Interesting coach's perspective

[mstaylor]

I emailed a coach about a couple of situations, gave him rule cites and casebook references. In his response he said that umpires shouldn't make a difference in a game. He basically was saying that if it would impact a game we should pass on the call. I told him that while we prefer not to have to make a game changing call, sometimes it happens. Sometimes we have to balk in a winning run or other ending call.

I don't know of any way to umpire any other way. I didn't want to piss him off because he is a good coach as far as baseball is concerned but he just doesn't have a realistic view of what we do and why.

[carolinablue]

The "Impact calls " are the reason were there more or less. Most of the calls could probably be made by spectators. Oh yeah, and somebody needs to know the rules.

[yawetag]

The "Impact calls " are the reason were there more or less. Most of the calls could probably be made by spectators. Oh yeah, and somebody needs to know the rules.

This. We're not there to make the easy calls. We're there to make the difficult calls and ensure the game is played fairly within the prescribed rules. If players, coaches, and managers played the game honestly, we wouldn't need umpires.

[mstaylor]

I guess I am going to have to explain the 80/20 rule split to him. He is an excellent coach, he knows how to teach and how to coach a team but he really believes umpires should be background noise.

I have never understood this. Sometimes an umpire is going to hurt you by making a tough call but it is also sometimes you are going to really want a tough call.

[poppyfor3]

And some people don't want the cops----even when they're needed. Go figure.

[carolinablue]

We have all had games that went scary smoothe. All easy calls, good pitching, not a word from anyone but even then there will always be at least one call at some point that's tough. I had a game last seaason like that, we were in the bottom of the sixth in a 1-1 game with a R1 and 1 out, I balked the pitcher because he did a jump turn to 1B and didn't throw the ball. The game went from Heaven to Hell in one second. The coach thought it was a BS call but it was a balk and of course the next batter singled in the winning run. When I made the call, I wasn't even considering the situation, I just saw a balk and called it. The coaches just can't seem to understand that. I don't think I have ever seen a single game that could have been played without an umpire making a tough call,

[dumbdumb]

And I guess we are suppose to read the book he wrote explaining the calls that we should make and the calls we should ignore, with explanations and case book plays of all the ones we should get and all the ones we should leave alone, and that all the coaches the world over agree with all the calls we should ignore and the ones we should penalize that are in his wonderfully written book, also with pictures and diagrams. Wonder if he would feel that way in all situations or just the ones that would benefit him.

[txump81]

Most coaches just want the calls to go their way and don't know well enough when the rule states otherwise.

[mstaylor]

I had a situation yesterday that made me unhappy. About the fourth inning my partner takes a foul ball in the arm. The varsity catcher was pitching so the backup was behind the plate. He isn't game aware enough to know to go to the mound to give the PU a couple of seconds. I went in and talked to the pitcher for a second to give him time. In the sixth, 6-4-3 DP, F6 didn't catch the ball clean so he was a little late getting to second. The throw to first was late, so I had out at second, safe at first. R1 did not slide so the F1 asked me if he had to slide. I explained no buut he also couldn't alter the play. I didn't have anything because I turned with the throw, I told him it was the PU's call and he would have to talk to him. He asked if he could go talk to him, I said sure. The PU told him he had nothing, he said thanks and went back to the mound.

The OM calls time and goes to my partner says he knows I didn't just send the player to him for a call. My partner said I certainly did, it was his call to make so he referred the player to him. The manager said it was bush. The PU said it wasn't bush to send the complaint to the calling umpire. The asst walked by and said it was the second time I had talked to him on the mound and it looked like I was coaching him. I was not happy that they were questioning my integrety.

[amarillo]

questioning integrity from an assistant coach = restricted or dumped

[kwiggie]

And I guess we are suppose to read the book he wrote explaining the calls that we should make and the calls we should ignore,

Reminds me of a great post I read on this site several years ago "What other rules would you like me to "not" enforce coach!!!!" Don't remember whom it came from but it stuck with me, it is the seperation of the men\women who can make the rough ones and the ones who can not (IMO).

I am put into a situation several times every season were I am working a game in my home town (moved back after 15yrs. away) with my wife and kids sitting, chamiserating,drinking, and generally whooping it up with old accuantices\friends and family of mine. All of the sudden with a "close one at first" I am put in a precarious position to favor my home town or get the call right (= backlash for me and my family)...

The call WILL be made correctly! That is what I am paid for, that is why I am here, that is what I bring to the table, if they (home town boys) want a 'loose" official,then they can go find one! If they want integrity, honesty, and a reputation of hiring competant officials that work their games in a fair and un-bias fashion then they have me. I will not jepoerdize my integrity for the sake of any coach, or "home town" ferver, getting swept up in the moment. Integrity is everything to me, it takes years to build but it can take moments to destroy!

Sorry for the rant but this topic is one that touches me everyday... every Spring\Summer

[carolinablue]

And I guess we are suppose to read the book he wrote explaining the calls that we should make and the calls we should ignore,

Reminds me of a great post I read on this site several years ago "What other rules would you like me to "not" enforce coach!!!!" Don't remember whom it came from but it stuck with me, it is the seperation of the men\women who can make the rough ones and the ones who can not (IMO).

I am put into a situation several times every season were I am working a game in my home town (moved back after 15yrs. away) with my wife and kids sitting, chamiserating,drinking, and generally whooping it up with old accuantices\friends and family of mine. All of the sudden with a "close one at first" I am put in a precarious position to favor my home town or get the call right (= backlash for me and my family)...

The call WILL be made correctly! That is what I am paid for, that is why I am here, that is what I bring to the table, if they (home town boys) want a 'loose" official,then they can go find one! If they want integrity, honesty, and a reputation of hiring competant officials that work their games in a fair and un-bias fashion then they have me. I will not jepoerdize my integrity for the sake of any coach, or "home town" ferver, getting swept up in the moment. Integrity is everything to me, it takes years to build but it can take moments to destroy!

Sorry for the rant but this topic is one that touches me everyday... every Spring\Summer

I have said it before and I'll say it again. The more I umpire the more I realize I would rather be sent somewhere where nobody knows me and I don't know anybody.