controling the game part 2

[WindyCityBlue]

Oops...forgot to add this, my bad!


The best place to have a confrontation (not conversation) is away from your normal position AND away from where the actual play occurred. I was taught this early, reinforced at B-F and can see no reason to abandon it. Nothing is funnier than seeing a coach miming a slide and tag at second, when you are standing forty feet away from the bag. A wise old ump ( who has since left us) told me to try to stay on the grass as much as possible. Apparently he had been Erl Weavered a few times.

I have no problem approaching a coach, as long as my mask is off (keeps me from saying something I may regret) and I'm in control. If I'm on the bases, I may take a step or two away from the play, but if he wants to "talk", he will certainly find me. I've had coaches yell, "GET OVER HEAR!" and I politely replied, "No coach, if you want to talk to me, then you need to come here. Otherwise, let's keep playing."

I agree that we shouldn't bait a guy by charging over to him in the dugout or coaches box, but I don't have a problem putting my hand up (ala "Stop") and taking a few steps towards him to reinforce that we won't tolerate chirping and it let's both teams know (visually and verbally) that you have had enough. We need to remain composed and in charge, but the field is our domain. If you want to share it, you must play nice!