Weird Rule; but had to enforce it

[warmupthecar]

Hello to everyone, I just wanted to comment about a ridiculous EJ I had a couple of weeks ago. First off, I want to mention that I know it is not our job as umpires to remove fans from a game, but per the league I work at rule:

Any member of the crowd may be ejected by a game official, who in turn, will report the incident to the league officer

I am not a fan of this rule, as it makes the umpires control not only the game, but partially the crowd as well. Anyway, on to the EJ.

Had bases loaded, 1 out. Ball hit to 3rd, throw comes home. Catcher is 8 inches in front of home plate, catches the ball, and throws to first. I make no call until the runner cross home plate, although the throw beat him by a good 4 steps. After the call, a part time coach/full time parent in the stands drops 3 or 4 GD Bombs, as well as a few F bombs before I finally can recognize who it is. Once I saw the offender, I notified him that he needed leave the contest site immediately, as we were dealing with 9-12 year olds on this particular day. He decided to feed me instead, throwing a taco in a bag at me, a coke cup, and finally, a half full water bottle. None of which made it to the field. I notified the nearest league official that I could find that this man needed to be escorted, or the police called, and have him physically removed, seeing as how he made a few movements towards the dugout/field entrance. None of this would have happened had the original manager been at the game, but he had a work emergency and had his coaches fill in in his capacity.

Anyhow, I just wanted some of your opinions as to how I should bring it to the league's attention that I, as well as my crew, have enough to worry about between the two chalk lines, let alone the idiots in the stands. In 9 years, I've never had a rule that states a spectator shall be removed by a contest official, who shall notify the league's president of the infraction.

Any input is greatly appreciated. I hate that I had to eject a fan, as I clearly feel/know it is outside of my boundaries and responsibilities. That being said, F bombs and GD bombs have no place in baseball; especially at the LL level.

Thank you much,

[archipelligo]

They should never sell tacos at 9-12 year old baseball games, they are too easy to turn into missles.

[MSPChris]

I think this happens a lot more than we as a group would care to admit. Many of us wind up working fields where we're the only authority figure around. And, too many leagues are making us responsible for conduct outside the fences.

First food item that headed towards me, I'm on my cell (oops i'm not supposed to have that on the field) and call 911.

Game doesn't continue until A) guy is being escorted off in cuffs, or B) I make a police report because the guy has already left.

If guy decides he's coming on to the field. A) I'm gone, B) I call 911 from the car, C) whoever's team that parent is from just forfeited the game.

Either way, it's not a league issue, it's a police matter.

*IF* for some reason food and/or parent actually touched me, it's a police matter *and* a league matter, cuz now it's my turn to play lawsuit bingo. If a league puts me out there like that and won't protect me, they're going to be very sorry...

[warmupthecar]

They should never sell tacos at 9-12 year old baseball games, they are too easy to turn into missles.

Not only that, but there should be a rule that states if they do decide to hurl them at us, at least keep the wrapper on so we can have it after the game.

[warmupthecar]

MSP Chris,
I agree that this happens more than any of us care to admit. My first inclination, once the taco was thrown, was to stop the game and wait for an escort. However, once I notified the press box to call the police, the guy hightailed it to the parking lot. I'm not sure if he left or not, I just know he was out of sight, out of mind, so we played ball.

My partner and I left together as we are supposed to, and neither of us looked for the guy on the way out. We just walked to our cars, and left. I was notified the following morning that the fan/coach is considered an unwelcome guest to the field, and if he is caught on the property, the league is to call 911 immediately and have a sheriff escort him from the site.

I still hate the fact I am responsible for EJ'ing a fan. To me, it's almost like looking for trouble. Once summer league starts, we get more frequent, legitimate ejections of coaches, and or managers. I think EJ'ing a fan is kind of bush league, but again, I will not have anyone dropping F and GD bombs at a contest I am responsible for. Had there been a league official to notify present, I would have went that route. I was forced into ejecting the fan. I should note, in the league's defense, it is an extremely well run organization. The managers are actually nice to be around, and keep their disapproval in the context of a game. Only once have I had to eject a manager from this league in 6 years of being their umpire/UIC assistant.

