Batter swings..hits hands...ball in fair territory

[Rich]

Originally Posted by CoachJM

Rich,



Works for me. Not only courteous, but firm as well.

I was trying to come up with something clever about him getting his runner picked off by a snap throw from the catcher, but I haven't come up with anything yet.

On a more serious note, I've been reading a book titled "Verbal Judo" the last few days. It was recommended by a presenter during a "Handling Situations" session at a clinic my association put on earlier this year. While I question whether all of the author's points/theories are applicable to umpiring, I'm of the opinion that many of them are.

Anyway, it's got me thinking that a major contributor to "situations" arising in the first place, and not going especially well when they do arise, is a result of ineffective communications by the umpire(s). One chapter is titled, "The Greatest Speech You'll Ever Live to Regret". It's kind of got me thinking I don't want to make one of those while I'm umpiring. Having a natural tendency towards sarcasm, this is not always easy for me.

JM

JM,

Friend of mine espouses the five words or less theory. Theory is, more an umpire talks, the more problems he has. Just about any situation on the field can (and should) be described to the coach in five words or less:

Examples:

He started and stopped.

He lowered the shoulder.

Batter stepped over the plate.

etc.

Knowing what to say, saying it confidently without being an arrogant prick, and knowing the rules well enough to get from "batter stepped over the plate" to "that's interference, batter's out, runners return" are the keys.

Verbal judo, huh? I'll have to check that out.

[UmpJM]

Rich,

The "five words or less" theory makes an awful lot of sense to me, and I am working on becoming an effective practitioner.

So far this season (3 games) I've had exactly one "conversation" with a coach about a call I made during the game. I was working solo, and the F1 successfully picked off the R2 at 2B.

After I called him out, the offensive head coach (who had been coaching 1B) came trotting down to talk to me. I called "TIME!" (though he never requested it), removed my helmet, stepped out from behind the plate and waited for him.

Though he never said so, I believe he was displeased with my call. Our conversation went something like this.

Coach: (In an incredulous tone of voice) Where did he tag him?!?!?!

Me: On the arm.

Coach: (Less incredulous tone) How can you call that from back there?!?

Me: I had him out, Coach.

A brief moment of silence ensued and the coach returned to the box and we went back to baseball. No further incidents.

What I saw on the play was the runner was fooled by the pick-off, slipped on his initial attempt to return, the throw beat him back to the bag, and the F4 got a tag down on the ground as the R2 did a "reach slide" back into 2B. Whether the F4 actually physically tagged the runner or not, I have no idea. The coach may have had an angle where he clearly saw his runner evade the tag. From my vantage point he was out.

Now, a lot of things were going through my head that I might have liked to have said ("That's a $50 call Coach, you want that one, pay for two umpires." or "I know, why don't YOU take the plays on the bases & I'll just do strikes/balls and fair/foul?" or,,,,)

Anyway, I'm glad I resisted the urge.

The author of the book is a former English professor and a former Policeman. He developed his theories from his experiences as a cop and seeing how some cops seemed to naturally defuse tense situations while others turned innocuous situations into extremely tense, and sometimes violent, situations.

It's not especially well-written, but there are a lot of interesting ideas.

JM

[Rich Ives]

I was working solo

I think "Pay for more umpires" fits the 5 words of less criteria.

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by CoachJM

Rich,


Coach: (Less incredulous tone) How can you call that from back there?!?

JM

In my 20's, when I was even more of a smarta$$, I once answered that same question with:

"Like this, coach: (Giving the hammer sign) HE'S OUT!!!.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by GarthB

In my 20's, when I was even more of a smarta$$, I once answered that same question with:

"Like this, coach: (Giving the hammer sign) HE'S OUT!!!.

Ten years ago I was working a Legion game in New Orleans. I was scheduled to work the bases and my partner (with history of heart problems) started having chest pains in the parking lot. We called for an ambulance and he insisted I stay and work the game alone.

I rode with him and didn't have my gear, so I gave the team two options. I'd call pitches from behind the mound or we'd go home. They were OK with me working from behind the mound.

Until.....4 innings or so in, a one hopper back to the plate and R3 (for some unknown reason) was off on the crack of the bat. Step, throw, tag, out.

And the third base coach went nuts and said the runner slide BEHIND the tag. Then the coach said I needed to hustle into position to see that.

That's when the coach got run. And I haven't worked alone since, come to think of it, except on the Little League diamond.

How about "who else is going to call it, Mr. Invisible??? Since nobody pays him, I guess he decided to not show up"

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by GarthB

In my 20's, when I was even more of a smarta$$, I once answered that same question with:

"Like this, coach: (Giving the hammer sign) HE'S OUT!!!.

I've done similarly with the old "call 'em both ways, Blue" comment on strike calls. I say, "Okay" and call a strike with a point to the right, then a separate strike call pointing to the left. Always gets a laugh.

I had the pleasure of working baseball for many seasons with the legendary Bob Moss, who is a fine, rather rotund, African-American umpire, college professor, and motivational speaker. After asking me for help on a checked swing, and getting the "No, he didn't go!" response from me, he would bellow, "now you have it in black and white!"

[johnnyg08]

any coach who's stupid enough to argue a judgement call at 2nd base with only one umpire doesn't deserve more than 5 words. any player who's been around the game knows that you get what you pay for...with one umpire, sometimes it's an educated guess at 2nd base...bottom line.

[LMan]

Originally Posted by CoachJM

How can you call that from back there?!?

"Because back here is where I am."