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Originally Posted by PAT THE REF
Time was called by the Blue coach met me at the mound to discuss the call. He wanted to know why that runner was safe at second, “He failed to touch the bag coach”. Then he inquired why he wasn't ruled out for being out of the baseline. I asked him to clarify his question, upon that he wanted to know why the runner was allowed to return to the base if he walked three feet off it. I informed him that each runner makes his own baseline from the starting point to the base. He persisted that it was a straight line between the bases. We discussed the rule about baselines and the development of them. Then after about a three minute conference, I informed him that we need to get the game back underway. He acknowledged and returned to his dugout.
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A three minute conference over something this ridiculous is an eternity. It suggests two things. First, the coach obviously doesn't know what he's doing, and second, you are too patient--a trait that, while good for fishermen, can bite an umpire in the butt when dealing with irrational people. Listen to his gripe. Explain yourself once. Play ball. If he keeps talking, play ball. If he keeps talking, he's gone--45 seconds after he first appeared. And NEVER neglect to write the report. It will look like you are admitting that you are wrong and will only make things worse next time.
Oh, and get a new partner. Anybody who would return to the field to explain a call to a coach after a game is not someone I would *EVER* want to work with.