Drew a Line, But NOT Ejected

[ExCop]

My readings here tell me that it seems to be universal that where a batter "draws a line on you" he is to be dumped, no warning.

I handled it a little differently last night:

Senior Rep, 1st game, 1st inning of a double header. First pitch on the outside, sure, but a strike to me. Batter draws a line like 10 inches off the plate with his bat.

I call "Time!", take off my mask, point at the line and say loudly "Did you just draw a line on me?!? Rub it out. NOW!"

Batter rubs line out, I say "That was sooo PeeWee. Now let's play."

Result? Two quiet games completed without incident or chirping, and complements on my "consistent" strike zone after the game.

And to answer the question as to why I didn't immediately dump him, there are two reasons that had nothing to do with the game. First, it was Father's Day, and I was little more relaxed (trust me, a good thing) and second, the batter's family was in the stands so if I could fix the problem without dumping him I was going to try.

Worked out just fine....

[lawump]

First, it was Father's Day, and I was little more relaxed (trust me, a good thing) and second, the batter's family was in the stands so if I could fix the problem without dumping him I was going to try.

Worked out just fine....

First "reason" I guess is o.k. I mean its good that you were "more relaxed". The more relaxed we are, the better we usually umpire.

As for number two? No you didn't fix the problem. You delayed the problem: Now some other umpire is going to have to deal with this problem in a future game. This batter now thinks its "ok" to draw a line because the worst that will happen is that he'll have to erase the line. He'll think, "I'll have to erase the line, but I'll have made my point with little consequence."

This IS an immediate ejection.

Non-verbal things a batter can do (after a called strike) that earn an automatic ejection include (among other things):

Drawing a line.
Spiking/throwing helmet in disgust.
Spiking/throwing bat in disgust.

If any of those things happen: my mask comes off, my right hand sweeps from right-to-left and I say loudly, "good-bye!"

[LMan]

I call "Time!", take off my mask, point at the line and say loudly "Did you just draw a line on me?!? Rub it out. NOW!"

Batter rubs line out, I say "That was sooo PeeWee. Now let's play."

:lol: You or him?

Result?

Maybe Richard should start a 'begging for ejection, but didn't get one' subforum :shrug:

[Ty]

What are your thoughts on batters that draw lines prior to the first pitch they receive. I have had quite a few that have scratched one in the dirt on the outside of the dish, approx. 3 inches from the edge. ty

[LMan]

What are your thoughts on batters that draw lines prior to the first pitch they receive. I have had quite a few that have scratched one in the dirt on the outside of the dish, approx. 3 inches from the edge. ty


That's OK. They are only ejected if they do it after the 2d, 4th, or 7th pitch of the at-bat.

[cbfoulds]

What are your thoughts on batters that draw lines prior to the first pitch they receive. I have had quite a few that have scratched one in the dirt on the outside of the dish, approx. 3 inches from the edge. tyUh... Are they "drawing a line", or are they just dragging the bat as they "measure" their position/swing while setting up in the box?
One is clearly intended to send a message and show up the PU; the other is entirely innocent and incidental.

[Dean]

What are your thoughts on batters that draw lines prior to the first pitch they receive. I have had quite a few that have scratched one in the dirt on the outside of the dish, approx. 3 inches from the edge. ty

I would say it depends on intent. So in this case intent is probably just measuring the bat reach - most likely out of habit at the older ages.

If a line is drawn to show you where a pitch "was" then...

[Dean]

I have a question involving “drawing lines” – this time it was the first base coach.

The scenario (High School BB – sophomore), BR hits a grounder that rocketed down first base line, just before (5 feet or so), first base the ball hits fair and bounces over the orange bag. Foul Ball.
Coach comes out and with his foot draws a line on the white portion of 1st base.

What would you all do?

[Tim_C]

"Coach comes out and with his foot draws a line on the white portion of 1st base. "

You're kidding, right?

This is a trick question . . .

The answer is obvious.

Regards,

[BigUmp56]

I have a question involving “drawing lines” – this time it was the first base coach.

The scenario (High School BB – sophomore), BR hits a grounder that rocketed down first base line, just before (5 feet or so), first base the ball hits fair and bounces over the orange bag. Foul Ball.
Coach comes out and with his foot draws a line on the white portion of 1st base.

What would you all do?

I'd dump him in a heart beat. He's showing you up and needs to go!


Tim.

[lawump]

Class AAAA high school state championship. I'm plate umpire and crew chief.

Visitors up by one run. Home team batter hits fly ball to F8, caught for out #2. R3 tags up. Play at the plate. I call R3 safe. We're now tied 1-1 in bottom of fifth inning.

Visiting team head coach comes out screaming. Nothing personal, yet, but he's mad about the call. He's very, very animated, but has said nothing personal (only arguing the call).

Visiting team head coach then goes over (2-3 steps away) and draws a line in the dirt on the third base side of home plate to show me where he believed his catcher applied the tag to R3.

My right hand made a sweeping motion from right to left and at the same time I said "good-bye". Now, the coach started in with the personal stuff.

To summarize: State title game (so I have a pretty long leash), coach says nothing personal (doesn't call me a name), but coach draws line in dirt = ejection.

draw line in dirt = ejection.

R we clear?

[Dean]

That's pretty clear thank everyone.

How would you word the ejection report?
Obviously stating what happened, in the Fould ball case for example coach didn't say a word just drew the line and left.

