[Gulf Coast Blue]

Strikes & Outs!
Handling "Situations"

by T. Alan Christensen

So here comes the Skipper and he says, "Cripes, you’re the worst (insert your favorite expletive here) umpire I’ve ever seen, all you have been doing is screwing us all day!"

So in my own arrogant way, I answer, "gee Skip, I hope this games on TV!"

And he answers perfectly for the ‘set-up’, "Why’s that?"

And as that comes from his lips I can’t wait to get to the payoff, "Cuz, Skip that’s the ONLY way you’re going to see the rest of this game, cuz You’re OUTTA HERE!"

So there I was, 19 years of age, with the first notch on the handle of my ejection resume.

I have been a baseball umpire for 27 seasons. I was also a major college basketball official for 12 years. I learned my most important lesson in officiating while working the roundball game.

I never called a technical foul that made the situation better.

An ejection is an interesting part of baseball. Since we don’t have 15 yard penalties as does football, or technical fouls as does basketball, we are asked to listen, discuss, and then make an ultimate judgment. To paraphrase The Clash, "should he stay or should he go?!"

Before I get too deep into this, remember one thing: I once ejected seven players on one pitch -- so yes, I do have some experience with this issue.

I just want to cover a process that an umpire SHOULD go through when the inevitable argument breaks out.

For this discussion let’s assume that the call was yours and (in your heart) you got it correct. While it was a real wacker, you were in position, saw the whole thing with the correct angle and distance, had good timing, and ‘sold’ the call well.

Here comes Skip:

(1) First thing that usually hits your mind while he’s coming is: "Did I screw-up?" You run through all the things that I said you did correct and now you know you’re right.

(2) When the Skipper gets there, follow the Doug Harvey Rule: don’t say anything for 20 seconds! Let the manager rant and rave, explain or discuss, point and complain.

(3) When he has gone through his entire speech, slow things down and ask, "OK Skip, now tell me exactly what you saw!".

Many times when coaches and managers come out to argue they didn’t really see the play . . . they may have been talking to someone, looking elsewhere, or just plain not paying attention.

(4) Always be thinking, "How can I keep this guy in the game!"

(5) After the coach has explained everything to you, slow down, again! Now you get one chance to explain exactly what you saw and why you called it . . . use that time wisely.

(6) When you have completely explained your call simply tell the coach/manager, "Now, that’s what I called and that’s the way its going to be, we need to get back to playing ball, Skip! Let’s play."

(7) Turn and walk away, no anger, no showboating, just walk away. MAKE HIM FOLLOW YOU TO CONTINUE THE ARGUMENT. If you are the base umpire in the infield, walk towards the outfield. There’s no reason for him to follow you. If he does follow he starts to ‘cross the line.’ If you are the plate umpire move towards the mound section of the infield and ask the pitcher for the ball. Again, if the coach follows, he is making a statement.

(8) IF the manager follows you, there is one more chance to diffuse the situation. MAKE SURE YOU DON’T PLACE YOURSELF IN A ‘NO WIN’ SITUATION. In other words, make sure you don’t say anything that closes the door to getting the argument over and ‘keep the coach in the game.’

One of the biggest problems we face is saying something stupid like, "One more word Skip and you’re gone!" This is an irretrievable position. The challenge is set and most of the time the manager will accept that challenge.

After controlling the urge to make a brash statement, simply turn to the coach/manager and say, "OK, I thought we were clear . . . all this is doing is delaying us from playing ball. Both teams want to play, all the fans want to see a game and it appears to me that you are the only one delaying that opportunity . . . Let’s Play!" And walk away . . . for the final time!

Don’t argue again! It is OVER. You have reached ‘The Point’. You have been fair, it is now the managers choice if he decides to eject himself.

I spoke with Tom Welter of the Oregon School Activities Association (the governing body of all high school sports in the State of Oregon) about ejections.

"We have a real problem with the concept of having a sport (baseball) where it is acceptable behavior for a coach to run onto the field of play and argue, in some cases violently, with the game official," said Welter.

Welter continued, " The OSAA has always prided itself in helping teach the good things that sport brings. Things such as competition, teamwork, and discipline are things that I learned from sports . . . I think we have lost that direction."

Since I offered a way that things ‘should go’ it is only fair to tell you about a situation that was handled violating all these common sense procedures.

I was working an American Legion State Semi-final game between two teams in Oregon. The first two games were average. Each team winning a game to set up the "big" final showdown.

Now I don’t want to give anyone the impression that the game went well, as the visiting team fell behind early and the pressure began to mount. Soon we were in the top of the eighth inning and the home team led 9-0.

Then it started. A single followed by a base on balls, another single through the middle, and another walk. After a hit batter, and a ringing double down the line, the march continued.

8-2, 8-3, 8-5 . . . and now everyone had their attention closely into the game.

Soon there were two out, the bases were loaded and the’ star’ player for the visitors at the plate. The count quickly went to 2-2, then "The Play!"

A slider, low and away in the dirt. Easy, "Ball Three!"

Of course not, I hear . . . "ask, that was a swing!" And of course I ask and of course my BU rings him up.

Strike three and three outs!

Now remember, this game hadn’t gone well anyway.

So I get an immediate "F. . . Sakes!" from the hitter and I get him so quick my head spins (1), as I turn to my left the manager of the club is on his way from the third base coaches box and he is mentioning something about my mother, so there he goes(2). Now, as I finally get a chance to take my mask off, the first base coach is crossing home plate bent on cleaning up the area with my behind. Bye, bye! (3). However, as I turn to get away from the first base coach, the on-deck hitter is firmly planted right in the middle of the right hand batters box screaming at the top of his lungs (4).

Now, at last, I have been able to take my mask off, and at least get to start walking up the third base line. Then, from what was going to be the hitter in-the-hole, the catcher that I have been friendly with all day, I hear "Crap, Tim you can’t" . . . yep, he’s gone (5).

Now since I have already moved my attention to the dugout, here are two reserves screaming at the top of their lungs something about a bodily function, that I don’t think is humanly possible, so I get them (6 & 7) with one wave of the arm.

Then things got quiet . . . actually it was a surreal moment in my career. The players went quiet, the crowd went quiet, one could hear a bird chirp (yeah, I’d have thrown him out too!) . . . and then you hear the smallest, faintest voice of a little girl playing in the sand behind the grandstands, "London Bridge is falling down, falling down, my fair lady."

Honey, it already crashed!

Strikes & Outs!