My First Ejection

[HokieUmp]

On 10/27/2022 at 1:00 PM, ArchAngel72 said:

 

Hokie I will check in here and say look at the place and level.  Fall Ball Majors.  

Yeah I think we need to do anything and everything here at Fall Ball to teach not only the kids.  But the Coaches and Managers as well. 

 

"Hey coach there is a lot more to why that is a quick pitch. Lets chat about that between innings please"

Arch, I'm not in complete disagreement with you ...... but I disagree.  I DO get what you're saying.  But I'm either too old and/or too grouchy to make it my mission to teach coaches and managers.  We're doing fall ball of similar ages (sanctioning body unknown) here in my new home of North Cackalacky, so I've been happy to have a word with players, especially pitching, since they're all over the place.  And new to it.

But having to tell a coach or manager how to behave and act on a ballfield?  Nah.  Not my gig.  Those are grown-ass men, so they should already have X years of life to teach them not to act like douchenozzles.  So when they argue and carry on, they need to just be dealt with - either shutting them down, or ejecting them.  And given the way I'm seeing some of them act, I'm DEFINITELY not inviting them to discuss it between games.

It's a cynical take, I realize.  But I feel I've earned it.

[boyinr]

@MarsOmegabetter late than never.  He should have thanked you for letting him stay for 4 extra innings. 

[ArchAngel72]

On 10/28/2022 at 5:37 PM, HokieUmp said:

Arch, I'm not in complete disagreement with you ...... but I disagree.  I DO get what you're saying.  But I'm either too old and/or too grouchy to make it my mission to teach coaches and managers.  We're doing fall ball of similar ages (sanctioning body unknown) here in my new home of North Cackalacky, so I've been happy to have a word with players, especially pitching, since they're all over the place.  And new to it.

But having to tell a coach or manager how to behave and act on a ballfield?  Nah.  Not my gig.  Those are grown-ass men, so they should already have X years of life to teach them not to act like douchenozzles.  So when they argue and carry on, they need to just be dealt with - either shutting them down, or ejecting them.  And given the way I'm seeing some of them act, I'm DEFINITELY not inviting them to discuss it between games.

It's a cynical take, I realize.  But I feel I've earned it.

Well my point is that now in this day and age we have A LOT more turnover of the younger aged 10U and 12U coaches  typically they start out as 10U or lower and progress up with the age of their kids.  Due to this, at least around here,  We have a lot of 10U and sometimes now 12U coaches whom jump in as coaches and not Managers, whom do not understand A LOT of silly stuff  ie infield fly rule,  turning left after over running 1st.  What an uncaught 3rd strike is, the list goes on and on and on.  So I prefer to help them along in the Fall league as its an instructional and "normalizing" league ( get those 7 yr olds used to 10yr old pitching same with 9's with the 12U and etc)   I do this because I would rather get the coach and or Mgr up to speed and better understanding so that come spring.  I have less game stoppages when the silly stuff occurs 

 

[Colinh]

On 10/23/2022 at 4:34 PM, MarsOmega said:

I almost had to chuck a coach in the game before this one after informing them that they couldn't use USSSA bats

Been there done that. Classic little League stuff 

[Tog Gee]

I am a youth coach and I'm in these forums to just learn more about the rules.

To be honest, I wish that coaches were getting ejected more frequently. Maybe that would help corral the behavior.

When I think that an umpire got a call wrong, that just means there's a thought in my brain. I assume that they know more than me or they saw more than me and I keep my mouth shut. One time in 7 years I got a little chirpy when there were some shenanigans.

Only on rare occasions my players or assistants have given attitude to the umps and they end up taking a time out and in some cases they go apologize in between innings. 

I would LOVE to see more ejections. Maybe more first inning warnings would have an effect too.

[Kevin_K]

3 hours ago, Toggy said:

I assume that they know more than me or they saw more than me and I keep my mouth shut.

There is no reason that you should keep your mouth shut if you have a legitimate question.

The approach coaches take makes a significant difference when there may be a difference of opinion. On judgment calls umpires rarely, if ever, budge. On the application of the rules, however, when a cordial and professional relationship has been established, coaches and umpires can have a meaningful discussion on the differences in their understanding of the rules being applied. This may lead to a more favorable outcome for you are correct in your rules knowledge and ask your umpire(s) to reconsider how the rules apply in a given situation.

Unfortunately, there are umpires who rule with an iron fist and consider their rules knowledge above reproach. No level of decorum will sway the umpires employing the MSU method.  

[Tog Gee]

On 12/26/2022 at 9:57 PM, Kevin_K said:

There is no reason that you should keep your mouth shut if you have a legitimate question.

The approach coaches take makes a significant difference when there may be a difference of opinion. On judgment calls umpires rarely, if ever, budge. On the application of the rules, however, when a cordial and professional relationship has been established, coaches and umpires can have a meaningful discussion on the differences in their understanding of the rules being applied. This may lead to a more favorable outcome for you are correct in your rules knowledge and ask your umpire(s) to reconsider how the rules apply in a given situation.

Unfortunately, there are umpires who rule with an iron fist and consider their rules knowledge above reproach. No level of decorum will sway the umpires employing the MSU method.  

Yeah that's exactly what I mean. If it's a judgment call it's over and done.

I will go out and ask questions at times about a play, and I'll try to clarify what had just occurred and what rules applied. I'm comfortable expressing in that situation that I think it a rule wasn't applied properly... and all that is polite discussion.

 

One time I had a kid stealing second and he got thrown out. It was clear to most of my team that he was safe. A coach thought so too. Some of them were pissed. When my runner got back to the dugout he said "yeah guys I was definitely out." He didn't touch the base. That's one of the rare circumstances where you could think a guy was safe and actually find out the truth straight from the horse's mouth. 

In the dugout we are 120 ft from second base and we're watching through a fence. Just gotta roll with the judgment calls no matter what. 

[Catch18]

In the dugout we are 120 ft from second base and we're watching through a fence. Just gotta roll with the judgment calls no matter what. 

I do honestly mean this with respect - this should be your indication as to why an umpire manual hasn’t ever included an approved position to call a game from the dugout, bleachers, press box, etc.

[NateWalter]

On 12/26/2022 at 9:17 PM, Toggy said:

One time I had a kid stealing second and he got thrown out. It was clear to most of my team that he was safe. A coach thought so too. Some of them were pissed. When my runner got back to the dugout he said "yeah guys I was definitely out." That's one of the rare circumstances where you could think a guy was safe and actually find out the truth straight from the horse's mouth. 

Just perusing through some of these old threads. I was behind the plate in a 13U game. Called a close pitch to the right-side of the plate for strike one or two (don't remember which one). Coach in the third-base box asks the kid, "where was it?" He spreads his hands apart signifying it was "this far" off the plate.

The first base coach calls time and begins approaching, but he calls for the batter to come talk. His words were, "don't lie about where the pitch was when we ask you."

My advice for coaches: teach your kids to be honest about what happened. It's okay to not like the call, but don't let them get away with lying or exaggerating a call. Good for your kid for saying what he said!