[lawump]

For example:

In the seventh inning, Mr. Smith took a pitch which I adjudged to be strike three. After calling Mr. Smith "out on strikes" Mr. Smith took his bat and drew a line in the dirt in the opposite batter's box in an attempt to indicate to me where he believed the pitch had been located. I promptly ejected Mr. Smith from the game.

After the ejection, Mr. Smith moved toward me and getting in my face screamed, "You're a piece of shit, you cocksucker. That ****in' pitch was two feet off the ****in plate."

Mr. Smith's manager, Mr. Jones, then arrived at the plate area and he restrained Mr. Smith. Mr. Jones then escorted Mr. Smith back to the dugout. Mr. Smith then left without further incident.

[Jim_Porter]

I once had a partner that had a line drawn on him by a batter in a JV game. He stopped, asked for the bat, and drew a long line from the batter's box towards the dugout, and put an arrow point on it. He handed the bat back and said, "Now follow that line -- you're outta here!"

He was a pretty loose cannon anyway. I always wished I could get away with stuff like that. I never could.

[Scuzzyfeller]

I'm just putting this out there...so if I end up with a bulls eye on me...SO WHAT!

Imagine Andy Rooney on 60 minutes if you will!

"Does anyone else wonder why ExCop has so many of these incidents come up in his games"?

Funny thing is that YES...I did on one or two occasions have a batter draw a line on me on me in an adult league that I do...and that was before I saw Al Kaplon's "Handle It" video where the hitter in that video did the same thing!

Stranger thing yet...I did nearly the same thing Kaplon did in his video, just without any cameras rolling and taping the scene.

So, although I don't post a whole heck of a lot, I do check to board regularly to catch up on new posts!

ExCop...please take this little jab as it is meant...tongue in cheek!

Scuzz

[ExCop]

I'm just putting this out there...so if I end up with a bulls eye on me...SO WHAT!

Imagine Andy Rooney on 60 minutes if you will!

"Does anyone else wonder why ExCop has so many of these incidents come up in his games"?

Funny thing is that YES...I did on one or two occasions have a batter draw a line on me on me in an adult league that I do...and that was before I saw Al Kaplon's "Handle It" video where the hitter in that video did the same thing!

Stranger thing yet...I did nearly the same thing Kaplon did in his video, just without any cameras rolling and taping the scene.

So, although I don't post a whole heck of a lot, I do check to board regularly to catch up on new posts!

ExCop...please take this little jab as it is meant...tongue in cheek!

Scuzz

OK I will...but having idea what this Kaplon video is, ow what you do, could you please state your point more directly? I may get something I could use...thanks!

[MNBlue17]

I'm using Jim's method from now on! Thank you, Mr. Porter!

[killdump]

I'm just putting this out there...so if I end up with a bulls eye on me...SO WHAT!

Imagine Andy Rooney on 60 minutes if you will!

"Does anyone else wonder why ExCop has so many of these incidents come up in his games"?

Funny thing is that YES...I did on one or two occasions have a batter draw a line on me on me in an adult league that I do...and that was before I saw Al Kaplon's "Handle It" video where the hitter in that video did the same thing!

Stranger thing yet...I did nearly the same thing Kaplon did in his video, just without any cameras rolling and taping the scene.

So, although I don't post a whole heck of a lot, I do check to board regularly to catch up on new posts!

ExCop...please take this little jab as it is meant...tongue in cheek!

Scuzz
I saw a Al Kaplan video about 5 or 6 years ago...maybe even just 4 years, but I don't know if that is the same one. Did he clear out a whole dugout on that video after the one team was giving him crap over a strike call?

[Ozzy]

Totally disagree, ExCop. "Draw a line on me, and one of us has to leave - and I ain't goin' anywhere!". There is no other way to deal with this at any level.

[Scuzzyfeller]

Totally disagree, ExCop. "Draw a line on me, and one of us has to leave - and I ain't goin' anywhere!". There is no other way to deal with this at any level.

That's the one!!

Scuzz

[3appleshigh]

Scuzzy : "I have come her to chew bubble gum, and Kick Ass, And I'm all out of bubblegum!"

[lawump]

Suzzy : "I have come her to chew bubble gum, and Kick Ass, And I'm all out of bubblegum!"

Fan of the "Hot Rod," are we?

[3appleshigh]

OH YAH!!!!!!!!

[lawump]

OH YAH!!!!!!!!

Then stay away from the coconuts.

[Jim_Porter]

Suzzy : "I have come her to chew bubble gum, and Kick Ass, And I'm all out of bubblegum!"

Fan of the "Hot Rod," are we?
I wouldn't call myself a fan of the, "Hot Rod," but I do like that movie. It's cheap, it's kinda crappy, but dang is it ever entertaining!

[3appleshigh]

Best ... Fight .... Scene ...... EVER!!

[Canadaump6]

Totally disagree, ExCop. "Draw a line on me, and one of us has to leave - and I ain't goin' anywhere!". There is no other way to deal with this at any level.

Sometimes I wonder if a gesture or motion really necessitates an ejection. I've had batters make a quick point towards the outside corner when they thought a called strike was off the plate. Or coaches make a pitching motion when they believed the pitcher balked. Maybe I should get stricter on this, but I don't see the problem with giving a bit of leeway on gestures now and then.

[Jim_Porter]

Internet umpires display a lot of bravado and like to boast about what they would and would not tolerate in very black and white terms. But the fact is, as we all know, there is a great big world of gray out there in the real world where we all call our games.