aside...I very well might have been there. Was this 2008ish?

That notwithstanding, all we have to go on is description. Based on what you said initially, there is no way, no how that could be considered MC.

[WIUMP]

An aside...I very well might have been there. Was this 2008ish?

That notwithstanding, all we have to go on is description. Based on what you said initially, there is no way, no how that could be considered MC.

 

 

2012 or 2013. Early April.

[aiber]

Guys, he's right...I would agree that 99% of the time, an umpire is to blame: the guys who didn't take care of business in earlier games.

After being on the administrative side of incidents and ejections in a parks and rec. office for nine years, I agree that umpires are at least complicit in most ejections (I'm not sure its 99%). Passion is part of umpiring (or at least is should be) and sometimes that passion can boil over in the heat of the moment. It doesn't excuse either side but I think its naive to think that most ejections are based solely on the player.

 

I disagree with the notion that "you have to get the player out of you," especially in terms of game management. Embrace the fact that you are or were a player. Embrace that you are or were a coach. Understanding those perspectives will make you better at handling conflict and in turn, a better umpire. One of the most important tools for managing conflict is empathy. The ability to have empathy doesn't make you a "coach's umpire" or a "player's umpire." It allows you to gain more information about how to handle a stressful situation and make better decisions.

 

I intend on playing and coaching as long as my knees and patience will allow. I expect to have a better understanding for all facets of the game though my multiple endeavors.

 

This is such pro-coach 'homerism,' it's just laughable.

 

I don't really have a lot of scalps.  Maybe 6-7 EJs that I can remember, over about 500-600 games.  Let me tell you about three of them - about half that total - and then you can tell me where I was complicit.  Aside from just happening to be on the field as the umpire at the time.

 

1.  In Australia, I called a pitch a strike on a batter.  (Underage - and that matters here.)  Batter turns to me and says "You have to be F*#King joking."  My reply:  "No, I'm not, and you're done."  <Ding!>  So where I was I complicit there?  I'm MORE guilty of leaving messes for future umpires if I don't launch that guy.  It doesn't even matter if the pitch call was right or not - but it was over the inside black of the plate, thigh-high.

 

2.  Head/3rd base coach, Little League.  Two close plays that went against his team at 3rd base, and I'm working the game solo.  After the second one, he yelled out to me - for all to hear - "That's two you've missed, Blue."  <Ding!>  Those were the first words spoken on the issue - what else am I to do?

 

3.  Adult league.  Batter didn't like a strike call.  I felt it hit the outside black.  Without a word he looks at me, and then draws a line parallel to the plate, about 4 inches off the black.  <Ding!>

 

So, please, do tell - other than being the guy in the blue shirt that was assigned to the game, where was my complicity in their jackassery?  Other than mind-reading, these things kind of happened when they happened, and there really wasn't a lot of pre-jackassery that I can recall in any of these.  If anything, there might have been grumbling in the dugout, but we're not supposed to be rabbits out there.

 

Edited to add:  I got empathy, all right - I got empathy coming out my ears.  I reserve that empathy to think to myself "boy, it's gonna suck for THAT guy to miss the end of the ballgame, sitting out in his car like that."

The only situation that I eject for is the first one.

[johnnyg08]

Somebody who starts counting calls could very well end up in the parking lot. 

[scrounge]

 

 

 

Guys, he's right...I would agree that 99% of the time, an umpire is to blame: the guys who didn't take care of business in earlier games.

After being on the administrative side of incidents and ejections in a parks and rec. office for nine years, I agree that umpires are at least complicit in most ejections (I'm not sure its 99%). Passion is part of umpiring (or at least is should be) and sometimes that passion can boil over in the heat of the moment. It doesn't excuse either side but I think its naive to think that most ejections are based solely on the player.

 

I disagree with the notion that "you have to get the player out of you," especially in terms of game management. Embrace the fact that you are or were a player. Embrace that you are or were a coach. Understanding those perspectives will make you better at handling conflict and in turn, a better umpire. One of the most important tools for managing conflict is empathy. The ability to have empathy doesn't make you a "coach's umpire" or a "player's umpire." It allows you to gain more information about how to handle a stressful situation and make better decisions.

 

I intend on playing and coaching as long as my knees and patience will allow. I expect to have a better understanding for all facets of the game though my multiple endeavors.  

This is such pro-coach 'homerism,' it's just laughable.

 

I don't really have a lot of scalps.  Maybe 6-7 EJs that I can remember, over about 500-600 games.  Let me tell you about three of them - about half that total - and then you can tell me where I was complicit.  Aside from just happening to be on the field as the umpire at the time.

 

1.  In Australia, I called a pitch a strike on a batter.  (Underage - and that matters here.)  Batter turns to me and says "You have to be F*#King joking."  My reply:  "No, I'm not, and you're done."  <Ding!>  So where I was I complicit there?  I'm MORE guilty of leaving messes for future umpires if I don't launch that guy.  It doesn't even matter if the pitch call was right or not - but it was over the inside black of the plate, thigh-high.

