What About This Coach; Dump Him?
 

This is interesting. Pay attention to the idiot in the stands who sure he knows what the legal size is for a batters box.


Batter Out Of Box?



Tim.

I only watched the first minute or so, but if the box was approximately correct, and the batter stepped out of it (and there didn't seem to be any discussion on this point), then the umpire made the correct call.

The coach "accepted the field" (or whatever the official wording is) when play began.

I stopped watching because the discussion had already become redundant and the umpire should have had the game going. The coach hadn't done anything to get ejected at that point.

I wish you-tube would go away. ;)

You missed the coach pulling out the rule book then, Bob. It was really classy.


Tim.

as soon as he brought the rule book out. ejection. although we cannot really see the size of the batters box personally i would have probably wiped the lines out at the beginning of the game if they weren't legal...done some preventative officiating. the whole situation looked bad...physically showing the coach what you'll accept...bad form...

Amusing and the official kept getting hisself in hot water.

As Bob already commented, everyone accepted the playing field in the given condition at the begining of the game. The umpire should have reminded the coach of that right off the bat. Then limited the discussion but, choose to come with statements that kept him in hot water.

I would have not let it go that far myself so chances are real good that I would not have had to throw out the coach. Rule book or not.

Of course I am not quite sure I would have called the kid out either. Controversial box. Get rid of some lines.

It ain't cool being no jive turkey so close to Thanksgiving.........:rolleyes:

The main problem I had with the discussion is it went on too long. The umpire made the call and that is it. I would not have even discussed anything with the grounds keeper. If the coach did not agree with the size of the box, then he should have said something before the game.

Another problem I would have had was where the other umpire was during most of this discussion. Then when that other umpire came and I said enough, I would have walked away from him. He follows me and then we have a problem and likely an ejection. Also bringing out the rulebook would have also been a big no-no. The discussion just went on too long about the same thing over and over again.

Peace

I didn't know the game was played near Thanksgiving. I do agree that the coach was being "jive" or whatever urban slang you like to use to describe him.


Tim.

I agree with you.

What do you think the base umpire did wrong? Look at the base umpire approach the conversation and stand at the dirt cut out. Would you as a base umpire get involved in this discussion or do you consider the call to be judgment.

I let my partner fight his own battles.

Tim.

I think it depends on who you are working with. But I would discuss in the pre-game with my partner that if I walk away, then you need to begin to intervene.

I guess a lot of this depended on the conversation these two individual had before the game. I know that I am not as possessive of an argument that I am involved in and if the conversation is getting too long, I would like a person to get the game back into focus. The problem is many umpires feel they need to continue the argument and have no one interfere in any way. This is what I think umpires do so badly when we are more concerned about how much weakness we show instead of moving things along.

Peace

Mistake 1: Calling the batter out for being out of the box.
Mistake 2: This isn't a regulation box; no wait, the front line is regulation but not the back line; um, no, the regulations don't matter...yeah, that's the ticket...
Mistake 3: Continuing to discuss with the coach; eat your bad call and move on.

Do I dump this coach? No, I don't see anything that warrants an ejection. The fact that he continued discussing the call as long as he did was the fault of the PU. Did he pull out a rule book? If so, I didn't see it.

As far as the batter's box is concerned, the batters front foot looked to be out of the box. Whether the box was drawn correctly, who knows. Don't most coach's notice a box that is drawn too small? I also have asked boxes to be redrawn if they are wrong.

i bet if the umpire did not call the batter out in this clip, neither coach would have said a thing.

The question is far too hypothetical. I can't imagine any way in hell I would ever be in that situation.

Exactly my thinking.

First argument out of coach's mouth: "It's supposed to be four feet up, three feet back!".

Play a lot of softball, do ya coach?

I'll generally listen to any legitimate question from a coach, but when the first words out of his mouth are to argue a non-existant rule he is on thin ice with a short leash!

Would I eject him? Depends on his actions after I tell him, "Coach, the batter's box extends three feet forward from the side of the plate. The batter contacted the ball with his foot entirely out of the box. He is out and we are finished. Please return to your dugout".

