Varsity Partner Help...

[budjones05]

Originally Posted by PAT THE REF

Hey Everyone,

I was very excited to be moved from a mid-level freshman game (base job) to a High-Level Varsity Game (plate job) here in NJ today. I have a few questions that I would like everyone’s opinion on the following situations. My biggest downfall is game management and I would like to become better at it, so any advice is greatly appreciated.

Sit 1) Top of the 1st, Questionable strikes at the low point of the knee and the catcher is dropping his glove. Every pitch then is scraped on the ground or dropped… I ball pitches and the coach starts getting on my case… Stuff like… Hey Billy (catcher) where was that one? Looking good? Aww. Come on. Hey Blue! Where was that one? All from the dugout.

Sit 2) My partner on the 3rd base side of the diamond with a R1, double play ball hit to shortstop… Runs over the bag – three feet prior to the runner getting there. Legal slide, no popup but the Shortstop trips over the legs of the runner. NO interference – totally legal slide and just a “trip”. Base umpire calls runner safe due to shortstop never reaching the bag. Then coach goes out to him to argue… From the bench and the stands (they are behind one another)… “that was a rule change! Four years ago! That should have been two! Your are the worst f*cking umpires I have ever seen! We should all just go home!”. Coach returns and we have R1 and R2 now…

Sit 3) Catcher still dropping pitches & missing pitches… From the dugout in the 4th inning… “Call it both ways! Come on now”… Lets Go!....

Sit 4) Catcher in the 5th Inning starts signaling his coach where pitches are and now he holds the glove for a good second on pitches that I have balled. We are talking two balls off the inside corner… Now when the coach asks his catcher… He just shrugs his shoulders…

Sit 5) Check Swing on a Bunt… Batter attempts and moves towards the pitcher – similar to a drag bunt… But at the last second swings the bat along the ground and moves 2-3 feet out of the box… I give a strong – yes he went! And all heck breaks loose… The coach now is screaming that the call was horrible and that I need to get some help… Called strike – no help is EVER given, but I honestly thought he went… Then my partner says, well you cant appeal a bunt… and throws me under the bus.

As you can see, I don’t like to have “rabbit ears”. I know Evans teaches the “four stages” of warning and such but I just don’t like looking for trouble. When it finds me – in my face, words directed at me directly then I can handle it… But about “pot shots” from the dugout… A little help?

Thanks,

Pat

1. Warn

2. Eject, No need to cuss

3. Don't pay attention

4. Don't pay attention unless the catcher and/or the coach aruges about the call every single pitch, then I'll say something to the catcher.

5. Only give a "no signal" or a out signal if your partner ask for it.

[mcrowder]

Originally Posted by budjones05

1. Warn

2. Eject, No need to cuss

3. Don't pay attention

4. Don't pay attention unless the catcher and/or the coach aruges about the call every single pitch, then I'll say something to the catcher.

5. Only give a "no signal" or a out signal if your partner ask for it.

Who the heck are you ejecting in 2 when a fan cusses? Fans? I hear no stinkin fans.

[jicecone]

I have often used the phrase that "nobody goes to watch the officials" however, that applies to contests that are played by the rules, by participants that usually understand the rules.

Now there is your game. The particpants did not understand the intent or application of several of the rules and therefore it was necessary for you and your partner to "step up to the plate."

Do you want to move up?

Well the first thing you have to learn is to take control of YOUR game, get it back into line with the rules and sit back and not be noticed. Just because the other official is doing that level of ball, don't assume he belongs there.

You were the UIC for that game and needed to put an end to questioning of your authority right from the get go. That alone, would have probably put an end to most of what went on in the game.

You can't make your partners calls for him, but save that argument for the parking lot after the game. Don't let anyone make dispairing remarks about the officiating team out on the field. protect your partner no matter how good, or bad they may be. And don't second guess your decisions. you called the strike and that was it. Again, they probably would'nt have questioned your judgement had you take care of business earlier.

As already stated, this was the experience, that will give you experience, to become more experienced. Use it wisely and grow to become the best you can.

Good Luck

[lawump]

I wasn't at your game, so I won't post in direct response to your situation.

However, I will say this:

Experience has taught me that there are games when one (the umpire) needs to look for an ejection. You know: the type of game where everyone on a specific team is whining about everything...and you (the umpire) are getting more and more agitated. No single argument or whining has been enough to warrant an EJ...but collectively, they are really pissing you off. You notice that one player's whining, just encourages another player to whine, etc.

Its in these games, experience has taught me, that an ejection can do a lot of good. Its amazing the effect that one ejection can have on a team. I've had many a game where one ejection has served notice to the team that "you're not tolerating anymore" and as a result has led to a rather peaceful rest of the afternoon.

However, I readily admit, that this does not always work. (See the thread about 6 EJs in one game) However, it often works, especially on the high school level. (And frankly, if it doesn't work...I just keep EJing until it does work...as the OP did in the 6 EJs thread).

Learning how and when to EJ is very difficult skill to master. With that said, I think that in your game, you needed to find someone, somewhere, and tossed him. Even though no profanity was used by a player/coach...the EJ could simply be for prolonged and continued arguing of balls and strikes.

Sometimes...one needs to put the hammer down.