Game Management

[jlutgen0]

Hello everyone, I haven't posted in a long time, as I have been lurking, but I am about to begin my second season working kid pitch and want some advice on game management.

 

What are some tips that you have for handling coaches when working the plate? Last season I seemed to be to passive, waiting to go talk to coaches between innings and that allowed a couple of situations to escalate to ejections. I just want to learn as much as I can before I start working in three weeks. Also, what kind of mental checklist do you go through before ejecting a coach and when should/shouldn't a coach be ejected?

 

Thank  you so much!

[ALStripes17]

ALS -

Why am I finding myself on defense over something so trivial? You had to be there and see it. It was no big deal. The first guy just did not seem serious enough to even make me think of removing him, if he did, I'd have sent him. To "have to" punish him is Nazi-think. My action had the desired effect. I see that as good enough. The situation was in control. I did not harm anyone, my fellow umpires included, by bringing him around to my way of thinking with a simple question.

 

Rule 9.01 (d) says an umpire "has the authority to disqualify any player, coach, or manager", it does not say that the umpire "shall" disqualify any player coach or manager for language, unsportsmanlike behavior, etc.. That does not force our hand, it leaves us room for discretion.

 

Maybe I'm so tough that a baby punch goes unnoticed, I'm not trying to say that, (besides it hit the chest protector, so throw out the tough guy theory). Maybe I'm so secure in my self that when a guy apologizes, we can get back to baseball, and everything will be OK. Maybe that it was so easily mistaken for unintentional, because I'm hard-of-hearing and he might have been trying to request me to call time, then I called a balk on his boy, maybe that is why I keep a lot of slack in my system. It works for me. You had to see the game, I sort of remember thinking that I over-reacted, not under. Get my drift?  I'm not advocating a lack of control here, just the right amount of slack / control. A zealot umpire with a quick trigger finger spoils all the fun. One with no control lets a game get out of hand. The line in between is where we do our best work.THAT'S WHAT I'M ADVOCATING.

Not a single person here has talked about thick skin, little skin, or lack of skin.

And physical contact is far from trivial. Out of all the high-level umpires on this forum, why is it that you are the one man army? Quote rules all you want but physical contact is an immediate ejection in every practical practice of the avocation. I have not questioned your integrity or ability as an umpire in this discussion. I (and nearly all others) have a problem with not ejecting on physical contact as described. That leeway isn't taught anywhere.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

[Kevin_K]

Methinks a hijacking has occurred!?

[Out&UglyToo]

Now you are reaching. Rules are on my side. It's my judgement. You weren't there. Shall we drop it or act like internet trolls?

[Replacematt]

37 minutes ago, Out&UglyToo said:

Now you are reaching. Rules are on my side. It's my judgement. You weren't there. Shall we drop it or act like internet trolls?

Yes, please stop acting like a troll and learn something. 

[ElkOil]

27 minutes ago, Out&UglyToo said:

Now you are reaching. Rules are on my side. It's my judgement. You weren't there. Shall we drop it or act like internet trolls?

If I may offer a supporting perspective on this, please indulge me.

You're correct that you must apply your judgement and armchair quarterbacking this incident by all of us who weren't there is too easy to do. When we develop our skills, we do so from the starting point of training in most cases.  This is to help us learn not only what constitutes a judgement call, but also how to exercise our judgement so we can meet expectations properly and maintain a uniform image and respect at any level of play. And the type of judgement you exercised in your story is different than simply judging if someone is safe or out. It's judging whether or not someone violated what I'd argue is the one absolute no-no in sports. So pervasive schools of thought rise to the top. In this case, the shared opinion is the touching of an umpire, unless friendly or incidental, is forbidden and must be dealt with immediately by ejecting the offender. Every coach, player, parent and fan needs to know there is one line that if crossed, will be harshly dealt with. For this, there should be no judgement. We can't have people toe that line or try stepping over it because the umpire may not judge the violation to be worthy of an ejection on some given day. For this we should be unified in our judgement and never allow the type of physical contact you mentioned to not be met with an immediate ejection.

[ElkOil]

On 3/23/2016 at 9:28 PM, jlutgen0 said:

Hello everyone, I haven't posted in a long time, as I have been lurking, but I am about to begin my second season working kid pitch and want some advice on game management.