This reply would be about 15 seconds into the conversation, not after arguing about it for two or three minutes!

That wasn't the coach - it was the guy with the camera (or someone near the camera).

OOO, period.

Actually, at 2:37 of the video one of the assistants crosses the 1b foul line with the book, then he and the other assistant stand there looking at it, with the BU looking at both of them the whole time, and at 3:00 the assistant hands the rule book to the head coach.

Now I ask two different questions. How many would dump the assistant for bringing a rule book on the field? And how many would stand there and watch two assistants look at a rule book without doing anything?

I would have already dumped the manager before it got to the point where the rule book was brought out. As soon as the PU told the guy they weren't going to continue to discuss it and the coach responded "obviously we are because this is ridiculous", I'd have run him.


Tim.

Agreed.

OK, you sucked me in.

In another situation, the coach's comment would have gotten him run. But again, this umpire brought this all upon himself in this situation.

I agree.

No
 

I don't dump this guy for what I saw here but again, I would'nt have been in this sitch to begin with. The lines would have been rechalked or would have disappeared.

At HP meeting, manager would have been advised to re-chalk or have batter ask for lines if he needed them.

Convo. went on way too long.

I saw this video a long while ago, and was surprised the umpire put up with as much as he did. First thing I would do here is tell the coach that he doesn't need to broadcast his argument to the fans. If he keeps speaking loudly, then we might have a problem. Arguing to the point that everybody can hear what you are saying is just as bad as drawing a line IMO.

In my view, this whole situation could have been prevented by a little 'preventive' umpiring. I notice the batter's boxes prior to the plate meeting, and if I feel that they are too small, too large, misshapen or otherwise 'wrong' I get it corrected or remove the lines. Bottom line is, the home team is responsible for the field.

The situation we see in this video is out of control because the umpires let it get out of control. If the batter's boxes were acceptable to all concerned prior to the game, then they live with them for the WHOLE game.

To be honest, I wouldn't go fishing for this type of call. I wouldn't call a guy out on this type of a call...especially if I knew the boxes were wrong...many, many times, these can't be redrawn due to lack of equipment, proper measuring tools etc...this umpire went looking for trouble, now he's in a pickle...no need to make that call...

oh...eat the call, move on with the game...hear the coach...move on...if he continues or pulls out the rule book...ejection. after all, he has a pretty good reason to be upset here...

Johnny, if the boxes are wrong, then you have two choices: 1) both coaches agree to play with them the way they are, no *****ing. or 2) you erase them completely and play without them.

In most HS games, the equipment is available to redraw the lines. If they are not available then revert to option 2, which is my preference.

I agree with you RPatrino...that's how I roll too, except I won't take the time to erase them. As many of us know, there are far more important things to worry about in lieu of the stupid "in/out of the box" rule.

In my many years of umpiring I have seen some pretty weird batters boxes, most of which I have erased and gone with nothing or had them re lined. I dont recall having to call a batter out for being out of a box (drawn or not) but have warned a few for it.

I have called maybe one or two batters out for stepping on the plate, but never out of the box. I had a Legion coach several years ago get on my case about not calling a batter out of the box, even though there were no boxes drawn. That discussion lasted about 2 seconds after I told him I was stopping the game for 1 minute so he could draw boxes.

Bob,

I would hope you called them out for contacting the ball with their foot on the ground outside of the box rather than for just stepping on the plate.


Tim.

...only if he wasn't doing a game by FED or NCAA rules which prohibit such action.

True, thinking with an OBR mind again...............


Tim.

Of course gentlemen, simply stepping on the plate is not a violation.

The BU shows up at 2:30! Even after the HC pleads with him to come in and talk about it.
Had a game couple years back where the Home HC starts arguing the Vis batter is out of box. Pitch after pitch telling me I gotta take care of it. Well, it would help if there were actual lines on the field. Next time, get the chalk out of the closet during lunch and YOU take care of it.:mad:


So Rut, just how many nails in Lloyd's coffin was that Duck thrashing?
This is my 100th post. I know you're all happy for me. :)