Team takes on the personality of the Coach

[Andy]

Jr College DH yesterday. Head coach of visitors has a reputation of being a whiner and complainer, coming out of the dugout to talk to the umpires about stupid stuff, etc....

We have the plate meeting for the first game of the DH, and (Team A head coach) is nowhere to be seen, so I casually ask about him. I am informed that he was ejected recently and is serving his suspension. Game goes very smoothly with Team A winning 8 - 5...a couple of close plays and situations that I would expect to have some conversations about, but other than a few comments from the dugout......nothing.....

As partner and I are walking to the parking lot after the game to change for game 2, (team A head coach) is walking in. He says hi, shakes our hands and says "I'll be a goood boy and behave today".....that lasted all of one inning.....

He didn't like a call at the plate in the second inning and had to come out and make a big deal about it, he calls time and comes out to me behind the shortstop and asks if I am watching the runner on first base for leaving early, he has a loud comment to make on every pitch he doesn't like the call on...assistant coaches are now whining and moaning at every opportunity, players are rolling their eyes, etc......

It was just amazing to watch this team totally transform from one game to the next with the only difference being the head coach gone from one game and present at the next......

Of course, one Team A scored 17 runs in two innings, we became much better umpires.....