Dropped bat in protest

[MPLSMatt]

Front end of a JV double header. No trouble from anyone. 1-1 pitch to #34 is a bit down and away but I call a strike (probably a JV strike). 34 shakes his head in dissaproval. Next pitch is belt high right on outside corner and I bang him (honestly, a no brained strike at any level). Player drops his bat on the plate, leaves it for a second then picks it up and walks off grumbling under his breath.

I let him go and after the inning I tell the coach that if there is anymore garbage like that, 34s going home. Coach chews the kid a new one.

Kid was a malcontent the rest of the day (both games), but never said anything to me or did anything ejectable so he stayed.

Did I handle this right or did I just create a problem for the next guy who umps this kid?

[scrounge]

Just for that? Nah, you were fine...and sounds like the coach is doing the right thing so that it doesn't happen to the next guy. If he flung or threw the bat or yelled or something, sure - pull that trigger. But just for this passive-aggressive grumbling, I think you handled it just fine.

[ElkOil]

That's a coaching problem, not an umpiring one.  Well handled.

[MPLSMatt]

Cool. In my head I thought that this might be analogous to pointing to a spot in the dirt and the old school guys would say that I wasn't taking care of my business. Thanks for the feedback.

[umpstu]

Let the coach handle it and similar situations.  That's his job.  And a good job by you for letting that happen.

[maven]

You did fine. HS, I think I'd address it with the player and let coach hear me in case he wants to follow up.

 

Below that, maybe be more explicit about it being a teachable moment concerning expected behavior. I take every opportunity to let coaches see that we're on the same side, teaching the kids.

[catsbackr]

What's wrong with, " knock it off,34!"?

[zoops]

"You better get back to the dugout in a hurry 34."

[kstrunk]

I had a similar situation on Friday night. JV player complaining loud enough to hear but not shouting, walked back to the dugout, flung his bat, and cursed loudly. He was the 3rd out, so I strolled quietly toward his coach, said 'coach, he'll want to find some self-control pretty quickly'. Coach agreed, chewed on him a bit, and when the kid came onto the field, he respectfully apologized and said it wouldn't happen again. 

[webspinnre]

I had a similar situation on Friday night. JV player complaining loud enough to hear but not shouting, walked back to the dugout, flung his bat, and cursed loudly. He was the 3rd out, so I strolled quietly toward his coach, said 'coach, he'll want to find some self-control pretty quickly'. Coach agreed, chewed on him a bit, and when the kid came onto the field, he respectfully apologized and said it wouldn't happen again. 

​How loudly are we talking?

[woodiemiller]

Front end of a JV double header. No trouble from anyone. 1-1 pitch to #34 is a bit down and away but I call a strike (probably a JV strike). 34 shakes his head in dissaproval. Next pitch is belt high right on outside corner and I bang him (honestly, a no brained strike at any level). Player drops his bat on the plate, leaves it for a second then picks it up and walks off grumbling under his breath.

 

I let him go and after the inning I tell the coach that if there is anymore garbage like that, 34s going home. Coach chews the kid a new one.

 

Kid was a malcontent the rest of the day (both games), but never said anything to me or did anything ejectable so he stayed.

 

Did I handle this right or did I just create a problem for the next guy who umps this kid?

​At the JV level thats ok. Higher levels & its an automatic ejection of #34.

Edited April 30, 2015 by woodiemiller

[kstrunk]

​How loudly are we talking?

Probably, just loudly enough for his team and I to hear, but it wasn't personal, or at least I didn't take it personally.