 

What are some tips that you have for handling coaches when working the plate? Last season I seemed to be to passive, waiting to go talk to coaches between innings and that allowed a couple of situations to escalate to ejections. I just want to learn as much as I can before I start working in three weeks. Also, what kind of mental checklist do you go through before ejecting a coach and when should/shouldn't a coach be ejected?

 

Thank  you so much!

My tip would be to establish a friendly rapport without being sociable at the plate meeting. During the game, there really isn't the need to engage in conversation unless a coach asks you about a call. Other than that, or unless you update them on time remaining or something game-related, there's no need to have a conversation. Don't misunderstand by thinking I'm advocating being stand-offish. Rather, the coaches are busy coaching and you should keep busy umpring.

[ZebraStripes]

I call as many as 5 sports and called 300 games last year.  I have called more than 1000 games in my career and I have never had a coach so much as touch me, much less punch me.  If one did and I did not eject him, the other participants in that game may see me as a push over and escalate things in that game, or in a future game.  You have already set precedent that you aren't going to eject for a punch thrown.  No matter how weakly the punch is, or even if it doesn't connect, the person that attempted it is gone.  No questions asked.  I tossed a kid in a football game last year for throwing and missing a punch.  Balls, strikes, safe, out, fair and foul are non-negotiable.  The same can be said for throwing a punch.

[noumpere]

Is it April 1 already?

[scrounge]

24 minutes ago, noumpere said:

Is it April 1 already?

Yea, I'm starting to think we're watching the work of a performance artist here...

[Sprink]

If you allow certain behavior with out consequence or ejection, it will most likely continue in future games.  After coaching and officiating for 15 years in multiple sports, I've seen way too many young officials hang it up due to out of control coaches or parents who assume their freedom of speech trumps good sportsmanship.  Most of us on here have thick enough skin to handle most anything thrown at us - it's the kid just starting out that may get this a-hole the next game.  I have two boys that started reffing soccer at 14-15 y.o. and like to look at situations as if I was in the stands watching a coach do this to my (or any other) kid.  If you would find it unacceptable then, it shouldn't be tolerated now.  This is tempered a bit by the level of play (I'll usually give a varsity coach more rope than a 12u coach).

[ricka56]

On 3/24/2016 at 1:49 PM, Out&UglyToo said:

I remind the coach that argumentum ad homineum is usually grounds for ejectum ad coacheum. 

Coach: iss-Kay y-May ss-Aay

[PonyUmpire]

Develop a reputation as being approachable, but not tolerating arguing for the sake of arguing. Then, you can turn to a coach and say "come on Bill, you know I'm not going to argue balls and strikes with you", and that will often be the end of it.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Out&UglyToo]

On 3/24/2016 at 4:00 PM, scrounge said:

You would have felt mean ejecting the guy who PUNCHED you?!?

So which would you consider yourself?

Option A: 

or Option B:

Neither, but I'd consider YOU Option C, but the photo is not appropriate to display publicly. I just figure that you need to get tougher and take things in stride and presume respect rather than HAVE TO assert it. The rules support me - it's my judgement - not you. Stop the internet trolling and move on.

If you'd had a gun and 146 bullets, you would have shot the guy 146 times. I'd have left the gun in my holster, told him to please get back in the dugout, and said "Play ball".

 

On 3/24/2016 at 4:00 PM, scrounge said:

I

 

[ElkOil]

On 3/25/2016 at 8:39 PM, Out&UglyToo said:

ALS -

Why am I finding myself on defense over something so trivial? You had to be there and see it. It was no big deal. The first guy just did not seem serious enough to even make me think of removing him, if he did, I'd have sent him. To "have to" punish him is Nazi-think. My action had the desired effect. I see that as good enough. The situation was in control. I did not harm anyone, my fellow umpires included, by bringing him around to my way of thinking with a simple question.

 

Rule 9.01 (d) says an umpire "has the authority to disqualify any player, coach, or manager", it does not say that the umpire "shall" disqualify any player coach or manager for language, unsportsmanlike behavior, etc.. That does not force our hand, it leaves us room for discretion.

