On Field Pet Peeves

[Mr Umpire]

What are some of your pet peeves?

I have a few.

Don't call me a Referee. I am an umpire.

The cheerleader like chants kids are doing these days. It is no longer just cheer your player and then quit. Now, they have like a 3 verse chant for stealing a base. This came from softball I believe.

My BU NOT staying out of a play once he goes out on a fly ball and just take HP if needed. They want to turn back around and try to beat the play to 2B.

Last one. A coach trying to warn me about what they will try during the game. Like I haven't seen it before or know how to handle it if I see it. They act like I am as much of a rookie or know nothing umpire as they are one as a coach.

What yours?

[LMSANS]

My pet peeve is a partner who hasn't got a clue.:crybaby2:

[rainier]

Coaches that don't understand the IFF or dropped third strike rules and then come out yelling when they think I blew the call.

[blue32]

Teams that try to have defensive huddles before taking the field, and having to remind the coaches inning after inning to get a warm up catcher out there. I take warm up pitches away when I do that, but it still ticks me off to even have to do it.

I also hate when coaches lollygag getting substitutes in, and use every second of their trips to the mound, only to turn around and complain when the game is called for darkness or a time rule.

[Tyennie]

Mine is the late inning game, when the team at bat is down by a handful of runs and the lead off batter has to take signs from the 3B coach. What in the heck is there to know - "Get up there and hit the freakin' ball and get on base" My other pet peeve is getting to the field for a game, taking the field with 5 minutes before the scheduled first pitch and hearing that no one has taken infield yet. That drives me bananas. What have they been doing for the past 30 - 45 minutes? ty

[mstaylor]

I hate any coach that is a self proclaimed rules expert and doesn't have a clue. I have several in my area and it agrevating.

[therefump]

My pet peeve is a partner who hasn't got a clue.

Ahhhh, I like the other side of the coin. The partner who went to Umpire school in Florida (no school names mentioned) and comes back the Chapter expert. I've seen this a few times. Three problems arise from this issue:

1) He's NEVER wrong even when he's wrong (in Chapter meetings). We had a discussion where 2 out of 75 umpires agreed with his interpretation and he was still sure he was right. Our chapter president disagreed with him (over 45 yrs of service) and he still argued.

2) Carries arrogance onto the field. It comes out when....

a) interrupts partner and/or corrects him in front of the coach

B) lectures partner before/after games about what he should be doing right

3) NEVER (yes, never) lets a coach get a word in edgewise on a ruling. Symptoms include a mass eruption by the umpire resulting in an ejection because the coach gets frustrated.

I've found #3 to be the worst when you have to watch it. I feel for the coach because he's generally being talked down to. However, it is "fun" to watch a seasoned coach quote him on rulings case-by-case. The only problem is an ejection is coming quickly.

I've been accused of letting coaches ramble on too much. However, I feel that they need to vent as long as:

a) they don't repeat themselves

B) conduct themselves properly and respect my position

c) don't violate my "space" (in my face)

d) don't use vulgar language

e) don't insult my family heritage

I ALWAYS (mostly, anyway) explain myself.

[willv28]

Tiny catchers in the majors with a hard thrower on the mound. Nearly impossible not to get hit about 20 times....

[Mr Umpire]

Tiny catchers in the majors with a hard thrower on the mound. Nearly impossible not to get hit about 20 times....

I take it you took a few today. :BD:

[willv28]

I take it you took a few today.

lol, last night actually. Only 2nd game behind the plate ever too. In the first 6 pitches 3 of them hit me. One in the shoulder, one if the throat extension on the mask and in the leg. He just couldn't catch, none of them were of the result of the ball being hit. So, I just kinda hid behind him as best I could. Still had some close calls. Thank goodness I only had half a game, switched with a first time ump halfway through.

Made a mistake on a foul tip again.... Luckily it was foul.

[mstaylor]

Ahhhh, I like the other side of the coin. The partner who went to Umpire school in Florida (no school names mentioned) and comes back the Chapter expert. I've seen this a few times. Three problems arise from this issue:

1) He's NEVER wrong even when he's wrong (in Chapter meetings). We had a discussion where 2 out of 75 umpires agreed with his interpretation and he was still sure he was right. Our chapter president disagreed with him (over 45 yrs of service) and he still argued.

2) Carries arrogance onto the field. It comes out when....

a) interrupts partner and/or corrects him in front of the coach

lectures partner before/after games about what he should be doing right

3) NEVER (yes, never) lets a coach get a word in edgewise on a ruling. Symptoms include a mass eruption by the umpire resulting in an ejection because the coach gets frustrated.

