Plate Umpire ejects himself in 3rd inning

[timharris]

Hello

I have been involved in officiating 3 sports for a number of years but i have never heard of this before. During and American Legion tournament game this past weekend a umpire walked off the field in the bottom of the 3rd inning because the fans and players were so horrible. Basically the fans and players
got to him. I always use the philosophy the more they yell the harder im gonna umpire the ball game and show them just how good i really am. The umpire did mention to the coach that he needs to get the crowd and players under control and he didnt, so the umpire basically ejected himself from the ball game. Has anyone else ever encountered and incident like this before? How would you have handled the situation that unfolded in this game?

Thanks

[David B]

Originally Posted by timharris

Hello

I have been involved in officiating 3 sports for a number of years but i have never heard of this before. During and American Legion tournament game this past weekend a umpire walked off the field in the bottom of the 3rd inning because the fans and players were so horrible. Basically the fans and players
got to him. I always use the philosophy the more they yell the harder im gonna umpire the ball game and show them just how good i really am. The umpire did mention to the coach that he needs to get the crowd and players under control and he didnt, so the umpire basically ejected himself from the ball game. Has anyone else ever encountered and incident like this before? How would you have handled the situation that unfolded in this game?

Thanks

Another fine example of an umpire getting asked to do a tourney game who is simply "Not qualified" to call the game.

Happens every summer in every age group because of the shortage of umpires.

We have two state tournaments this week in our area for HS age kids and I was amazed at some of the umpires who were asked to call. They had asked me to call but my son is still playing his games but in retrospect I'm glad I did not work the games because the guys were not qualified to call that level of ball.

But it happens everywhere this time of the year.

Thanks
David

[mcrowder]

Funny.

Just yesterday someone here was advocating exactly this - if the crowd is bugging you, ask the coach to put a stop to it and if he doesn't, leave.

Good to see that now that we have a concrete example of someone doing this, this umpire is being ridiculed for it. That's how I felt yesterday.

[LMan]

Yep. One day its, "Dont take that crap as an umpire!". Next, its "you gotta be tougher than that!" Now we dont know exactly what 'abuse' was going on in this game, so HTBT prevails.


I think that there has to be a line beyond which an umpire will not go. Some are obvious like personal threats, etc. But if the game becomes unmanagable and the on-site authorities will not take effective action, then the UIC has to be prepared to walk. And not look back.

[PeteBooth]

Originally Posted by mcrowder

Funny.

Just yesterday someone here was advocating exactly this - if the crowd is bugging you, ask the coach to put a stop to it and if he doesn't, leave.

Good to see that now that we have a concrete example of someone doing this, this umpire is being ridiculed for it. That's how I felt yesterday.

You are talking Apples and Oranges.

Yesterday's post delt with an adult mens league game or more commonly referred to as a Rec game. Quite different from


During an American Legion tournament game

2 totally different circumstances.

Pete Booth

[mcrowder]

Originally Posted by PeteBooth

You are talking Apples and Oranges.

Yesterday's post delt with an adult mens league game or more commonly referred to as a Rec game. Quite different from


During an American Legion tournament game

2 totally different circumstances.

Pete Booth

With respect to the topic at hand, I humbly disagree 100%. It doesn't matter who is ON the field - your dealings (or lack thereof) with those OUTSIDE the fences should be minimal or nonexistant, and simply up-and-leaving if you don't like a particular comment (as in the rec league posting) is just as ridiculous in either setting.

[nickrego]

In a standard game, I have informed coaches that if they did not get the crowd under control, I would stop the game, and they would have to continue it at a later date (all associations back us on this).

For a Tourney, unless the crowd was getting violent, I would not stop a game, or leave. I would however, inform the director before my next game of what was happening.

At some point though, you do have to consider safety, when deciding to continue a game with an unruly crowd. Just look at what happens at soccer & hockey games. Most parents are sitting around with lots of Road Rage built up in them, just waiting to get out.

[Carbide Keyman]

Originally Posted by timharris

Hello

I have been involved in officiating 3 sports for a number of years but i have never heard of this before. During and American Legion tournament game this past weekend a umpire walked off the field in the bottom of the 3rd inning because the fans and players were so horrible. Basically the fans and players
got to him. I always use the philosophy the more they yell the harder im gonna umpire the ball game and show them just how good i really am. The umpire did mention to the coach that he needs to get the crowd and players under control and he didnt, so the umpire basically ejected himself from the ball game. Has anyone else ever encountered and incident like this before? How would you have handled the situation that unfolded in this game?

Thanks

I have had a partner walk off the field after a blistering tirade from a coach (BTW, I tossed the coach and the assistant under the Three P rule: personal, prolonged,and profane).

I don't see myself ever abandoning my game responsibilities due to the harangue of fans, players, or coaches. I am not going to let the ba$tard$ think they beat me.

Fans and assistant coaches really don't exist in my world. The Tournament Director should be on top of controlling the fans. Ejections are for controlling the players and coaching staff.

Limited contact as possible with game participants and the Three P's for ejections have served me in good stead. Plus, I'm a stubborn Scot.



Doug

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Carbide Keyman

I have had a partner walk off the field after a blistering tirade from a coach (BTW, I tossed the coach and the assistant under the Three P rule: personal, prolonged,and profane).

