[Dave Hensley]

Originally Posted by mrm21711

Hey Guys:

I wanted some feedback on a situation & ejection I had this afternoon.

Visiting team's head coach has a reputation in the area as a whiner. I completely blocked this out, but want to point out this is not some isolated problem with a solid coach.

Early in the game, there was some chirping on 2 pitches. One pitch myself & partner agreed I got correct, the other pitch my partner felt it could have been about 1/4 of an inch or so low. A pretty tight pitch. When he starts chipring from the bench, I give him a little bit of leash then give him a "thats enough." I left the mask on and everything, didnt provoke any confrontation. Bottom 6, 9-0 (I believe, visiting team is losing). Few close pitches dont go his way and comes out for a conference with his pitcher after that batter walked. I stay put on the opposite foul line, and after a few minutes or so, its obvious hes baiting me to come out to the mound. Now Tee made a previous post about how in his area, plate umpires do not go to the mound, plain and simple. In our area, the opposite is true. So I head out there, and no surprise, hes waiting to "discuss" a bunch of close calls that didnt go his way. He mentions how "all these close calls are going the other team's way," "I want to make you a better umpire for the future," and "we need to be more fair." I warned him again saying we will not discuss balls/strikes, previous close calls, most importantly the crew's integrity, and that we were done. I turned around, and he followed. I warned him again, and as he kept going, I threw him out.

Any problems here (maybe besides going to the mound?) I figured hes gonna come at me no matter what.

If you are serious about one of the pitches being "about 1/4 of an inch or so low" and that you let the visit go "a few minutes or so" before you went to the mound to break it up, then I fear for your perceptive abilities. If you're just using hyperbole for effect in both measurements, then no, I don't see any significant problem with your handling of the situation.