Special Tournament

[Rcichon]

LL 9-10YO Local Tournament.

3rd inning, home (& host) team at bat. Tie game at 1, bases loaded, 2 out, Batter hits a shot to the fence. Clears bases but BR is trying for third. I'm on the infield grass setting to make a close call at 3.

Kid slides but the throw is down, the tag is raked from his foot to ankle as he slides in. BR out at 3.

Base coach (whom is the Manager) says, "he was safe, you were out of position. That's a horrible call" loud enough for all to hear and especially for me who is about 10 feet from him.

I said, you know better than to argue coach, I wont say it again".

He shut up and I walked away. As we're waiting for the Visiting pitcher to complete warmups, I hear him saying again, "he was safe, he made a horrible call". Again loud enough for ALL to hear and while looking at me.

I ejected him. Now for the fun part: The TD was the Coach on this team. He stayed out of it but this guy (manager) refused to believe he was out of 'his' tournament.

I doubt I'll be doing anymore bullsh!t [name deleted to protect.....] for that team but I have this question for you more experienced Umpires:

Did I have rabbit ears on this one? Should I have ignored him?

[BellevueUmp]

I see nothing wrong with the EJ you described. He shot his mouth off, was warned and then chose to jump up and down on the thin ice. We put up with enough nonsense in the name of 'keeping them in the game' to let something like this go unanswered. Additionally, I'd say that he was trying to show you up with the extra commentary.

Those who do this are asking for their ticket to the parking lot, you just fulfilled his request. :D

[AugieDonatelli]

The more I hear about your "Special Tournament," the less special it sounds to me.

I would have got him when he told me I was out of position. I would have said something like, "Oh, and perhaps you can tell me what the proper position is on that play, since you think you know how to umpire." To which he would either a) shut his rat mouth up, or b) manage to say something stupid and then shut up, or c) say something stupid and get run right then and there. I would be rooting for "c." :D

I'm not for telling a coach, "you know better than to argue," because they don't know better, unfortunately, or they wouldn't say dumbass things like "your out of position." :roll:

I had a coach get in my face once when I had the bases, and this was a Varsity game. He told me that I should have gone out to the outfield because it was a trouble ball, but that all I did was go to the edge of the infield grass. I asked him what he thought he knew about umpire mechanics that gave him the idea that the base umpire goes out from inside the infield with runners on base. I let him know with my usual wit and scorning attitude just what a horse's ass he was, and he trotted his know-nuthin' butt back where he had came from. 8)

[Rcichon]

While doing a District Game, another Umpire (whom is the UIC for this League) asked if I was available to do games for him for this 'Special Tournament'. I didn't think much of it and said yes, a game is a game.

The UIC for this league told me something that should have twigged my ear: He lost most of his usual Umpires for the regular season in early april cuz of this TD who also is the League VP. He also said this Tournament is the 5th annual but is the lowest attended so far. Only 9 Teams (someone earlier told me it was 15) entered.

What a week. As if the heat alone is not enuff!!

[SpokaneBlue]

Am I the only one who sees a conflict of interest? Why is the "home team" coach also the tournament director??? Seems to me he's not giving either role his complete attention. When I eject a coach I don't want to see/hear him. Wouldn't that be a little difficult here? What if this bozo decided he didn't want to leave the confines of the field? How would the TD assist in his removal?

I can see why most of the other umpires stayed away!!

[BT_Blue]

I think you would be completely within your right to have ran him when he told you to shut up. If I cant tell a coach to shut up without getting in trouble he cant tell me to do the same.

[killdump]

I think you would be completely within your right to have ran him when he told you to shut up. If I cant tell a coach to shut up without getting in trouble he cant tell me to do the same.Talk about a blast from the past. Way to revive a very old topic buddy. :wink:

[gobama84]

:oops: Since he brought it back, he needs to explain to all of us where, in the post, did the coach say to shut up!!!!!! :?:

[BT_Blue]

He shut up and I walked away. As we're waiting for the Visiting pitcher to complete warmups, I hear him saying again, "he was safe, he made a horrible call". Again loud enough for ALL to hear and while looking at me.

Ok so I miss read it. I thought he said shut up to Richon. I still stand by my thoughts that he was in his right to run the bastard.

Sorry about reviving an old post. I hadnt been on in a while and it was listed as new, I read it and put in my two cents.

[Canadaump6]

Rcichon:

Sounds like a well-earned ejection. Anything along the lines of "that was a brutal call" warrants a warning.

[Canadaump6]

I had a coach get in my face once when I had the bases, and this was a Varsity game. He told me that I should have gone out to the outfield because it was a trouble ball, but that all I did was go to the edge of the infield grass. I asked him what he thought he knew about umpire mechanics that gave him the idea that the base umpire goes out from inside the infield with runners on base. I let him know with my usual wit and scorning attitude just what a horse's ass he was, and he trotted his know-nuthin' butt back where he had came from. 8)

I had a situation like that a couple years ago. Between innings the coach comes up to me and says "you haven't missed a call yet, but you're rushing your calls way too much and calling the play right as it is happening,". Then he turns to the first base coach of the other team and says "he's making his calls way too quickly". First base coach doesn't say anything. I did absolutlely nothing about it, but in hindsight I probably should have said something like "it's my job is to call the game".

[Richard_Siegel]

[quote=AugieDonatelli]...Between innings the coach comes up to me and says "you haven't missed a call yet, but you're rushing your calls way too much and calling the play right as it is happening,". ....

Were you?

[Canadaump6]

[quote=AugieDonatelli]...Between innings the coach comes up to me and says "you haven't missed a call yet, but you're rushing your calls way too much and calling the play right as it is happening,". ....

Were you?

Probably a little bit, but not nearly as bad as he described it.

[AugieDonatelli]

Will you two learn how to use the quote feature please?

I can't understand why my name is in the middle of something I never said. :roll:

[AugieDonatelli]

...Between innings the coach comes up to me and says "you haven't missed a call yet, but you're rushing your calls way too much and calling the play right as it is happening,". ....

Were you?

Probably a little bit, but not nearly as bad as he described it.

If a coach can point out that your calls are too quick, then more than likely they are. Coaches usually don't know that much about timing to make such an observation unless you are blatantly fast. There is absolutely no reason to make a quick call.

Nobody is in a hurry to see your call, so make sure all action has ceased when you make it, or it will end up biting you in the butt more often than not.

[Canadaump6]

At the time I was making my calls too quickly, that's true, and there is no reason to do that. I was probably anticipating too much. But as far as him trying to advise me on umpiring, I think I should have warned him as that is not part of a coach's role.

[AugieDonatelli]

At the time I was making my calls too quickly, that's true, and there is no reason to do that. I was probably anticipating too much. But as far as him trying to advise me on umpiring, I think I should have warned him as that is not part of a coach's role.

Or you could just say, "thanks for the tip," and move on and forget about it in this case. Now, if you are in the exactly correct position for a call, and he tries to tell you that you were out of position with some wild mechanic (as in my example), then you can tell him that he doesn't know what he's talking about, and to mind his own beeswax. :)

[Canadaump6]

So in general just don't take things like that too seriously I guess.

[robcichon]

So in general just don't take things like that too seriously I guess.

Seriousness is in your judgement. I listen to everything a Manager says. I don't always react to what's being said though. I also understand that there are people I work with (at games) that may know me beyond the Blue and Gray uniform I have on. I may try to understand what they're trying to say if they are non-confrontational during the game.

In all, I just try to be the same on and off the field. I listen more than talk.