HS Coach Strikes Umpire

[LMan]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

I have not to my recollection ever ejected anyone while wearing a mask or helmet. It is just more manly to not hide behind a mask when dealing with managers. The mask isn't there to make an umpire tough, it's there to protect his face from pitched baseballs only.

I see your point, Steve, but I see a lot of the opposite also.

I was under the impression that HSM wearers touted the fact that since the HSM had such better vision and so on, that they were freed of the requirement to take it off as often as mask-wearers do. I know a HSMer certainly would have it off for the plate meeting, but I see HSMers keep it on while making lineup changes, casual chatting with a coach b/w innings, etc, and I see them certainly keep it whilst in a rotation, etc. Traditional mask-ers obviously remove the mask for those events.

So, is it 'policy' for HSMers to only remove it when an ejection is imminent? Would this umpire have kept it on for a 'calm' discussion with the coach?

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by LMan

I see your point, Steve, but I see a lot of the opposite also.

I was under the impression that HSM wearers touted the fact that since the HSM had such better vision and so on, that they were freed of the requirement to take it off as often as mask-wearers do. I know a HSMer certainly would have it off for the plate meeting, but I see HSMers keep it on while making lineup changes, casual chatting with a coach b/w innings, etc, and I see them certainly keep it whilst in a rotation, etc. Traditional mask-ers obviously remove the mask for those events.

So, is it 'policy' for HSMers to only remove it when an ejection is imminent? Would this umpire have kept it on for a 'calm' discussion with the coach?

I wore the helmet for three seasons, and making lineup changes was the only time I kept it on other than for pitches, and even then I would usually remove it. I was not above dropping it onto the grass to free up my hands, if necessary.

During play I pulled the helmet just like a mask as soon as the ball was hit (forward), and removed it during conversations, etc. I never looked at the helmet as being freed from any requirement to remove it, just for better protection.

If and when I return to umpiring, it will be with a conventional mask and 6 stitch hat.

[DG]

He moved his head back and thrust it forward. Head butt, no doubt about it. I would love to know if the ball was alive or dead when the balk was called. If it was dead the coach should have quietly protested the call.

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by DG

He moved his head back and thrust it forward. Head butt, no doubt about it. I would love to know if the ball was alive or dead when the balk was called. If it was dead the coach should have quietly protested the call.

(sigh)

If you watch video of other coach/umpire arguments, you will see the same movement of the head accompanying the yelling and the body movements. For example, the old "minor league meltdown video": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDx_6...elated&search=

Check out the movement of the coach's head as he yells. If he was wearing a HSM there would be contact.

Incidental contact, no doubt about it. And, wisely, so ruled by the authorities in this case.

[DG]

Originally Posted by GarthB

(sigh)

If you watch video of other coach/umpire arguments, you will see the same movement of the head accompanying the yelling and the body movements. For example, the old "minor league meltdown video": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDx_6...elated&search=

Check out the movement of the coach's head as he yells. If he was wearing a HSM there would be contact.

Incidental contact, no doubt about it. And, wisely, so ruled by the authorities in this case.

I am only looking at this one case. It is the only one under discussion. And he head butted the guy despite your objection to this fact. If the authorities are overlooking it is becuase the coach's actions were much more serious.

This video is not representative of what happened here and therefore irrelevant. The umpires in this case are completely composed and the coach has lost his mind, but he didn't head butt anybody.

[Cub42]

My question is, Where in the world is his partner after he dumps the coach?

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by DG

I am only looking at this one case. It is the only one under discussion. And he head butted the guy despite your objection to this fact. If the authorities are overlooking it is becuase the coach's actions were much more serious.

This video is not representative of what happened here and therefore irrelevant. The umpires in this case are completely composed and the coach has lost his mind, but he didn't head butt anybody.

The head move is not a head butt. Simple as that. I brought up the other video to illustrate that when one yells as in this kind of confrontation, the head moves, both backwards and forwards. Just watch the coach in that video. I can additional visual evidence of that fact, but it appears that you'd rather not be annoyed by facts now that you have your mind set.

If the umpire didn't have a helmet on, there would have been no contact and there would have been no discussion.

[DG]

Originally Posted by GarthB

If the umpire didn't have a helmet on, there would have been no contact and there would have been no discussion.

Good point, he should have had his helmet off, and if he did it wouldn't have been a head butt. Given that he had his helment on it wasn't a head butt but a mask butt, same difference though, in effect. I have my mind made up because I saw it clearly, was in position to make the call and made it decisively.

[LMan]

Originally Posted by Steven Tyler

Aren't both Tathum and Mikulik centered in Asheville? What's in the water?

It probably won't surprise you to know I'm originally from Asheville, now would it

[umpduck11]

Originally Posted by LMan

It probably won't surprise you to know I'm originally from Asheville, now would it

In St. Clair County ?????!!

[outathm]

I am amazed that only one person has mentioned how far back the guy was calling balls and strikes. I imagine he did get some noise if he was calling pitches from as far back as he was.

I by no means condone the coach arguing, but if your going to get dressed up like Darth Vader you should at least be able to close the gap to the plate.

[LMan]

I can only see one small clip of him in his stance...although he's not using the GD stance, he doesn't appear to be any farther back than the GD stance allows. Hybrid box/GD? who knows.....*shrug*

[Rich]

Originally Posted by outathm

I am amazed that only one person has mentioned how far back the guy was calling balls and strikes. I imagine he did get some noise if he was calling pitches from as far back as he was.

I by no means condone the coach arguing, but if your going to get dressed up like Darth Vader you should at least be able to close the gap to the plate.

Higher and deeper is perfectly appropriate and is a staple of the GD stance.