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Originally Posted by WhatWuzThatBlue
I guess it depends on what level of ball you are working. The comments you mentioned in the original post wouldn't get more than a smirk from me. We call it gamesmanship and he may be doing it to see how far he can push, to get a rise out of you and get dumped or to rally his team. If I tossed a guy for those comments, it would be me that would be looking for other assignments. My assignor would be stupified and I would be embarassed.
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Originally Posted by PeteBooth
[Maybe this should be another thread but IMO it is an important matter in answering many of these type questions.
Is umpiring your Profession or one's hobby.
IMO, your answer is "right-on" for someone who umpires professionally or aspires to umpire professionally or at the D1 college level. However, for the average amateur umpire it may be different.
Why!
Umpiring for the average amateur is a hobby. Yes it's important to get training etc. but in reality some of us umpire games right after work. We are not supposed to take our work problems at home or on the field but we are human or at least I think we are.
Therefore, as an amateur, sometimes you just have enough of a coach when they constantly stop by and give their under the breath comments especially in the heat. Also, more often than not it's his team that could use the comments, meaning they are not hustling or doing what they are supposed to.
Also, you will probably see this particular coach on several occassions throughout the year. Even though we should do the things you mentioned in your post, sometimes especially after a "tough day at the office" you simply had enough of this guy and eject him.
Will it mean no more assignments - NO because there is already a shortage at least in my area. Will it mean lessor type assignments - maybe but 7 innings is 7 innings and the FEE's are the same.
In Summary: There are certain things you can try, etc. but sometimes especially if this coach is doing it all game long as he passes by it's time to say "See Ya"
Pete Booth
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While we could probably start another thread about this, I believe I mentioned that my thoughts are based on THE LEVEL OF BALL YOU ARE WORKING. Since I base my opinion on my experience, suffice to say that I met your prerequisites.
That said, it is important not to diminish the amateur umpire. Just because the guy is coming from work and is doing it as a hobby doesn't mean that he shouldn't behave better than the Dad who steps in from the stands. We wear uniforms to put us in the mindset of a professional. We get paid to do a job and do it well. I hate it when I hear guys grumble about giving an effort equal to the talent on the field. WTF? When you are sadlled with the bottom feeders of your conference, do you do a horsepoopy job??? The comments made in the first post shouldn't really get a rise out of anyone working Varsity ball either. Some elite travel teams have some (locally) renowned coaches who can often pull the same stuff. They typically see the best umpires when they go to tourneys so they expect everyone to be that caliber. Gamesmanship has its place in baseball.
Lastly, as an amateur umpire you need to strive not to bring your problems to the field. Yes, we live in a real world with divorce, downsizing, braces, disease and car payments. Leave the crap in your trunk or locker room. Would you put up witha coach that just found out that his teenage daughter was expelled from school for selling drugs to support her pimp boyfriend who just got her pregnant? See...