[PeteBooth]

Originally posted by LMan

Hello, I am a LL ump and would like to ask a question if I may:

In a recent game, one team's pitcher has a number of nervous mannerisms, including bringing his pitching hand to his mouth (wiping his mouth w the back of his hand) while near the rubber..the opposing manager complained and the plate ump warned the pitcher several times.....in my judgement the complaint was valid every time.

...the real issue was that a parent of the pitcher's team (in the bleachers) was very belligerent and kept loudly catcalling the other manager for complaining, telling him to 'shut up and get back in the dugout' 'why dont you manage your lousy team and leave our kids alone' , etc. This went on for a while, and no one, including the plate ump, ever warned him or mentioned it otherwise. It was very loud, persistent, and embarrassing, although the guy didnt use profanity, as far as I know. I thought it was a terrible example for the kids.

My question is, is there a provision for the ump to warn/eject the spectator about this if it continues for a long while (ie, after 'the heat of the moment')? I know heckling is as much a part of the game as anything else, but that's more at the professional levels, so are the umps at this level required to put up with constant heckling of this type from one team's spectators to the other team?

Just looking for opinions, or where I am off-base. Thanks in advance!

Spectators are not your problem. Since you said LL, a BOD member should be on "duty" and the BOD member should take care of this fan. Sounds like you had no BOD member available or have a weak BOD which is another problem altogether.

Here's the statement I have trouble with from your thread.

including bringing his pitching hand to his mouth (wiping his mouth w the back of his hand) while near the rubber..the opposing manager complained and the plate ump warned the pitcher several times.....in my judgement the complaint was valid every time.

You said LL. Is it LL Majors , Juniors, Seniors etc. If it's LL majors do not worry about it. If the coach keeps coming out, CALL TIME take out your line-up card and get "your point across" something like Coach that's enough etc. Do not threaten but make it known you will NOT tolerate any more complaints. If it happens again it's "Skip have a nice day"

If the game is played by kids who shave and you see F1 doing this, do some preventative umpiring like call TIME, pretend you are cleaning the plate off and tell F2 to talk to his F1.

You do not give multiple warnings. After you do your "due deligence", then enforce the rule.

Now what to do with this spectator.

HS - Talk to the coach and perhaps he can help out. If you are lucky enough to have any type of security around (very rare at a HS game), tell the coach to have security escort this person out or we are stopping right here.

LL - See if you can get a BOD member which from your thread sounds as though no BOD member was present. In that case STOP game at that point and refer to BOD and go home.

Bottom Line - CONTROL the game. You cannot allow a manager to constantly challenge your ruling and keep coming out of the dugout as ultimately the Fans will also get involved. You "nip the coach problem in the bud" and chances are you will not have a spectator problem as well.

Pete Booth