Plate Umpire ejects himself in 3rd inning
 

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

How did he get a tournament game?
 

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

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.

Yep. One day its, "Dont take that crap as an umpire!". Next, its "you gotta be tougher than that!" :D 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.

Jmho .........................
 

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.:D



Doug

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

If a partner walks, I walk with him.

This sounds like a situation where an umpire probably worked too many games over long period of time. This is why I hardly work summer baseball at all and when really nothing counts the same or gets the same publicity as during the spring time.

Also we do not know the entire situation. We do not know what issues the umpire had to deal with or what the fans were saying to him. He might have had enough and did not care about the consequences. After all we are not talking about the Majors here. He might have been working just for the money and what was taking place was not worth it anymore.

Peace

I have to say .......................
 

Rich,

Point well taken.

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

I should have gone with him.




Doug

Quote:

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

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.

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.

Tournament game. Where are the people running the tourney? Hiding? I never worked a baseball or softball tournament where there were no officials at, or near, the fields.

Bob

Never seen an umpire eject himself from a game. I have seen an umpire appeal a check-swing to himself though.:D

my .02
 

"If a partner walks, I walk with him"

Im lucky in that I get to work most of my summer games with the same partner.....if he walked, so would I....no questions asked.........

he has always had my back, and I trust his judgment. It would have to be something he felt really strong about for him to walk off.....and that would be good enough for me.

Stan

Good mechanic!
 

I've done this a few times. Always gets a good laugh and lightens things up a bit when working alone.

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.

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.

Carbide, I hafta differ with you, and also ask, "what is a good game?"

Is it one with no arguments?

One where calls "went both ways?"

One where there are few player and coaching errors?

IMHO, the players dictate the game, and to a lesser degree. coaches. We umps record history.

A "good" official must often jump into the game, especially where unusual plays are concerned. I find myself doing this often.

See my new thread.

Ace

sounds about half stupid...I just laugh in my head when ever i hear fans or coaches go nuts...can be quite entertaining :D Only time i walk off the feild is at the end of the game. I love it. lol In this situation, the new rule comes in to effect, if bad fans are heard, dead ball, runners return :D

Ace ...................
 

I still believe that the more skilled and competent an umpire is, the likelihood of an instance that opened this thread is diminished.

And,sometimes no matter how good an umpire is, sh!tstorms will happen. It's inevitable when dealing with the human race.

I have no problem "jumping" in when the situation requires it. But, I'm not into looking for "boogers".

JMHO.




Doug

How I've Done It
 

I have never left the field (although I was sorely tempted once), but I have said in a basketball game to the home coach, "That drunk a$$hole leaves or I do."

The drunk was in a pair of silver behind-the-back bracelets about 3 minutes later.

Strikes and outs!

Several years ago in an Independant Pro game, former Cub Chico Walker was the head coach in a game in which I was working the plate. We had one of those pitches that rode up and in and hit the bat....or the hand. I called "dead ball" and ruled it a foul ball. The batter did not argue, or even disagree, but here comes Chico. After ultimately REFUSING to let go of the "discussion", he was warned and ejected. I immediately turned away from him and my partner began the "let's go, Chico" process. Chico proceeded to get into it with my partner, who was glad to oblige.
After asking the assistant coach to "assist" (with no results), I walked up to my partner and said "Let's go, Louie", and off we went past the first base dugout down to the umpire room outside the right field foul pole, leaving Chico stewing at home plate. Louie said "This is great - have you ever done this before?". I said no, but it seems appropriate. As we walked by the first base coach he asked "Will you be back?", and we said yes, as soon as Chico leaves. The home team GM showed up at the lockerroom and asked if we forfeited the game, and we said no, we were just waiting for the Chico show to end and then we'd finish up the game.
Once all the reports were in after the whole incident was over with, Chico was fired the next day. Seemed appropriate.
That's the only time I've ever left the field, and it was done as a team with my approving partner. Gotta love this game!

Obviously, This guy was in over his head. In an amateur game like this, you can stop this before it starts. At the plate meeting, let both coaches know they are responsible for their players, coaches, and fans. Game Mgt. skills can't be taught.However, tell the coach to talk to his fans and get them under control. If he refuses, dump him and get Tournament officials to restore order, and remove any problem parents. Game does not resume until order is restored. Your in charge, be in charge

Which post are you referring to? You lost me here. Use the quote button unless you are responding to the post directly above yours, please. It makes it easier to follow.

The post above yours was talking about a pro game, and you were talking about an amateur game, that's why I'm confused. :confused:

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

SDS the Legion game where the plate guy left.

Ok guys, lets play this out. For whatever reason (name some?) both umps walk off, 3rd inning Amer Legion Tourney game- fans and players riding 1 ump, so he walks and other follows, not knowing why.

You know that both rats will complain(Big F**Deal!), TD complains- plus game possibly rescheduled w/ diff umps,---

Assigner asks you, "Pete, why did you lose control of the game and leave?"
Are you telling him that "It was my partner, I just followed along, didnt know why at the time, "but I had his back"" ...?
"But Pete, you were there, why didnt you take control before it got out of hand?"...
"Mr Assigner, it was my partners job to handle, didnt want to step in on his turf, and then he walked , so I followed, not sure why at the time."

Seems to me, at this point, that the assigner, TD, other area officials including co-workers, now look at you and your pard a bit differently (what in the world happened that Pete couldnt control things and he left before game end?) You are probably "silently thanking" your pard for this mess, but of course(since you have his back) you dont explain to anyone, even in private, how he walked off, leaving you to decide what you are going to do, because he didnt walk up to you and explain "Heres what happened , shouldnt we leave?".

As we deserve the respect from players and coachs, so also do we from our fellow umpires. Notice my recurring theme about a partner walking off w/out even talking to his partner (telling me w/ good reasons, we're both gone!). That shows lack of respect, and maybe the "got his back" position, in this case, is not set in stone.

I love this game, and will defend the integrity of it, and continue to act as a professional and uphold all I believe in and why I choose to be a proud sports official. So, that being said, I'm not a sheep, to blindly follow without reason, and am reluctant to make blanket statements (like some others here) because nothing is in black/white. Each situation is different.

And Pete, maybe a little less "us vs them" arrogance, since we do have "ultimate power" to deal with any prob during the game, would be advised. I'm sure you're a fine ump (just assuming), and if so, thats good. I happen to enjoy the respect I've earned from my fellow officials, various assigners and coaches-- which gets me the games I want, when I want, and working with friends or helping the newbies along.

But hey, its just my opinion, and you know what they say opinions are like--right Pete?

This all sounds wonderful, but all assignors are not the same people. My college assignors are not the same as my HS assignors. My HS assignors are not the same as the summer assignors. If I am working with an assignor I hardly work for, who cares what that assignor thinks? I know with all the baseball that is offered to me, I am not in fear of working a game (at least at this level) if I choose to walk away. Remember this is something no one has to do, this is an option. If it gets so bad that you feel threatened or you feel no one is supporting you, then walking off might be your only recourse. Now I am not advocating anyone do this, but if umpires at this level do not take a stand some time, then this bad behavior is going to continue.

Peace

Very well put archangel!!!