Ohhhhhhhh boy...

[ElkOil]

Tonight was my first time with this particular long-time veteran umpire.  Well-respected in our chapter.  Former vice president.  He tells me I have the plate.  It's gonna be awesome, and I can't wait.  MSBL/MABL.  Before this goes any further, understand this:  My partner is super nice guy.  Sincere and genuine.  Keep that in mind when you read the rest of this because at no point was he a jerk -- he genuinely believed what he did was the right thing to do.

 

Game gets going well.  I'm locked in.  I feel like I can't miss.  Things couldn't be better.

 

Yeah, you know it's coming...

 

Hit to the outfield, R2 rounds 3B, full head of steam coming home.  Play at the plate.  F2 gets the throw, steps into the running lane, R2 pulls up trying to soften the blow and they collide.  Not bad, nobody hurt.  The league has a no-collision rule.  I call R2 out (he was out on the tag, anyway).  I'm confident there was no MC, so I'm already moving on.  Then it happens.

 

My partner comes over to me and says the runner must be ejected by rule.  I read their rules previous to the game and am confident EJs after contact are by umpire discretion.  He feels just as sure that they're mandatory and tells me to EJ the runner.  I start to feel real funny.  He's insisting.  I go talk to the coach and do my level best to show a unified front with my partner, but I know he's wrong and EJing a player in this organization has real consequences, so I don't take it lightly.  So I had a very awkward conversation and it ends with the coach saying that we have discretion.  He's right, of course.

 

Then my partner comes over because we're taking entirely too long to have this discussion.  I said to him privately that I don't feel right doing this, and he insists the deed has to be done.  I start to feel like I'm in a weird scene from whatever the umpire equivalent is of the movie Training Day.  After I hemmed and hawed some more, he talks with the coach and the player and then it got real weird.

 

He cuts a deal.  Yes, makes a bargain by saying the player has to sit out the rest of the game, but he won't report it to the league.  Kind of an unofficial ejection.  WTF???  What was the point of that???  I was so baffled, I had no words.  I just apologized to him for taking so long and trotted back to the plate.

 

During our post-game, he was just as insistent about it.  When I got home, I looked the rule up, of course, and confirmed EJs after contact are at the umpire's discretion.

 

Now what do I do?  I have two more games with him in the next few days.  And he's a very influential part of my umpiring future.  Part of me is content to do nothing, yet part of my really wants to email him a link the the web site with the rule.  Or something.  I don't know.

 

Over to you all...

[Jocko]

(Insert partner's name), After the game, I wamted to have a full understanding of the rule. So when I got home I looked it up. Here's the rule (give rule reference). What am I missing about the mandatory ejection?

Put the onus on him. If he's worth his salt, he'll say something like, "damn. You were right."

[Cav]

Former vice president...  

 

His name wasn't Joe Biden, was it?  Oh, yeah, you said former vice.  Probably Dan Quayle then.

[blue23ll]

Part of being a good umpire is willingness to learn and being open to learning. Here is a 'teachable moment' for you to assist him in that. 

[Aging_Arbiter]

Agreed.  Don't kiss @$$, just ask.  Look, here is how I read it, please explain what I am missing so I can enforce the interp correctly.  If it's anything other than like @Jocko said, well, it might be a long road..........

 

@blue23ll said teachable moment

[BretMan]

If "F2 got the throw, then stepped into the running lane" why would the collision be the runner's fault and why would he be penalized?

 

How does this league want it called if the fielder suddenly and unavoidably steps into the path of an otherwise legally advancing runner? If you fault the runner for contact initiated by the fielder, it seems like there would be a huge incentive for fielders to always jump into a runner's path.

[Tksjewelry]

I look up more to umpires that are willing to say they were/are wrong (to me) and take the time to check after the game. Here's a warning though. A lot more umpires read this site then ever post or sign up. Be careful when posting about a partners muck-ups, especially ones that have influence over your association. My mom always said "don't put it writing if you don't want it on the front page of the Times".

[ElkOil]

I look up more to umpires that are willing to say they were/are wrong (to me) and take the time to check after the game. Here's a warning though. A lot more umpires read this site then ever post or sign up. Be careful when posting about a partners muck-ups, especially ones that have influence over your association. My mom always said "don't put it writing if you don't want it on the front page of the Times".

 

That's why I don't publicize my location, name or association.  And I hope nothing disparaging came across.  My partner is a good guy and a good ump.  In this case, he just pooched the rules and the call.

[ElkOil]

If "F2 got the throw, then stepped into the running lane" why would the collision be the runner's fault and why would he be penalized?

 

How does this league want it called if the fielder suddenly and unavoidably steps into the path of an otherwise legally advancing runner? If you fault the runner for contact initiated by the fielder, it seems like there would be a huge incentive for fielders to always jump into a runner's path.

 

Well, if there's not an imminent play, that would be MC.  Here's the text of the rule (my emphasis in bold regarding the OP):

 

8. COLLISIONS/FAKE TAGS

Base runners shall not collide with any defensive players. In the case of a base runner colliding with a fielder, the base runner will be called out and may, at the umpire's discretion, be ejected from the game. All base runners may either slide or give up their right to a base (avoid a collision by stopping or leaving a base path) and/or, if the defensive player (e.g. catcher) has possession of the ball, is in the act of receiving the ball, or is about to immediately receive the ball and will be able to make an apparent play on the base runner. Fake tags are not allowed.

[catsbackr]

I'm pretty sure Malicious Contact and contact or a collision have entirely different definitions.  Wording like intent to injure or intent to dislodge the ball come to mind.