Unejected a Coach

[BretMan]

In a fall league last week, I had both teams begging me to "uneject" a player!

One team was playing short-handed, with only eight players (FED rules). We were only in the third inning. A player for the short-handed team went down on a called third strike.

He took a few steps from the plate, let loose with a string of profanities, then brought his bat up overhead and heaved it about 30 feet in the general direction of his own dugout.

I didn't even hesitate on that one- "Number 11, you're ejected!".

Since they dropped down to seven players, the game became an automatic forfeit. His coaches pleaded for me to change my mind. The other team's coaches asked if I would reconsider. They wanted to play!

I held my ground, telling them, "If you still want to play, be my guest. You can play another ten innings if you want. But you won't be doing it with these two umpires present".

And with that one, well deserved "heave-ho", I now have the reputation as the hard-a$$ umpire that doesn't "care about the kids"!

[Publius]

That's a good reputation to have.

If anyone asks, just tell them you care enough about the kids to let them know actions have consequences.

[canadaump6]

I never said anyone is piling on, and like fitump56 said it is a bad idea to be yelling across the field. The only problem is that to avoid this, I've got to follow the coach for 50 metres to get to him, and this just doesn't look good. Maybe I should just toss him after he starts yelling across the diamond? What do you guys think? This whole yelling across the diamond thing is starting to piss me off, maybe it's time to just eject immediatly.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by canadaump6

I never said anyone is piling on, and like fitump56 said it is a bad idea to be yelling across the field. The only problem is that to avoid this, I've got to follow the coach for 50 metres to get to him, and this just doesn't look good. Maybe I should just toss him after he starts yelling across the diamond? What do you guys think? This whole yelling across the diamond thing is starting to piss me off, maybe it's time to just eject immediatly.

If a coach is yelling from across the diamond you have two choices:

1. If what he is yelling at you is something you would eject him for saying to you when he is close by, then you give him the old heave-ho (that means eject him in case you didn't know) from right where you stand.

2. If he is just jabbering, or in your case, changing the lineup, then you do the following: IGNORE HIM. If you don't know exactly what he's yelling: IGNORE HIM.

[LomUmp]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

If a coach is yelling from across the diamond you have two choices:

1. 1. If what he is yelling at you is something you would eject him for saying to you when he is close by, then you give him the old heave-ho (that means eject him in case you didn't know) from right where you stand.
   
   2. If he is just jabbering, or in your case, changing the lineup, then you do the following: IGNORE HIM. If you don't know exactly what he's yelling: IGNORE HIM.

Hey all,

I agree, an umpire has to KNOW what was said to cause an ejection. How else can you do an ejection report with all the facts?

LomUmp

[GarthB]

How on earth did this thread get a three star rating?

[Rich]

Who knows? Perhaps the guy who lets rats yell at him across the field rated it himself.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

Who knows? Perhaps the guy who lets rats yell at him across the field rated it himself.

I gave it 5 bleepin' stars.

[canadaump6]

In a Fed game, young umpire objected to a coach telling him "You blew that call" twice, face-to-face, not across the field. Said rookie dumps coach.

I let too much of that kind of crap slide this year. 8 ejections in about 70 games, but it should have been more like 15. If someone comes up to me and tells me "you blew that call", there's a good chance I will dump him if I feel he is trying to intimidate me. If he's letting off frustration I'll probably say nothing.

As for yelling "you're killing us blue", this is something I used to not toss someone for in the past, but I am considering ejecting them in 2008.

And yes I did give this thread a 5 star rating, just as it deserves.

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by canadaump6

And yes I did give this thread a 5 star rating, just as it deserves.

Proving again that nothing has changed in your outlook on umpiring or yourself and that your assignor has the right opinion of your work.

[TussAgee11]

You ejected 8 people in 70 games?

Not saying your ejections weren't valid, but you must be pissing some people off to get that many.

That's one every nine games! Reconsider that you probably should be letting even more slide, and not take it so personally, eh?

[VanStanza]

Originally Posted by canadaump6

I never said anyone is piling on, and like fitump56 said it is a bad idea to be yelling across the field. The only problem is that to avoid this, I've got to follow the coach for 50 metres to get to him, and this just doesn't look good. Maybe I should just toss him after he starts yelling across the diamond? What do you guys think? This whole yelling across the diamond thing is starting to piss me off, maybe it's time to just eject immediatly.

I find that too often on this forum, umpires are looking for comebacks to a player's or coach's comments. Many times, a reasonable course of action to ignore the coach if he is yelling from across the diamond.

If he is walking that fine line and want him to say more to get tossed so that it doesn't look like you're chasing him from the game, and you want to acknowledge that you heard him, a simple glare in his direction is also effective.

[Arnold A.]

Originally Posted by VanStanza

I find that too often on this forum, umpires are looking for comebacks to a player's or coach's comments. Many times, a reasonable course of action to ignore the coach if he is yelling from across the diamond.

If he is walking that fine line and want him to say more to get tossed so that it doesn't look like you're chasing him from the game, and you want to acknowledge that you heard him, a simple glare in his direction is also effective.

I do not want anyone screaming at me across the diamond.

If he cannot comport himself in an adult manner and come to me and discuss the issue(s), then there is a good chance he will be ejected.

I don't yell at coaches or players across the diamond, and I don't tolerate them yelling at me in that manner.

I also don't engage in "comebacks" with coaches or players. I try to keep any contact with participants to a bare minimum. I've found that, more often than not, the game goes along more smoothly for all involved this way.

[RPatrino]

Canada, I will be kind, since you purport to still wanting to learn.

1) You don't ever "follow a coach" to get to him. Make him come to you. A coach wants to talk to you, make eye contact and don't move. If he still doesn't get it, motion him towards you.
2) If a coach begins to yell at you accross the diamond. Call "time", if it's not already called, beckon the coach to join you. "Coach, come here". Now, when he is within normal conversational distance tell him. "coach, i don't appreciate being yelled at accross the diamond. If you want to talk to me, this is how we do it". The ball is in his court now. The next time he yells at you from afar, eject him from afar.

[fitump56]

Originally Posted by RPatrino

Canada, I will be kind, since you purport to still wanting to learn.

1) You don't ever "follow a coach" to get to him. Make him come to you. A coach wants to talk to you, make eye contact and don't move. If he still doesn't get it, motion him towards you.

Establishing the position of ultimate authority, agreed.

2) If a coach begins to yell at you accross the diamond. Call "time", if it's not already called, beckon the coach to join you. "Coach, come here". Now, when he is within normal conversational distance tell him. "coach, i don't appreciate being yelled at accross the diamond. If you want to talk to me, this is how we do it". The ball is in his court now. The next time he yells at you from afar, eject him from afar.

Approach slowly, and keep at least two arms distances away.