 

2.  Head/3rd base coach, Little League.  Two close plays that went against his team at 3rd base, and I'm working the game solo.  After the second one, he yelled out to me - for all to hear - "That's two you've missed, Blue."  <Ding!>  Those were the first words spoken on the issue - what else am I to do?

 

3.  Adult league.  Batter didn't like a strike call.  I felt it hit the outside black.  Without a word he looks at me, and then draws a line parallel to the plate, about 4 inches off the black.  <Ding!>

 

So, please, do tell - other than being the guy in the blue shirt that was assigned to the game, where was my complicity in their jackassery?  Other than mind-reading, these things kind of happened when they happened, and there really wasn't a lot of pre-jackassery that I can recall in any of these.  If anything, there might have been grumbling in the dugout, but we're not supposed to be rabbits out there.

 

Edited to add:  I got empathy, all right - I got empathy coming out my ears.  I reserve that empathy to think to myself "boy, it's gonna suck for THAT guy to miss the end of the ballgame, sitting out in his car like that."

The only situation that I eject for is the first one.

 

 

Really? 1 and 3 are fairly automatic and 2 is a stop sign/warning away from being one as well. But if you like that running count and that helpful visual aid of where you missed that pitch, keep on keeping on.

[aiber]

Guys, he's right...I would agree that 99% of the time, an umpire is to blame: the guys who didn't take care of business in earlier games.

After being on the administrative side of incidents and ejections in a parks and rec. office for nine years, I agree that umpires are at least complicit in most ejections (I'm not sure its 99%). Passion is part of umpiring (or at least is should be) and sometimes that passion can boil over in the heat of the moment. It doesn't excuse either side but I think its naive to think that most ejections are based solely on the player.

 

I disagree with the notion that "you have to get the player out of you," especially in terms of game management. Embrace the fact that you are or were a player. Embrace that you are or were a coach. Understanding those perspectives will make you better at handling conflict and in turn, a better umpire. One of the most important tools for managing conflict is empathy. The ability to have empathy doesn't make you a "coach's umpire" or a "player's umpire." It allows you to gain more information about how to handle a stressful situation and make better decisions.

 

I intend on playing and coaching as long as my knees and patience will allow. I expect to have a better understanding for all facets of the game though my multiple endeavors.  

This is such pro-coach 'homerism,' it's just laughable.

 

I don't really have a lot of scalps.  Maybe 6-7 EJs that I can remember, over about 500-600 games.  Let me tell you about three of them - about half that total - and then you can tell me where I was complicit.  Aside from just happening to be on the field as the umpire at the time.

 

1.  In Australia, I called a pitch a strike on a batter.  (Underage - and that matters here.)  Batter turns to me and says "You have to be F*#King joking."  My reply:  "No, I'm not, and you're done."  <Ding!>  So where I was I complicit there?  I'm MORE guilty of leaving messes for future umpires if I don't launch that guy.  It doesn't even matter if the pitch call was right or not - but it was over the inside black of the plate, thigh-high.

 

2.  Head/3rd base coach, Little League.  Two close plays that went against his team at 3rd base, and I'm working the game solo.  After the second one, he yelled out to me - for all to hear - "That's two you've missed, Blue."  <Ding!>  Those were the first words spoken on the issue - what else am I to do?

 

3.  Adult league.  Batter didn't like a strike call.  I felt it hit the outside black.  Without a word he looks at me, and then draws a line parallel to the plate, about 4 inches off the black.  <Ding!>

 

So, please, do tell - other than being the guy in the blue shirt that was assigned to the game, where was my complicity in their jackassery?  Other than mind-reading, these things kind of happened when they happened, and there really wasn't a lot of pre-jackassery that I can recall in any of these.  If anything, there might have been grumbling in the dugout, but we're not supposed to be rabbits out there.

 

Edited to add:  I got empathy, all right - I got empathy coming out my ears.  I reserve that empathy to think to myself "boy, it's gonna suck for THAT guy to miss the end of the ballgame, sitting out in his car like that."

The only situation that I eject for is the first one.

 

Really? 1 and 3 are fairly automatic and 2 is a stop sign/warning away from being one as well. But if you like that running count and that helpful visual aid of where you missed that pitch, keep on keeping on.

I never meant to imply that I like it but let them count all they want. I just cannot justify tossing a coach and then when I am asked why then I say, " Because he said I missed two calls". If anything, I call time and give him a warning. If it happens again, then I send him home.

Same for drawing a line. I call time, take off my mask and say "You show me up like that again and your gone."

I apologize in advanced if the "umpire speak" is not perfect.

[MPLSUMP]

Draw a line? No way! Saw a batter do that to start the game when I was catching. I told him goodbye before the umpire could get it out! The players know they can't do that.

[WIUMP]

Somebody who starts counting calls could very well end up in the parking lot. 

What do you put in your report? The adult league I play in rescinded the plus one game suspension for such an ejection. I don't agree with the league's decision but it seems that umpires often have to "sell" an ejection for it to stick. Working another league isn't always an option.