[Ump20]

Originally posted by SC_Cindy
Ump 20...Perhaps you've made a valid point. However, he knows the rules of the game and is a good fundamental player. In every post I agreed that Holden should have been called out. My comments were simply meant to put a smile on his face and encourage him in some way to get back out there. He was very hurt by the manner in which the ump ejected him out in the previous game and didn't understand why some person he didn't know was screaming over and over at him. At the time he was still trying to figure out what he'd done wrong. I'm a teacher, a coach and a parent. I try to find the right balance with all of my parenting decisions. It's easy to criticize the way other people raise their children isn't it? I think umpires have a tough job. I admire thier dedication to the sport. However, when their actions or the manner in which they conduct themselves demeen a child, I feel they should not be allowed to work with children at a younger age.
I appreciate your comments but thank goodness I don't have to agree with them.

Cindy,

I did not intend to draw any conclusions about your skills as a parent. I only meant to comment about the action of sliding when it wasn't needed. It may not be a big thing but it sounded like a bit of overkill. Umpires make mistakes. Some umpires have the demeanor of Atilla The Hun. These types brag about their "ejections", never looking at the possibility these arise out of their own characters and attitudes. If a child Holden's age actually "deserved" to be ejected it should have been done with no fanfare. If I umpire 100 games per year I probably average one ejection and sometimes even at that I think maybe I could have taken an action earlier that may have shown more game control and avoided a coach or player from ejecting themselves based upon their actions. My son just stopped playing baseball at the age of 28. I remember going to his games and my mere presence putting pressure on him. I learned very early to say nothing when he was hitting. When he was about 10 and didn't warm to my POST-GAME advice I decided it was time to coach. Parenting is a real tough job. Just like umpires we all make mistakes as parents. We simply do the best we can and support our children whenever they need it. Sounds as if you take that responsibility pretty seriously. Hopefully, Holden's ejection was his last and even if he wasn't "wrong" he learned from the expereince. - Jim