I've found #3 to be the worst when you have to watch it. I feel for the coach because he's generally being talked down to. However, it is "fun" to watch a seasoned coach quote him on rulings case-by-case. The only problem is an ejection is coming quickly.

I've been accused of letting coaches ramble on too much. However, I feel that they need to vent as long as:

a) they don't repeat themselves

B) conduct themselves properly and respect my position

c) don't violate my "space" (in my face)

d) don't use vulgar language

e) don't insult my family heritage

I ALWAYS (mostly, anyway) explain myself.

We have three guys in our group that pro school grads. I have never seen them correct anybody in front of a coach. They do very well handling coaches. One guy is vocal about not wanting to do low level games but he does when assigned. If you have guys that are doing these things then it shows why they didn't get a job. They don't have the personality to work.

What you do is what is taught at every clinic I have ever attended.

[ump 50 ND]

My largest pet peeve is a partner that has to re-play every inning, specificity between innings,and tell me how good he is. Even when I'm standing out between 1st& 2nd grass line!,when have the bases.

[therefump]

We have three guys in our group that pro school grads. I have never seen them correct anybody in front of a coach. They do very well handling coaches. One guy is vocal about not wanting to do low level games but he does when assigned. If you have guys that are doing these things then it shows why they didn't get a job. They don't have the personality to work.

What you do is what is taught at every clinic I have ever attended.

Bottom line insecurity. There are 2 guys in our chapter who went to school. This guy pulls these things consistently. The other guy is more mild mannered, is a walking rule book (excellent thing), but gets himself in trouble at times for not using common sense.

Please understand that I'm not condemning the schools. These guys would be TERRIBLE w/o attending. I'm jealous that I don't have the time to attend. However, they wear their school on their sleeve rather than show it.

[Frank Rizzo]

How is a foul tip, foul?

Oh yeah on the field pet peeves.

I hate when the pitcher/catcher walk onto the baseball field.

I hate when coaches/fans/players call you red, or black, when you aren't wearing blue.

I'm an umpire, not a referee.

The thing in my hand is an indicator, its not a clicker.

SH*#ty partners.

Bad catchers.

Taking forever to give/take signs.

Idiot coaches.

Edited April 29, 2009 by Frank Rizzo

[blindumpire99]

Pet peeves:

For rat coaches

1. Don't you EVER get in my face. I know we use that term rhetorically here sometimes, but I mean, literally in my face. My wife doesn't get in my face unless it's sugar time and I can GUARANTEE Mr Rat you ain't getting none!

2. PLEASE have someone(s) running down foul balls..'nuff said..

For rat catchers:

1. NEVER lie to your rat partner coach when he asks, "Hey Little Johnny where, or was, that pitch across the plate?" If I'm in a good mood today, you might get one warning about it but the next time, you're !

2. Don't frame pitches! Don't do it! Not now, not later, not tomorrow. I know the pitches I may have just outright missed and I am already chastising myself most likely for it. And those "50/50" pitches that I could have called either way? Here ya go, all my umpire gear is always on sale to anyone who wants to step on out and make the calls themselves. And my favorite is when you're framing one so far off the plate or high or low that a blind man can see the exaggerated glove movement. Hmmm, should I call that a strike on YOU when you come up? I especially love it when you have it framed and it's STILL a 'ball' that far off the plate where you are showing it now..

For rat, soon to be EX, partners:

1. NEVER, EVER, show me up, especially vocally, by announcing for all to hear, your "correct" knowledge and interpretation of the rules. If I need help or we need to confer, then I will come to you and we can discuss it privately, if it is something correctable on the field, or we will definately discuss it after the game. Since I can't toss ya, I WILL mark you off after a very interesting conversation in the parking lot!

2. If I have to toss rat coach, do your job and assist with his escort off the field and outta here. DO NOT stand wherever you happen to be and watch the event(s) occur. You SHOULD have already been ahead of the game and been standing in close proximity as a witness to the discussion and to offer immediate assistance as needed. If I toss him and you fail to do your job, be advised the assignor will get a thorough and complete report about it in thr EJ report.

For regular partners:

1. Let's walk onto and off the field TOGETHER like we're supposed to. It looks much more professional and it shows unity.Don't get there early and stroll on out to watch infield or make stupid insinuations like, "well I'm here (the game can now begin because of MY presence) but I don't know where my partner is..."

Wanta know where I am? I'm out in the parking lot, where we agreed to meet, wondering or where YOU are. AND- I was assigned the bases today, but since you are no where to be seen, I guess I better get the gear on for the plate. Why aren't you answering your phone dammit?

Well now that you are "late" here I come with the plate gear on, and lo and behold there I see you, walking and talking with the coaches and/or players and/or fans.... Sighssssss let's "rerag" again into base attire...

