[gsf23]

Thanks for posting about your experiences. I love reading these because I feel they can provide great learning for both old and new umpires alike and I also like to see how different umpires handle different situations.

Now, I’d like to offer a little constructive criticism if you don’t mind. I, in no way consider myself a great umpire, but I also don’t consider myself a very bad one either so take this for what it is worth and I think you probably know some of what I am about to say.

First, I think that this assistant coach needed to be run. I think you made it very clear to him after the first outburst that he was to be seen and not heard and you let him get away with too much. By not running him, you are going to make it harder on the next umpire that has this team because he is going to be doing the same thing and probably won’t really learn until he gets tossed from a few games. Or you may have even mentioned to the head coach when he came over that he needs to get his assistant under control or he will be tossed, if not by you then by the next umpire.

Next, about going for help, I don’t think you should have done that. I can see doing that if you had some doubts about the play, but you seem to be pretty sure that you saw everything clearly and made the correct call. I think I might have told the coach something to the effect of “Coach, I was in proper position and saw the entire play clearly, I don’t think that the plate umpire standing 60 feet away will be able to offer anything that would change my mind.

Like I said, I’m not saying I am a great umpire, but just some things that I may have done differently. Thanks for the post and good luck in the rest of the playoffs.