Warnings for behavior

[mick]

Before a Legion game, we (Partner, Coaches) decided we didn't need a plate meeting. Been on the field before. Teams have played before.

A visiting player aggravated me in the third inning, and I told him, "Yer gone."
Player says, "You're Kidding, right?"
I just replied, "Yer gone."
He walks off mumbling, "...and he never gave me a warning."

His manager walks on the field and says, "That's my only pitcher and you didn't give him a warning."
I said, "... a warning for what?" (And that was that.)

I shared this with fellow umps last night; they started giving me "da bidness", and they said they always give warnings at the plate meeting. (I knew they do that.) I asked, "Why?". No answer, maybe they said, "Cuz."
One then said, "...so they know what to expect."
I asked, "If they get me again, don't you think they'll know what to expect?"

This was my 2nd ever ejection of a player, I've never had a Coach go away. I never mention "warnings" during the plate meetings, because I think it is unnecessary to go over any rules generally, or specifically, unless I am asked.
I do give warnings, during the game, if warranted, for all kinds of stuff, but I never give a generic warning that I feel is not thought out and too vague by nature.

Other than a couple of comments from the ejected player that I ump as bad as I ref Hoops, there was no big deal after that.

4 innings later, the team without another pitcher, walked off winning 6-3, or so.
mick