JV Tournament, Intense Game!

[HuskerUmp22]

I worked a JV game tonight which was between two of the top teams in the state year in and year out. I mean most of these kids would be playing Varsity on 70% of the schools here. Anyway had a couple situations I'd like to share and maybe see what you guys think. 

1) I warned both benches for bench jockying. Here's how it went down. VT F1 picked off five straight times and HT dugout started getting really loud. Making all sorts of comments like: "Oh boy, another one coming!"  Then a little later in the inning VT dugout was making comments. I said: "Time. We don't need any of that. Both dugouts." We finished the inning and HT HC came up to me and said: "Blue, why did you warn both benches there? Neither of our two teams play like that." I replied, "Coach, I thought it was needed and I did not want things to escalate from there." He said, ok but still didn't think there needed to be a warning. I said, Ok. We played on. I never heard much from the benches the rest of the game. Did I handle this ok?

2) Situation: Runners on 1st and 2nd  NO outs. Batter hits a rocket to the outfield and there is a play at the plate. R2 is out at the plate, right after I called him out the Batter Runner is caught in a rundown between 1st and 2nd base. My instinct is to go help my partner by sprinting towards the 1st base side. Well I totally forgot about R1 and he comes all the way around to score and there is a play at the plate. And guess what? I'm all the way down by 1st base having to make that call. It was a close play, but luckily I think I made the right call because nobody said anything about the call. Anyway I felt really embarresed and almost laughed at myself. My partner did not say anything but wow that was the first time anything like that has ever happened to me in 7 years. 

 

It was a great game and the VT won 6-5. I had a couple plays at the plate and felt like I was in a great position both times to see the call. I was 3B extended. 

I also learned from a Varsity game earlier this year where I made a mistake and offered the batter time after the pitcher already started his motion. Tonight the batter asked for time and I said "No time. No time." He adjusted. 

[ElkOil]

It's tough to second guess, having not been there, obviously.  But for me, unless players on one team are saying something against the other and/or making an obvious effort to distract them, I let the kids get rowdy.  Some of the teams around here have taken to doing the Ring of Fire chant from the movie Finding Nemo whenever their batter has a 3-2 count.  It gets loud, but there's no harm in it and I let it go.  It's good fun.

[HuskerUmp22]

It's tough to second guess, having not been there, obviously.  But for me, unless players on one team are saying something against the other and/or making an obvious effort to distract them, I let the kids get rowdy.  Some of the teams around here have taken to doing the Ring of Fire chant from the movie Finding Nemo whenever their batter has a 3-2 count.  It gets loud, but there's no harm in it and I let it go.  It's good fun.

​That's the thing - I thought they were distracting the pitcher and then the other team got loud too. It's a tough call and I might have been a little on the cautious side, but the kids can still have fun without it. 

[ElkOil]

​That's the thing - I thought they were distracting the pitcher and then the other team got loud too. It's a tough call and I might have been a little on the cautious side, but the kids can still have fun without it. 

​Better to be safe than sorry since you felt it was distracting.  Nipping it early is better than reacting after it's too late.

[Blueump]

​Better to be safe than sorry since you felt it was distracting.  Nipping it early is better than reacting after it's too late.

I agree. The coach explaining that neither team "is that way" is exactly the point- not letting them get that way!

I had two local teams this week where the players on each side knew each other well - most were even related. After the first inning I had to have a conversation with both coaches letting them know that the taunting and comments going back and forth between the friends was not going to be tolerated, even though it all "started in fun". I didn't want to have to deal with the "end" when somebody's feelings got hurt. Or if someone took something personal.

[ricka56]

1) I warned both benches for bench jockying. Here's how it went down. VT F1 picked off five straight times and HT dugout started getting really loud. Making all sorts of comments like: "Oh boy, another one coming!"  Then a little later in the inning VT dugout was making comments. I said: "Time. We don't need any of that. Both dugouts."

​These are tough to critique because I wasn't there. There may be times when I am worried, "things" have happened and everyone is on edge. If that is the case, I may be more aggressive and try to shut it down early (as you did). Most times the noise coming from the bench is just noise ...sometimes they say funny $#!+, mostly its just stupid $#!+ and I don't get involved. Without a more grim context, the "Oh boy, another one coming!" comment would hardly register on my trouble radar.   

