The Dreaded Infield Fly Effect

[TussAgee11]

One more thing, I've also found that if you just give a coach a quick explanation and trot away, they feel very cheated, and will probably come back after you. Then its toss time, since you've trotted away.

I think sometimes its good to entertain them for 15-20 seconds, just to make them feel as though they actually got a chance. If you nip them in the bud real quick, they feel as though they never got in what they wanted to say.

So I try to let them get it out for 15 or so seconds (I actually count in my head), before interupting and telling him why I ruled what I did, and then always ending with the "you continue to argue this, you are placing yourself in jeapordy (not Ken Jennings)."

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by TussAgee11

"you continue to argue this, you are placing yourself in jeapordy (not Ken Jennings)."

Ken Jennings would have known that it's "jeopardy."

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by TussAgee11

One more thing, I've also found that if you just give a coach a quick explanation and trot away, they feel very cheated, and will probably come back after you. Then its toss time, since you've trotted away.

"

I guess the lessons from your experience since 1972 have been far different than mine. I find that if I give the coach, skipper or manager an honest and brief explanation, they except it. I have also seen how coaches react when umpires play word games with them. Far more of those end up ejected.

[Carbide Keyman]

Originally Posted by GarthB

I guess the lessons from your experience since 1972 have been far different than mine. I find that if I give the coach, skipper or manager an honest and brief explanation, they except it. I have also seen how coaches react when umpires play word games with them. Far more of those end up ejected.

Just echoing what Garth and Ace have said. I have found the briefest contact with any coach is the best,(I want to credit Tee or HHH with saying your explanation in five words or less). Then off to your position.

If the coach follows, he has somewhere more important to be than that particular game.



Doug

[TussAgee11]

Fair enough, I'll take the advice.

To be honest, there are plenty of game situations / coach confrentations that get me a little confused on how to act. Game managment and the such is probably the last thing to be found out by an umpire. Hopefully threads like this will accelerate that process for myself, with the attempt to become a better umpire in the future (we can always get better, even the best!)

I'm never rattled by coaches, but I've just never learned how to deal with them. And each situation with a Coach is different. Still struggling with this part I guess. Thanks for the input

[mbyron]

Don't feel bad, Tuss. "Situations" dictate which pro umps ultimately make it to the bigs. Everyone who advances past AA knows the rules, mechanics, etc., but not everyone can handle "situations," since by definition no simple rule or set of rules handles every case, every coach, every player.

This is a good reason to heed rules of thumb from experienced officials, but there is simply no substitute for your own experience, judgment, and personality.