mbyron,
It's hard to figure out why managers do some of the things they do. However, in this particular situation, perhaps he senses some fustration on the part of his pitcher or catcher and he's "going to bat" for them.

Bottom line here is how you communicate on the field is a direct reflection of how you are perceived as as umpire. If the manager harmlessly asks the location of a pitch in a non confrontational manner, then I will probably extend the same courtesy back to him with a reply. However, if he continues to ask or his tone of voice changes, ie. "Where was THAT pitch", then you have to change your demeanor and treat the situation accordingly.

There is a drill at umpire school and other clinics I have attended that addresses this issue (aka sniper fire from the dugout). I was never instructed to handle a coach with a smart a$$ remark when they occasionally question the location of a pitch. I think that goes for training purposes and live game situations as well. This is my opinion and apparantly, others may disagree. Perhaps the truth lyes somewhere in between. I'm just trying to share what has worked for me. Good luck to you in your umpiring career.

Sal,
I didn't see your post, but it made me laugh. Bob said enough. Umpires explain pitches when they don't know any better. Don't worry, it'll get easier.

WCB

Coaches snipe or ask stupid questions, and some of the lines that go through my head would make Seinfeld proud.

But I have learned to refrain from the smart a$$ answer. It always seems to escalate the situation. I am now much more adept at answering in such a way that he knows he is getting on my nerves, that exasperated type of response that lets him know I've about had it with the questions.

In my younger days, I tossed coaches for sport. I never tossed one that didn't deserve it, but I did nothing to defuse the situation, or nothing to "game manage" to keep everyone around. I still got great evaluations and moved up the ranks (and no, I never did any minor league baseball, Windy, as it is not available in our area, and I was not about to give up my real job to travel for minor league ball), but since I have gotten older and wiser, I have learned that the chip on the shoulder, "I'm in charge no matter what" type of attitude just isn't necessary. In 120-150 games a year, I now average 1-2 ejections, and zero smart a$$ responses. And no, the coaches aren't getting away with more, I just am not looking to put them down, or "keep them in their place". I know who's in charge on the field, and I rarely have to remind anyone of it.

Beleive me, I WANT to give a smart a$$ answer, I THINK the smart a$$ answer, I have just learned not verbalize the smart a$$ answer.

I'm with Atl here - I toss one or two folks a year, but I perceive my objective as keeping players and coaches IN the game. I'm proud of my game when I can successfully diffuse a bad situation. I don't let people run over me, but my job is to umpire. Of course, I try to remember the lines I SHOULD have used - they make great conversation stories and will look good in my expose on umpiring baseball (if I can remember them when it comes time to write the thing). ;)

When I was younger, I explained why I didn't call the pitch a strike and let coaches question from the dugout. I started working with guys that nipped it early and put a hand up to stop coaches from even coming on the field. I saw that those guys kept the game rolling and actually were respected more BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T EXPLAIN EVERY CALL. If you let explain one close pitch, the flood gates will open and the rain delay begins.

My comment was simple and straightforward. The coaches that see me know better than to chirp. They know that if I called it a ball, it wasn't in the strike zone. I don't say, "It just missed." I may tell the catcher that he's not going to get those pitches, so he needs to adjust. That usually settles it.

JJ, I know that you don't explain your calls. When you were UIC for the AA series a few years ago, you didn't tell your crew to do this. It only leads to trouble. I don't consider what I said to be baiting. If a coach is seeing me for the first time, he'll usually gain some insight at the pre-game and will settle down after the first inning. If he doesn't, there is a remedy. If one of you feels the need to clarify your calls, that is not showing certainty, it is showing subserviance. It is not a matter of being omnipotent, it is about doing your job. We don't say, "Safe! He slid under the tag.", so why should you justify your plate work? But then again, I see guys that wear white socks and gym shoes on some fields.

I don't think you can give a general answer. They might simply want to know where the pitch was or they might be testing your demeaner and confidence behind the plate to get an edge latter in the game or perhaps they are try to get a feel for your zone. Most coaches are just looking for consistentcy. The bast unintended compliment that you will ever get is when you ring a guy up on a called third and the batter complains to the coach and you over hear the coach say "knock it off he has been calling that a strike all game. I see no problem in answering the question. It was up coach or it was out coach. Naturally you don't want this after every pitch but a few times per game is OK with me.

Atl Blue, Gordon and John Johnston (fellow CBUA memeber),

Thanks for the support - I thought for a second that I was the only one who was crazy. We've all been through our red a$$ years but at 34, I think mine are behind me (although I still get a one or two in the independent league in the summer time but I think that is because I'm a little itchy to get the season over with...ha ha). Take care guys and JJ, maybe I'll get a chance to work with you someday - if not in the spring, maybe in the summer time.

Sal Giacomantonio

In HS ball, I try and get the catcher to respond to the coach's question. This way the coach is not encouraged to continue chirping and many coaches assume that if F2 says it is low it must be low.

Does this work at college level?

Sal,
Come see me work at Alexian someday. I’ve worked with some of the best in this area and have never seen one let a coach ask where pitches are and question their calls. Since you claim to work indy ball, I can only pray that it is on my off day and I can watch you explain your calls at the dish. You won’t be the first 34 year old umpire to have peaked before they realize their dreams.

Working for Fetch is not an accomplishment. Pay the money, go to winter meeting and maybe you’ll get a non-conference game or two in DeKalb for the first five years. I prefer my schedule - at least I get seen and don’t have to kiss a** to do it.

I read what JJ and the others said. They are not advocating explaining your calls. They just don’t think that baiting a coach is a good thing. But, I bet if you pressed JJ enough, he’ll admit to baiting a coach or two in his career. Most of us have and there are some excellent reasons for doing it. When you get up here, we’ll explain it to you.

Yes, Alan, it works with some college catchers.

You may be better served to tell him, "Hey, he's just missing. I'll give you Time - go keep his head in the game and let him know how to adjust."

Some catchers are afraid to get in the middle of a big time coach and an umpire.

Windy City Blue,

Now I get it - I knew I sensed the bitterness in your posts. Nobody ever said working for Fetch was an accomplishment. I'll see you next summer in Crestwood (Windy City), Rockford or Sauget, IL (Gateway) if you want to make the drive.

WindBag buries another would be pretender to the throme. Your name wouldn't be Rich Rosenthal, would it?