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Yeah, I noticed that thread was missing: did our illustrious moderator/censor step in, or did the originator delete the thread?
Anyway: I read your article; I didn't find it particularly "weak", nor find much to argue with, although I suspect you put up with more crap from coaches and players than I do, esp. in summer ball. In my part of the world, most coaches below the HS varsity level are clueless; and during the summer, some Legion teams seem to select specially for lousy sportsmanship and crybabies; so the "most of the time it's the umpire's fault" does not really apply.
As far as "where do I draw the line?":
Swearing? At me/ partner? You're done.
Name Calling? Depends, but most likely calling me anything other than "Blue", "Ump", or the name I came into this world with, and you head for the bus.
Questioning judgment? Depends again, on who and how and how much. Like you, I use and recomend the "Coach, this is what I saw" approach; and a variation: "Coach, what did YOU see?" Also been known to say: "Coach, that's a judgment call. You aren't out here to argue about a judgment call, are you?" Haven't had one of 'em bite yet. ["Yes, I am!", is a free pass to the parking lot. Award for best answer by a coach: "I want to, but I'm not going to!" -OK by me Coach, lets play ball, now.] Head coaches who keep it civil and quiet get some latitude to "argue", even about judgment. Assistant Coaches [ex. possibly the base Coach, when I call his runner out] get very little and players get none. [A wise (or at least witty) man once wrote, "I do not argue BB with children"]
Walking on the field? Depends cubed: who, when/ what/ why, & how. I had a defensive asst. coach come blasting out onto the field from 1B dugout to argue w/ me about a call at 3rd. Before he could open his mouth, I asked if he got time from PU to come onto the field? When he answered no, I ordered him back into his dugout; when he started in on his complaint about my call, I repeated the order to get off the field, now. With the next word out of his mouth [not having turned to leave the field], I ejected him.
Head Coach, "Time, Blue" while walking out to and over the foul line, same complaint: probably no EJ.
Until this year, I routinely had as many EJs in summer ball as the rest of my Assn. put together; largely because I take NO crap in youth ball. Without knowing it, I adopted HHH's mantra: "Big zone, short fuse: shut up and swing the bat". Once I read Peter's articles on the subject, I even felt good while doing it! Couple of years of that, and I GET no crap in youth ball - helps my concentration and consistency greatly. This year, only 1 EJ the whole year - nothing else happened that ever came close. I doubt that will continue, but it was different enough this year that I was more pissed at the guy I tossed [nearly my last summer game] for "ruining" my "personal record", than I was annoyed about what he did to get dumped.
[Edited by cbfoulds on Aug 11th, 2004 at 03:52 PM]
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