What would you do?

[bluejerred]

14U. Team A is crushing the ball on Team B but the batters are standing at the front of the box because the pitcher can hardly get it over the plate (for whatever reason).  Coach and company will not stop complaining about the batter's foot location (they say it's out of the box).  Chalk lines are blurry but it's borderline so no call for foot out of the box on the batter and I shake them off.  Coach tells the catcher to draw a box so I can see the batter's box lines and the catcher borrows the batter's bat and draws a batter's box.  What would you do?

[lawump]

This is a HTBT in order to determine the coach's tone, attitude, etc.  If you're sure that the batters have not left the box, a stern "the batters have all been in the box," followed by "that's enough!" if they continue to argue is how to handle it. 

 

When the coach yells at the catcher to get the bat and draw a box, I would say, "son, if you touch that bat you are going to be ejected."  Then I would say to the coach, "sorry, your catcher is not playing groundskeeper today."  (At this age level, it is important to tell the coach that YOU are not letting the catcher touch the bat, that way the catcher doesn't get in trouble with his coach for not listening to the coach.)  You are probably going to have to eject...but that happens sometimes when a team is getting "crushed" and the team wants to blame someone, or something, other than themselves.

 

Another quote I have used is, "do you want me to focus on the pitch or on the batter's feet?  I can't do both.  I'll watch either one you want...you pick...but if I watch the feet I won't be calling too many strikes.  If they are so out of the box that they are gaining an unfair advantage, I'll see it."  (They'll probably come back with, "well you haven't seen it yet."  But, I would just let it go...they just want the last word.)

 

If the coach is a real jerk and you WANT to toss him you can bait him with, "get me a pitcher who can reach the plate and we won't have this problem."  (I don't recommend this at the 14U level, BTW)

[johnnyg08]

14U. Team A is crushing the ball on Team B but the batters are standing at the front of the box because the pitcher can hardly get it over the plate (for whatever reason).  Coach and company will not stop complaining about the batter's foot location (they say it's out of the box).  Chalk lines are blurry but it's borderline so no call for foot out of the box on the batter and I shake them off.  Coach tells the catcher to draw a box so I can see the batter's box lines and the catcher borrows the batter's bat and draws a batter's box.  What would you do?

 

Are you working 1 man?   

 

I would shut the coaches down right away.  Guys "I've got him/them  in the box, we're not going there anymore today.  If I have them out of the box, rest assured, you'll here me make that call and none of it requires your assistance.  Let's play ball."   I would also tell the catcher that "we're not going to be drawing any lines here today, especially with the opponents' bats."

[Jocko]

Only field crew can draw lines. Period. I'd shut it down QUICKLY! And issue warnings if I must. But it WILL stop. And it will stop IMMEDIATELY! CAPICHE?

[bluejerred]

Thanks gents.  I've been taking steps to review my game management techniques.  Obviously reading "Verbal Judo" but also trying to get a sense of what should roll off my back and what shouldn't.  There are times during a game where I get that "adrenaline shot" or a feeling that someone shouldn't be saying or doing something, but I've still been trying to determine what I should roll off my back and what I should take action on.  Have any of you struggled with this and if so, what have you learned/done?

[johnnyg08]

Thanks gents.  I've been taking steps to review my game management techniques.  Obviously reading "Verbal Judo" but also trying to get a sense of what should roll off my back and what shouldn't.  There are times during a game where I get that "adrenaline shot" or a feeling that someone shouldn't be saying or doing something, but I've still been trying to determine what I should roll off my back and what I should take action on.  Have any of you struggled with this and if so, what have you learned/done?

 

You are taking the right approach and it is an art determining what to let roll off of your back because each situation (aside from the automatics) is unique.

[UmpireFever]

Ask them how big the batters box is supposed to be? When they look at you real dumb put the ball back in play while they scratch their heads.

[umpstu]

14U. Team A is crushing the ball on Team B but the batters are standing at the front of the box because the pitcher can hardly get it over the plate (for whatever reason).  Coach and company will not stop complaining about the batter's foot location (they say it's out of the box).  Chalk lines are blurry but it's borderline so no call for foot out of the box on the batter and I shake them off.  Coach tells the catcher to draw a box so I can see the batter's box lines and the catcher borrows the batter's bat and draws a batter's box.  What would you do?

Could care less about your question, just love the dolphins.  Barbel, Birmingham and Parche.  Bubbleheads rock.

