Handling situations: Dealing with catchers

[UMP25]

This thread reminds me of a minor situation with a catcher with whom today I have an outstanding relationship (uh, baseball-wise, that is ). In the summer of 2005 he was playing on a summer college team, in one of those summer wooden bat collegiate leagues. The first game of the 2005 summer season for this team saw me working the dish behind this young man (who is now a Junior in college and that school's starting catcher). Very early he didn't like a pitch I called a ball and he held his mitt out there too long and turned his head to look back at me in disagreement. I calmly told him that that wouldn't be tolerated, and the next time would see him involuntarily leave the game early.

After the inning was over, I heard his manager rip into him in the dugout, telling him, "You don't ever pull that kind of crap with this umpire. Randy doesn't put up with sh!t like that. You're lucky he didn't run your @ss." I had to smile and laugh a little under my mask.

He never did it again, and as I stated above, we have an excellent on-field relationship. In fact, he works very well with me out there and it's a pleasure to call a game when he's catching. Also, from a strictly objective baseball observer's point of view, he has turned into a hell of a ball player. He can crush the ball and has one of the nicest swings I've seen. Good kid.

I may be an umpire, but I have to admit that I really do enjoy seeing good players out there. It's one of this job's best benefits, if you ask me.

[TNStripes]

First year FED guy so feel free to slam me if you think I approached this wrong. Top of the second, starting catcher at bat - ball just above the knees called strike three. Catcher grumbles and kicks dirt as he walks away. No real show but he thought that the pitch was low and expressed it. Bottom of second - catcher behind plate, LH batter first pitch just off or at the edge of the plate but close enough at this level (JV). Ball one. Catcher turns around and says coach got me when I got to dugout and I understand and you won't here anything else out of me. Rest of the game went well and I think he had a better understanding of our relationship behind the plate.

[DG]

I call borderline pitches strikes, so I don't get much crap from the catcher.

My best line, used years ago, "coach, have you got another catcher?" After he responds yes I return with "good, you are getting ready to need him."

If the coach hollers out to the catcher "where was that pitch" I will often say "outside" (or whatever) just loud enough for only the catcher to hear and 99% of the time he will get the message and respond accordingly. Catcher's are not dumb.

[justanotherblue]

Not a word on balls and strikes for 5 innings. After ejecting head coach for arguing a batters interference for third out, assistant coach takes over. With a runner stealing, pitch in the letters as catcher attempts a throw without success. Assistant asks his catcher where the pitch is, he says right there.
I replied to catcher, keep that up and you can join your coach. Finished the game quietly.

[WayneG]

Good suggestions but all are after the fact. I've done this several times and found great results. Before the each half of the first inning I make a point to engage in cordial hellos with the catcher. Nothing special, just how you doing this afternnoon type stuff. I tell the catchers, that we are a team behind the plate and we have to work together. I tell them to help me out. They don't like their coach yelling either so we both benefit by keeping the coach off my back. If there are any situations where he or the coach feels I may have made an incorrect ball/stirike call, just keep the game moving and singal the coach where I called the pitch. If I call outside, tell the coach it was outside. All of the catchers I've done this with have helped and the game has run much smoother. Of course I'm sure I'll run into one of those "superstars" that won't want to play along and then I'll have to use one of the previously recommended tactics.

[mcrowder]

Originally Posted by WayneG

If there are any situations where he or the coach feels I may have made an incorrect ball/stirike call, just keep the game moving and singal the coach where I called the pitch. If I call outside, tell the coach it was outside.

You call pitches "outside", "low", etc?

Just say BALL.