 

Maybe I'm so tough that a baby punch goes unnoticed, I'm not trying to say that, (besides it hit the chest protector, so throw out the tough guy theory). Maybe I'm so secure in my self that when a guy apologizes, we can get back to baseball, and everything will be OK. Maybe that it was so easily mistaken for unintentional, because I'm hard-of-hearing and he might have been trying to request me to call time, then I called a balk on his boy, maybe that is why I keep a lot of slack in my system. It works for me. You had to see the game, I sort of remember thinking that I over-reacted, not under. Get my drift?  I'm not advocating a lack of control here, just the right amount of slack / control. A zealot umpire with a quick trigger finger spoils all the fun. One with no control lets a game get out of hand. The line in between is where we do our best work.THAT'S WHAT I'M ADVOCATING.

I have to correct you where you're wrong, and this is a case where you're clearly wrong.  In the 2016 FED Rules Book, 3-3-1q states "A coach...shall not have physical contact, spit, kick dirt or engage in any other physical action directed toward an umpire. PENALTY: The umpire shall eject the offender from the game."

For some reason you insist on standing on unfounded principles and compound it by deciding to not follow the rules as stated in the book. I don't get it.

[Out&UglyToo]

On 3/25/2016 at 11:09 PM, ElkOil said:

If I may offer a supporting perspective on this, please indulge me.

You're correct that you must apply your judgement and armchair quarterbacking this incident by all of us who weren't there is too easy to do. When we develop our skills, we do so from the starting point of training in most cases.  This is to help us learn not only what constitutes a judgement call, but also how to exercise our judgement so we can meet expectations properly and maintain a uniform image and respect at any level of play. And the type of judgement you exercised in your story is different than simply judging if someone is safe or out. It's judging whether or not someone violated what I'd argue is the one absolute no-no in sports. So pervasive schools of thought rise to the top. In this case, the shared opinion is the touching of an umpire, unless friendly or incidental, is forbidden and must be dealt with immediately by ejecting the offender. Every coach, player, parent and fan needs to know there is one line that if crossed, will be harshly dealt with. For this, there should be no judgement. We can't have people toe that line or try stepping over it because the umpire may not judge the violation to be worthy of an ejection on some given day. For this we should be unified in our judgement and never allow the type of physical contact you mentioned to not be met with an immediate ejection.

Thank you , Elk Oil, I agree, after they change the rule. But until then, it's judgement, and we lose ground as skilled judges and our hands are forced by the new rule. No big deal in this case, but the trend eventually removes the need for umpires, doesn't it?

 

Zebra - I did not set a precedent as a push-over.  I guarantee that nobody thinks that of me. I set it as a guy who is secure and in control of himself, and conducted a great game. Both coaches said, "Good game, Blue" when it was over. If you are not that secure in yourself, don't let it show. The John McGraws of the game will eat you alive.

 

Ricka - I don't think that your Pig Latin is appropriate for an umpire to say in any situation. It sounds confrontational, like escalation. We take a stance of neutrality and never light a fire under a coaches gluteus maximus, but if he continues to take the wrong track, we do eject his gluteus maximus along with the rest of him. Maybe you ought to consider some other occupation, or better yet, get control of the language and keep on making great calls and wearing the uniform. Do that, and I'll take a game with you any time, brother.

 

Sprink - There's no stinking way I projected a push-over. It did not set any kind of negative  precedent that anybody picked up on as such at that game. 

I don't really recall being sure it was a violent act at first. I am hard-of-hearing and thought he was likely trying to get my attention. I warned him that it was a bump and he responded in the only way that he could have to get out of an ejection, which reinforced my feeling that he was only trying to get me to see him. Had I thought it was violent, he would have been gone. The way it went, ejecting him would have been the wrong thing to do.

 

Getting back to the topic, I have always considered that the umpire is not the show, the players are. We call balls, strikes, fair or foul balls, safe or out, and sometimes we do discipline coaches and players at the level appropriate to most benefit the game. The. only time we should be noticed is when there is a close play.

We ALWAYS have something to think about, to react to, to hustle into position for, etc. The mechanics of perfect umpire form are almost non-stop during a game. I've always felt that I owe the boys the very best game I can give them, and that as an umpire, perfect is almost good enough in baseball. So I'm hard on myself to be the best possible so that the players can be the show.

[scrounge]

blah blah blah fishcakes....you may break an ankle as fast as you're walking back the original story.

Either you totally misrepresented the original situation or you're changing it now in the face of virtually everyone properly reacting at how badly mishandled it was. I'm sure you'll respond with 19 paragraphs of pontificating prose on how wrong this I am on this. Either way, no f#$% given.

Good day, sir.

[LMSANS]

I'm locking this up.  The discussion has deteriorated enough.