Controlling a game

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by PeteBooth

1. if there is bad blood between rival teams do you stress sportsmanship at the Plate Conference?

2. What do you do in the second game of a double Dip in which there were problems in game number 1.

3. Do you have a quicker "trigger finger" than normal if you hear trash talking chaterring back and forth, etc.?

4. if F1 throws a high pitch around the head area will you warn right there or simply EJ F1 so a riot doesn't break out.

I could go on and on but my question how do you control a game?

Pete Booth

I do not change my plate conference to discuss history or set a negative tone before a game. If sh!t happens, I take care of it.

[SAump]

Originally Posted by archangel

In theory that may work, but good game mngmnt and the fact that I have the power, tells me that I'm not asking/waiting until school/league admin show up- I'm handling it myself--if that means multiple ejections, so be it.

"Coaches, 1) I have a situation telling me it is time to eject early and often."-If you do have that sich, Then Do It !

I would love to follow your advice and may have 20 years ago. Today, legal/medical liability issues prevent many of us from using this "once-sound" advice. 1) Recognize I have NO powers; 2) waiting for support; and 3) not handling situations alone are more logical alternatives. I know some umpires are thrilled about their ejection totals, but I don't think it means very much to any of the future combatants. Police and other crisis managers are constantly reminded to never go it alone.

In the OP, nothing has happened to merit ejections early and often. MLB is also filled with examples showing us why a coach's behavior would likely place him at the top of the list for the next ejection. So I am supporting a "preventive approach" by letting both coaches know exactly what I expect from them up front. Had these ejections already taken place, then it would be too late to ask a coach to take responsibility or to ask a coach for help with a situation. I cannot force anyone to comply with my directives, but that is certainly more powerful to me than filing an ejection report.

League officials and sometime police are always present. It would certainly make my life easier to have such a friend nearby while I get the hell out of there ASAP after the ballgame. They have the "radio" and they make very good witnesses on paper. I would hope that they would volunteer to take care of the "extra paperwork" that comes with their job. The last suggestion I want to hear from anybody is asking me why I didn't go for help any sooner, before the situation spiraled out of control. Lah me.

[tiger49]

Originally Posted by PeteBooth

What factors do you use.

1. if there is bad blood between rival teams do you stress sportsmanship at the Plate Conference?

2. What do you do in the second game of a double Dip in which there were problems in game number 1.

3. Do you have a quicker "trigger finger" than normal if you hear trash talking chaterring back and forth, etc.?

4. if F1 throws a high pitch around the head area will you warn right there or simply EJ F1 so a riot doesn't break out.

I could go on and on but my question how do you control a game?

Pete Booth

1- Depending on what happend and when I may address the issue. If the problems happend less than a week before I would just say I hope they got everything out of their system the last time. If it has been a couple of weeks I would let it go.

2- I may ask the teams if they would like to take a longer than 20 minute break between games to cool off. During this time I will make sure my crew discusses this at length, as well how to handle it.

3- If it is just trash-talking going back and forth I would wait until one team says something before addressing it with both managers. If it is very one sided or directed at a particular player I will nip it in the butt quickly.

4- Depends bad blood between both teams or batter even thinks about starting towards the mound. I would probably do something right away. If not I would wait and let the opposition have their chance as well.