[HuskerUmp22]

I think I probably was a bit too cautious, but I know both of these teams and things can get heated fast. I just thought a warning would be suitable. 

Anybody have any comments on the second situation? Obviously I know the key is to make sure I know where the runners are at all times, but what are some things I can do different so that doesn't happen again? 

[ElkOil]

I think I probably was a bit too cautious, but I know both of these teams and things can get heated fast. I just thought a warning would be suitable. 

Anybody have any comments on the second situation? Obviously I know the key is to make sure I know where the runners are at all times, but what are some things I can do different so that doesn't happen again? 

​There are a couple of things I will forget:

1.  Rotation with R1.

2.  Conditions under which the BR becomes a runner on D3K.

To remember, I take an extra second to look at the field, figure things out and consciously remind myself what to do.  And then I keep reminding myself after every pitch.  It annoys me that I have to do it, but it's better than forgetting.

If you don't already do something like that, maybe it would help?

[Specks]

1) You felt it needed to be addressed, you handled it, you did fine.

2) It happens, I've done worse. But you probably won't ever let that happen to you again!

3) If a batter requests time and I'm not going to grant it I won't say anything. I don't want him confusing "No Time" for "Time". I don't want to cause possible confusion.

[MadMax]

1) I had the privilege of being a part of a Single-A Farm bench. Your typical JV-age bench can't hold a candle to these cats. All of these guys are trying to make an impression and advance, and they'll "eat their own" if they think it'll get them a step farther. Besides that, who are they going to be accountable to?

2) You probably know this (now), but your first and foremost priority is the plate. Don't let a runner get behind you. If anything, go up the 1BS in foul territory, and instead of keeping your chest towards the ball (as a BU would), keep your chest towards the "other runner" (in your case, R1). Your back will be towards the 1BS dugout. Don't sprint anywhere. Angle trumps distance. You can also help your partner out verbally by saying "You're alone Dan!" or "Take it all, Dan!". A BU should favor more towards the advance base anyway, in your scenario. If you're only able to creep up the line as far as, say, the 45' mark, and you see a tag, by all means call it.

3) As @Specks said, try not to use the "hot word" in your response. I'll say "Play on" or "Nope, pitch is coming".

[catsbackr]

1)  Maybe pull the coaches together and have your conversation rather than announcing, "Time. We don't need any of that. Both dugouts."

 

2)  Listen to MadMax.

[HuskerUmp22]

1) I had the privilege of being a part of a Single-A Farm bench. Your typical JV-age bench can't hold a candle to these cats. All of these guys are trying to make an impression and advance, and they'll "eat their own" if they think it'll get them a step farther. Besides that, who are they going to be accountable to?

2) You probably know this (now), but your first and foremost priority is the plate. Don't let a runner get behind you. If anything, go up the 1BS in foul territory, and instead of keeping your chest towards the ball (as a BU would), keep your chest towards the "other runner" (in your case, R1). Your back will be towards the 1BS dugout. Don't sprint anywhere. Angle trumps distance. You can also help your partner out verbally by saying "You're alone Dan!" or "Take it all, Dan!". A BU should favor more towards the advance base anyway, in your scenario. If you're only able to creep up the line as far as, say, the 45' mark, and you see a tag, by all means call it.

3) As @Specks said, try not to use the "hot word" in your response. I'll say "Play on" or "Nope, pitch is coming".

​Thanks! I like what you said, especially point #2. 

[Mick]

1) You felt it needed to be addressed, you handled it, you did fine.

2) It happens, I've done worse. But you probably won't ever let that happen to you again!

3) If a batter requests time and I'm not going to grant it I won't say anything. I don't want him confusing "No Time" for "Time". I don't want to cause possible confusion.

​Totally agree; Specks saved me the typing.  NEVER say ANYTHING if you don't want to call time.  If you say nothing, no time was called.

[noumpere]

​Totally agree; Specks saved me the typing.  NEVER say ANYTHING if you don't want to call time.  If you say nothing, no time was called.

​I disagree.  I'll say "no" if I am able.  The batter is making a request.  It's better to respond to the request rather than to ignore it.