Lessons Learned About Rats
 

13 Year old Babe Ruth game on Sunday. Every time team A had a man on base the team B pitcher, who looked like he had little or no pitching experience, was balking (not coming to a stop) on every pitch. Team A had no problem stealing so I let the balks go and told the team B coach after the first inning. Fast forward to the 7th inning. The game is relatively close (3 or 4 runs) when I hear the coach of team B complaining about the team A pitcher not coming to a stop.

The lessons learned are that no one gets a break and that no good deed goes unpunished.

AMEN! TRUER words have not been spoken.

And?

What do you think a coach's job is?

Coach B was gaining and advantage with your "no balk" call so he's happy.

He wants the balk call for his team - but at meaningful time - so he waits.

No different that letting a BOO go until it matters.

The most important thing I've learned is that a coach's job is to wring, squeeze, twist, cajole, beg, plead and whine for every concievable break and advantage for his team. You played right into that here.

Your JOB is to call the game. If the pitcher for team B can't pitch, let the coach take him out. He will learn to stop. Would you ignore obstruction on the big, dumb 1st baseman because he's clumsy?

Rattus Maximus
 

I didn't get the whole "rat" thing my first few years of umpiring.

I had this misguided "be a nice guy--no one will get mad at you" notion, until someone set me straight. He was a local guy who had umped about four seasons of organized ball.

He basically said what some of you have iterated: They will bend you, cajole you, suck up to you and [bleep] you at every turn.

Here's a great example: Big game, tightly contested, then things turn sour for the Weasels one inning, and their ace allows 3-4 runs.

After the inning, I (PU) am standing on the foul line, all by my lonesome. The Weasels' manager sidles up to me, all nice like.

"Jeeze," he says, "that kid [his pitcher] hasn't had that bad an inning all year. He's a nice kid."

So, like a dope, I answer him in kind. "Yeah, skip. He looked good to me the first coupla innings, and then he just seemed to lose it for a few batters."

Suddenly, Rattus changes his tone of voice. "And your lousy strike zone ain't helpin' him neither."

QED.

Ace in CT

I'm going to bookmark this thread because when someone wants to understand what it means to be a rat, I want to be able to find your answer quickly.

The proper way to handle the coach, though, is to ignore him.

In situations like this, when a pitcher is pretty green and does not come to a stop, I will say to him (if I'm BU) or have his catcher tell him (if I'm PU) to be sure to come to a stop. He gets one freebie. After that he gets balked. You would be surprised how fast they learn how to stop when you keep advancing the runners 90 ft. and their coach gets on their butts.

OK. Glad to help. :D

Why is why I did not respond to Rich's post.:)

Good one, good one.

What it has become is to use every conceivable method possible including lying, cheating, threatening, begging and child abuse to obtain what he feels is an advantage for the team, through which he receives an inflated sense of self-worth and validation.

...squeak squeak squeak

Way over the top on that one Garth.

I think it is beyond the pale, myself. But, unfortunately, many still turn a blind eye to it.

I have witnessed subtle forms of child abuse by managers and coaches during youth ball games. It rears its ugly head sometimes when the supposed grown-ups misuse and abuse their authority.