How do you end a game?
 

R3, tie game, bottom of the last inning. BR laces gaper to right center, and I, the PU, see R3 hit the dish. Now what?

Yell "Ball game"?

Point to the plate, and look toward the scorebox?

Just walk off the field?

Wait for an appeal of the miss at first?

I'm just asking.

What's the point of that? Either drop the balls at home plate, give them to the home team coach, roll them toward the home team dugout or take them with you (all depending on the type of game and the custom in your area).

Be sure you (and the other umpires) watch all the runners so you can rule on any appeal.

Leave expeditiously.

If BR missed or never touched 1 then I will wait with partner until last fielder enters DBT.

If he acquired 1st then I'll wait long enough for the defense to conclude continuous play.

Exit stage right.

Don't do anything other than what you normally do. Don't tip off the defense by hanging around.

Pretty simple
 

In the OP's scenario, I either:

(1) Wait until the B/R and all forced runners legally acquire their advance base, or,

(2) Wait until the time for a defensive appeal has expired

and then I start walking toward the exit. I don't yell "ball game". Frankly, the yelling of "ball game" should be on the list of "how to tell your umpire is a 'smitty' ". The players know when the game is over. Just head to the exit. If you have a locker room, then leave the extra baseballs in the locker room. If your car is the locker room, roll the balls over to the home team's dugout on your way out.

I'm guessing that those who say "ball game", are the same ones who wait around home plate to shake hands with players and coaches.

51 to 54 outs. That's all your paid for. Get the hell out of dodge when its over...just make sure its "over" as described above.

Well, you have to hang around, but slowly walking off while making sure your services won't be needed further won't tip anyone off.

Personally, I find rolling the balls towards a dugout rude, but I recognize it's a regional thing and perfectly reasonable umpires do this in other parts of the country. I don't give them to a coach, either. Either they go back in the box of baseballs, they go to a ball boy, or last resort, I give them to a player.

And I agree with the announcing of "ball game" being something that should be on one of Tee's lists of something you should never do.

I know why you said this but do you normally wait for the defense to clear the field? Especially if you saw the potential for an appeal?

How do you handle that? Certain coaches/Managers will call all of their defense into a huddle in the middle of the field to discuss the game/whatever. How would you handle that?

It would be normal for me to walk up the 1st baseline to meet my partner halfway, then turn and slowly walk to the visitors exit.

Just take a bit longer to empty your ball bags (I put the extra baseballs on home plate), gather your water bottle, whatever, without looking like you are stalling. The defensive players should have dumped their gear in the dugout for the lineup/handshake by then.....

then vamoose

From "Lance's School of Umpiring and Screen Door Company":

1. Yell "That's Game!"

2. Pull out can of Coors that you duct taped a chunk of ice to and kept in your Ump-Attire ball bag.

3. Shake hands with home coach and remind him that you usually work bigger games but are available for his next one.

4. Shake hands with visiting coach and remind him that you're available to come work with his pitchers and catcher for your usually $100 fee.

5. Toss remaining balls in the back of your pick up and save for your next garage sale and take off gear.

6. Remind partner that you saved his a$$ and you're available to give him private lessons for your usual fee.

7. Light up a cigarette, jump in the truck, and wave to fans as you spin your tires on the gravel. This will show them let you're an ordinary Joe, but just a bit better than them.

8. When you get home, be sure to check the answering machine for the many requests you'll get to umpire more games

Wait until play ceases (whether I have a potential appeal or not), wait to make sure no one is going to appeal (whether I have a potential appeal or not), meet partner halfway, leave through the winning dugout together (or through a neutral fence where such thing is possible).

NEVER yell "Ballgame".

Ending the Game
 

R3, tie game, bottom of the last inning. BR laces gaper to right center, and I, the PU, see R3 hit the dish. Now what?

Leave as fast as you can! Unless you need to pick up your check.

[/QUOTE]

Do not even Start the game unless you get paid "up-front" during the Plate Conference.

We often hear "How long should the plate conference be?

Answer: It could be Forever if we do not get paid. Once we get paid now it's play ball.

Pete Booth

[QUOTE]In my area, we simply give the balls to the Home Coach especially in the Spring where the fields are damp or muddy.

I do not wait until the defense leaves. My partner or I make a mental note of what happened but do not deviate from our normal routine of exiting a game.

If there were a "true" miss of a base on a game ending play, the coach will not Hesitate, he will make certain the umpires are notified.

In a nutshell, when the game is over I hand the Home coach the baseballs, greet my partner and head for my car. No different than any other game.

The coach has ample time to appeal if he should so choose. However, I do not hesitate, hang around etc.

Pete Booth

Pete, that depends
 

Do not even Start the game unless you get paid "up-front" during the Plate Conference.

We often hear "How long should the plate conference be?

Answer: It could be Forever if we do not get paid. Once we get paid now it's play ball.

Pete Booth[/QUOTE]

It depends on who sees us get paid! If it is someone who thinks he will get hosed that day, then it has to be at the pregame conference. Otherwise, seeing the AD before or after the game is fine by me :eek: :eek: :eek: :D :D :D

The next baseball game I umpire will be my first, but I recognize that as sarcasm.

:D