I don't see myself ever abandoning my game responsibilities due to the harangue of fans, players, or coaches. I am not going to let the ba$tard$ think they beat me.

Fans and assistant coaches really don't exist in my world. The Tournament Director should be on top of controlling the fans. Ejections are for controlling the players and coaching staff.

Limited contact as possible with game participants and the Three P's for ejections have served me in good stead. Plus, I'm a stubborn Scot.



Doug

If a partner walks, I walk with him.

[Carbide Keyman]

Originally Posted by Rich Fronheiser

If a partner walks, I walk with him.

Rich,

Point well taken.

I didn't think his reaction was warranted. BUT, your view is valid.

I should have gone with him.




Doug

[archangel]

Originally Posted by Carbide Keyman

Rich,

Point well taken.

I didn't think his reaction was warranted. BUT, your view is valid.

I should have gone with him.




Doug

I'm not to sure on this. Other threads talk of the importance of having an "after the game discussion w/ partner who leaves you hanging out to dry" during a game---Right?...A partner who takes it upon himself to walk away, without even talking to me prior, is one I dont want to work with again. Think about the orig post--Nothing mentioned about both umps being attacked and upset, just the one.....If things were that bad, then why werent both umps involved?--Sounds like 1 had thin skin, and by walking away, left me hanging. I'm finishing that game w/ NO PROBLEMS from ANYONE.

[DG]

Three years ago, under 30 adult league (prima-donnas), late July, best 2 out of 3 series for the summer championship, first game won by team A on Friday night, it's Saturday morning and a double header to decide, 9 innning games, 95 degrees. My partner is my son, he takes the plate and I am hoping there is no game 2. By the 5th inning team B is smacking team A but they have removed the 15 run rule for this end of season tournament so we can't even end it in 7. Player-coach for team A is an a**hole. All of the players on his team want to concede and move on to game 3, but he rides them all unmercifully, calls them names, hollers, argues, etc. To this day I wonder why they didn't open a can of whip a** on him. 9 innings and 3 hours the game is finally over, score something like 25-5. So, I will take the plate for the final game, I tell them 20 minutes, both sides say OK, and my partner and I go to the car to change.

We are back from the car. Did I mention it was 95 degrees? Coach from team A says his guys are not back from the store yet (more than half are missing). I have not had a conversation with team B's a**hole coach yet, so I don't know how many of his are at the store, or are more likely contemplating whipping his a**. I say why not, we said 20 minutes and you all agreed. "They just aren't, tough sh*t". "What do you mean tough sh*t" I say. He says "I mean tough sh*t, what's your problem?". "My problem is it's 95 degrees and you said you would be ready, we are and your are not." "Why are you out here" he says. "I'm fat, and old and need the exercise, and it d*mn sure ain't for the money", say I as the few in crowd who haven't gone to the store crack up. He then utters the magic words, "why don't you just go home". And this guy is not the a**hole.

My partner (son) went with me.

And all this for $50 a game for 9 inning double headers in 95 degree heat with prima-donnas. I haven't worked an adult league game since although I will say the over 30's and especially the over 40's were just happy to be playing and not nearly as high strung.

This game I left before it got started. The only other game I have left was forfeited, because an ejected coach would not leave. He was losing 12-5 in the 5th at the time. It was a nasty argument that got him ejected. He never coached another game.

[PeteBooth]

A partner who takes it upon himself to walk away, without even talking to me prior, is one I dont want to work with again. Think about the orig post--Nothing mentioned about both umps being attacked and upset, just the one.....If things were that bad, then why werent both umps involved?--Sounds like 1 had thin skin, and by walking away, left me hanging. I'm finishing that game w/ NO PROBLEMS from ANYONE.[/QUOTE]

Sounds like you must have been one "heck of a teammate"

Remember umpires like the players are a team. Many times when I played there were things that I didn't particularly care for that my teammates did or said, however, we were a team and we stood by one another. if we had a "beef", the time to "err it out " was in practice etc. away from the actual game.

Regardless of what you think, if your partner walks, you walk. It's just like the ole umpire saying "When one calls FOUL, we all call FOUL"

Generally speaking, you have to trust that your partner had a good reason for walking. If you disagree, disagree later away from everybody.

By your statement above, IMO it will be YOU who no-one wants to work with because you do not have your partners back.

Pete Booth

[Sky Popper]

As to the players, the ump should warn and then start ejecting them. If they don't leave, the ump can call a forfeit under 4.15(f).

As to the fans, different leagues have different procedures. Many allow the umpire to order an unruly fan to leave. In any event, there should be a tournament official present to deal with inappropriate fan behavior.

As you all have noted, umpires need training and experience to deal with these situations.

Thanks,

Dennis

[Carbide Keyman]

Originally Posted by Sky Popper

As to the players, the ump should warn and then start ejecting them. If they don't leave, the ump can call a forfeit under 4.15(f).

As to the fans, different leagues have different procedures. Many allow the umpire to order an unruly fan to leave. In any event, there should be a tournament official present to deal with inappropriate fan behavior.

As you all have noted, umpires need training and experience to deal with these situations.

Thanks,

Dennis

The better you are, the more training and experience you have, the less likely these situations will rear their ugly heads. Good umpires generally have good games.




Doug