[arbiter22]

Ahhhh, I like the other side of the coin. The partner who went to Umpire school in Florida (no school names mentioned) and comes back the Chapter expert. I've seen this a few times. Three problems arise from this issue:

1) He's NEVER wrong even when he's wrong (in Chapter meetings). We had a discussion where 2 out of 75 umpires agreed with his interpretation and he was still sure he was right. Our chapter president disagreed with him (over 45 yrs of service) and he still argued.

2) Carries arrogance onto the field. It comes out when....

a) interrupts partner and/or corrects him in front of the coach

lectures partner before/after games about what he should be doing right

3) NEVER (yes, never) lets a coach get a word in edgewise on a ruling. Symptoms include a mass eruption by the umpire resulting in an ejection because the coach gets frustrated.

I've found #3 to be the worst when you have to watch it. I feel for the coach because he's generally being talked down to. However, it is "fun" to watch a seasoned coach quote him on rulings case-by-case. The only problem is an ejection is coming quickly.

I've been accused of letting coaches ramble on too much. However, I feel that they need to vent as long as:

a) they don't repeat themselves

conduct themselves properly and respect my position

c) don't violate my "space" (in my face)

d) don't use vulgar language

e) don't insult my family heritage

I ALWAYS (mostly, anyway) explain myself.

Is this one person in particular? For instance I've been to umpire school. But I do not argue with my secretary or president or whoever. At least not in front of others. One on one so that neither one of us is embarrassed. That and the fact that I respect the time and effort these guys have put forth, so I'm not going to disrespect them.

I do however have trouble with the adjustment from my pro season to calling high school and college. Its tough for me because they don't know when or how to argue. That and all they see is a young kid on the field so they think they can run over me. Thus resulting in more ejections during my college and high school season than in my regular season.

Btw I like how you phrased that you let the coaches ''vent''... We as a whole are not therapists:) And yes I do try to let the coaches have there say.

As for my pet peeves: calling me "blue" and rolling me the baseballs.

Edited April 29, 2009 by arbiter22

[umpirecordova]

One of my pet peeves is when one of the coaches is a member of a the leauge board and before the game they throw their title around, as if this is to make us scared.

Another is when a coach doesn't know when they can use the appeal and try to ask for us to get help on a out-safe call, even if I was right over the play and saw it clearly. Like my partner is going to over rule me or even see the play for that matter.

[mstaylor]

I was working a game one day and I made a ruling on a local rule. The manager came out and said that was not the way the rule was written, he was a member of the BOD and knew the rule because he wrote it. I told him he may have written it but I was the one interpreting it and I called it the way I saw it. He allowed that was correct and went away.

[therefump]

The coach who wants to be your best buddy in pre-game and through the game UNTIL a call doesn't quite go the way he thinks then you're MUD from that point onward.

Kind of reminds me of my ex-wife during divorce proceedings.

[blue32]

Asking for more baseballs, because the first 4 went into the backyard of the house next to the field during the first 2 at bats, and having the home coach question what happened to them all. I have actually had to tell a coach on more than one occasion, if he doesn't supply me with more game balls, his game is over. On all occasions, it felt like I was in the Twilight Zone for even having to tell a coach that.

[Umpire in Chief]

Asking for more baseballs, because the first 4 went into the backyard of the house next to the field during the first 2 at bats, and having the home coach question what happened to them all. I have actually had to tell a coach on more than one occasion, if he doesn't supply me with more game balls, his game is over. On all occasions, it felt like I was in the Twilight Zone for even having to tell a coach that.

Amen to that.

There is one field where the coaches put a ball rack hung on the fence by their dugout. I love it. Between innings I make sure I have 5 baseballs. I don't have to ask. I wish all schools would do this.

[crazyaboutcoues]

When a coach argues that tie goes to the runner.

When coaches want to do I/O 5 minutes before game time.

When coaches tell me that they haven't got a call all year and want me make up for it.

To name a few

[Astrosdawg07]

Here's one that really got under my skin the other night. Monday I had a LL DH, I'm calling with a buddy of mine who only does LL. I have the plate for the 1st game, and in between every inning he would come talk to me. So for the 2nd game I'm working the bases, after the 3rd out is made I go find me a nice spot in RF. As I turn around I can't believe my eyes. My partner has walked all the way out to where I'm standing. Needless to say I'm not sure I'll call with him again.

[JnLeClair10]

catchers that turn around during warm ups in the first that tell me that this is the first they caught all year....

[willv28]

catchers that turn around during warm ups in the first that tell me that this is the first they caught all year....

Hey at least you won't be caught by surprise and you know what's coming, lol.