Thank you for the responses.

[Richard_Siegel]

warm,

I support all the good advice you can read above, including the item that "they should never sell tacos at 9-12 year old baseball games, they are too easy to turn into missles."

I can't add much to it. However, I suspect you could have avoided this ugly issue altogether by using a great mechanic we umpires have to know. It is called "Safe! Off the base!"

It is obvious the irate spectator thought you misjudged the play at the plate because he could see (as did you) that the ball beat the runner and he should have been called out. The jerk assumed the catcher had his foot on home plate. You might have been the only person who could see that the catcher was off the base. Instead of just calling the runner "safe!" when an unusual situation happens like this, add the extra information that will answer the question before it is asked, "Blue how could he be safe?" Call out "Safe! Off the base!" and make a grand sweeping motion with your arms to indicate which direction the fielder was off the base.

Upon seeing that mechanic spetators and other players will immediately understand why it looks like you are calling a runner who obviuosly looks out as safe. It "keeps the coach in the dugout."

[Roger]

Upon seeing that mechanic spetators and other players will immediately understand why it looks like you are calling a runner who obviuosly looks out as safe. It "keeps the coach in the dugout."

Literally! I was BU about a year ago when a similar play occurred. Everyone, including me, (although I would never show it) was startled by the safe call. But the PU gave a very dramatic "off the base" mechanic, repeating and verbalizing it loudly three times. At the start of the next inning while I am in Position A, I overhear the opposing coaches chatting about the play.

Coach 1: "I can't believe you didn't argue that call. Even I thought he was out by a mile."

Coach 2: "Well, the way he called it I figured he must have been right."

[MSPChris]

I suspect you could have avoided this ugly issue altogether by using a great mechanic we umpires have to know. It is called "Safe! Off the base!"

Richard, that's an excellent point -- thank you.

If I thought a little more, I probably would have said something like that. I'm just pretty bitter lately (in case you haven't noticed from my posts :D ).

I need to spend less time behind this desk and more time behind the plate!!!

They should never sell tacos at 9-12 year old baseball games, they are too easy to turn into missles.

And then later when these missiles explode out someobody's rear...well at least , you're not there for THAT end of it. :lol:

[archangel14]

Once I saw the offender, I notified him that he needed leave the contest site immediately, as we were dealing with 9-12 year olds on this particular day. I notified the nearest league official that I could find that this man needed to be escorted, or the police called, and have him physically removed, seeing as how he made a few movements towards the dugout/field entrance.

Maybe you should have called time, and notified the "nearest league official" first, before any comments to a fan. This way you are solving the problem (yes, you ejected a fan), but delegating that act to the official. Game is on hold until fan leaves-- other parents are there to see their Johnny play, so they will support the "ejection" to get the game going...

[ricka56]

Maybe you should have called time, and notified the "nearest league official" first, before any comments to a fan. This way you are solving the problem (yes, you ejected a fan), but delegating that act to the official. Game is on hold until fan leaves-- other parents are there to see their Johnny play, so they will support the "ejection" to get the game going...
Just because you have been given the authority to eject a fan, doesn't mean that you have to do use it if you can avoid it. If no league official is there (seldom in my area), get the coach to do the dirty work. Tell coach that the game does not resume until taco tosser is gone. Clear the field and let them know that you mean it. Then, as archagel14 says, let the peer pressure take over to get er done.

The league may think that it is doing umpires a favor giving you this authority, but really it causes more problems when it is time to exercise it. Try to avoid using it.

[DonInKansas]

Of course, in the world according to Lance, you probably should have asked for some hot sauce.....:)

[umpduck11]

They should never sell tacos at 9-12 year old baseball games, they are too easy to turn into missles.

A decent hamburger would fly further when hurled..... and make for better accuracy also. :wink:

[warmupthecar]

Thank you, everyone, for your input. If I had it to do over again, I would have asked the press box (where league official is supposed to be) for some help instead of letting my emotions run the scene. In all honesty, I knew after I threw him out I overstepped my boundaries, but I also knew the chance of me getting any help from the offending team was next to nil.