[bluejerred]

 

14U. Team A is crushing the ball on Team B but the batters are standing at the front of the box because the pitcher can hardly get it over the plate (for whatever reason).  Coach and company will not stop complaining about the batter's foot location (they say it's out of the box).  Chalk lines are blurry but it's borderline so no call for foot out of the box on the batter and I shake them off.  Coach tells the catcher to draw a box so I can see the batter's box lines and the catcher borrows the batter's bat and draws a batter's box.  What would you do?

Could care less about your question, just love the dolphins.  Barbel, Birmingham and Parche.  Bubbleheads rock.

 

Parche is definitely a special command.  Was on the Louisville.  Submarines once, submarines twice....

[Rich Ives]

Ask them how big the batters box is supposed to be? When they look at you real dumb put the ball back in play while they scratch their heads.

 

What if they answer "6' x 4' (3' in 12U) centered on home plate and 6" (4" in 12U) off the plate."

 

Then what will you say?

[Rich Ives]

Only field crew can draw lines. Period. I'd shut it down QUICKLY! And issue warnings if I must. But it WILL stop. And it will stop IMMEDIATELY! CAPICHE?

 

At my youth league (up through 16U) the coaches are the field crew. Pretty common in a rec league I think - at least around where I live.

[johnnyg08]

 

Ask them how big the batters box is supposed to be? When they look at you real dumb put the ball back in play while they scratch their heads.

 

What if they answer "6' x 4' (3' in 12U) centered on home plate and 6" (4" in 12U) off the plate."

 

Then what will you say?

 

 

"Then get out here and redraw the lines.  Otherwise zip it and play ball"

[HokieUmp]

 

Ask them how big the batters box is supposed to be? When they look at you real dumb put the ball back in play while they scratch their heads.

 

What if they answer "6' x 4' (3' in 12U) centered on home plate and 6" (4" in 12U) off the plate."

 

Then what will you say?

 

 

Question is irrelevant, Your Honor - at the plate meeting, I KNOW neither head coach was named Rich Ives.  (aka, The World's Only Living Baseball Coach That Knows The Rules.)

 

Therefore, the scenario as described will never happen.

 

 

(And before you point out how coaches are often grounds staff, remember:  they use a metal template, and have no idea how big that metal thing is.  Someone bought it one year, and that was that.)

[elares]

I had a coach try to get me to call the batter out for stepping out of the box when there were no lines at all.  I tried to laugh it off.  Then when he persisted, I told him the kid was okay.  Not out of the box. 

Next game with this coach, at the plate meeting, he points to the minutes-old chalk lines and asks "Is that a batters box".  I said yes.  he asked again.  This went around a few times until I told him that if he said the words "batters box" one more time he would have ejected himself.  I hear he is still upset that I threatened to eject him over asking a simple question.

[NovaScotiaBlue]

I had a coach try to get me to call the batter out for stepping out of the box when there were no lines at all.  I tried to laugh it off.  Then when he persisted, I told him the kid was okay.  Not out of the box. 

Next game with this coach, at the plate meeting, he points to the minutes-old chalk lines and asks "Is that a batters box".  I said yes.  he asked again.  This went around a few times until I told him that if he said the words "batters box" one more time he would have ejected himself.  I hear he is still upset that I threatened to eject him over asking a simple question.

This went around a few times???...He's reviving an old argument and situation in a new game. I know it's easy to say after the fact but in my opinion you could have and should have had your first plate meeting ejection. 

[johnnyg08]

Agree, this easily could have been your first plate meeting ejection.

[elares]

Agree, this easily could have been your first plate meeting ejection.

....and kicking myself for missing it EVERY TIME I see that guy.  

[Replacematt]

he points to the minutes-old chalk lines and asks "Is that a batters box".

"Is that the parking lot?"

[Mr Umpire]

I would not ask the coach any question.  I would only say "I have him in the box. Let's play on."  If he proceeds with F2 drawing the line, I would simply tell F2 not to do it.  I will not threaten F2.  I will only tell him not to.  He can infer what comes next.

 

This leaves it open for me to handle it any way I see fit.  Plus, it adds no fuel to the coach's fire.  He will only see his F2 do nothing and ask him in the dugout.  Also, if he wants to continue, he will get himself upset and be viewed as the aggressor.  EJ will come easily enough once I tell him "That's enough."

 

Asking the coach a question only makes the umpire look like a smarta$$ and the aggressor.