How do you handle a partner like this?

[umpire99]

This is how it started. Bases loaded with a high hopper down the third base line. F5 knocks the ball down and it goes into foul territory. I am in C. My partner signals fair and all runners move up one base. The visiting coach comes out to talk to my partner. Here is the conversation:

Coach: Wasn't that ball foul when it was touched?
PU: That's his call (pointing to me).
Coach: How is a ball down the line his call when he is in the middle of the field?
PU: No, I meant that was my call. It was a fair ball.
Coach: Where was it when he touched it?
PU: He was in fair territory when he touched.
Coach: I know that, but it doesn't matter where he was. It matters where the ball was.
PU: Then the ball was in fair territory when he touched it. That is a judgement call. Thanks Coach.

Later in the game, the batter hits a dribbler in front of the plate. F1 fields it and tags the runner. There is contact, but I cannot tell from my position if it was malicious. F1's coach comes storming out of the dugout screaming, "You have to get him out of here! He elbowed him!" My partner says something to the coach and then comes out to talk to me. He asks me if I saw malicious contact. I tell him that I could not see it from my angle. He says that he did see it and starts to walk away. He gives the ejection mechanic and says that the player is gone. Of course now the visiting coach is unhappy. Here is the conversation:

Coach: Why is he ejected?
PU: He threw an elbow. I have to eject him when it is that obvious.
Coach: Then why didn't you do it right away?
PU: I just wanted to make sure my partner saw the same thing I did.
Coach: Isn't that your judgement call?
PU: Yes it is.
Coach: Then why did you let the coach scream at you about it?
PU: I have to eject him. It's my judgement. It was obvious.

At this point the coach turns to me and says to me, "You know that is wrong." I assure him that I am doing my best to keep the game under control. I didn't want to throw my partner under the bus, but what do I do in this situation?

[Cub42]

At that point you have to stand back until he turns to walk away from the HC. Then you move in a get the HC away. You were in a bad situation with a partner who had no game management skills. Did you have a post game discussion with him about this fiasco? You can tell pretty quickly if he just lost it or is in way over his head. I would talk to your assignor or a Veteran in your group about the situation. Chances are he was already getting a horror story from the coach and he needs to hear your honest description of the events. Good Luck!

[jdmara]

Bad situation all around. I've been there a few times and it is never an experience I look forward to. I protect/agree with my partner as much as my integrity allows but there is always that point where you just don't know what to say. At that point I usually say, "Here we go coaches, lets play the game!" Most of the time they get the impression that the discussion is over and we all need to get over it.

-josh

[umpire99]

I did attempt to have a post-game talk with him, but his overwhelming arrogance would not allow him to hear anything I had to say. He is very young and inexperienced. He was in way over his head. I have talked to my assignor and he has heard from the coach. The coach seemed to tell pretty much the same story I did. I sensed the coach's frustration later in the game when his pitcher got spiked around the knee while covering home on a passed ball. He asked if the high spikes were malicious and my partner said, "I am not going to call that." The coach asked how high is too high as he walked away. He made eye contact with me and I did my best to non-verbally let him know that I felt his pain.

[archangel]

Worked JV game last week, where my partner (who I didnt know, and was maybe about 65) was already dressed for the plate when I arrived 30 min prior. He stated that he hadnt worked the plate yet this year, and though I prefer the dish, I told him, it was OK with me.
I'm in A to start the game, just finished answering a Q from the base coach, and am watching F1 deliver the 1st pitch. Afterwards, I hear a fan behind the backstop yell to my partner "wheres your mask?". He had laid it down nearby and just forgot it.
Between one of the middle innings, I'm in right field when I see him walk into 3rd base dugout(team was taking the field), and with his back to all - is standing by the trashcan with his hands in front down low! I figured he had a weak bladder but I was still shocked! He zipped up, came out and started the inning. No one that might've seen said a word, and I went to right ea time till game end. As we left together, walking by the same dugout, he ducked in and grabbed his "cup", saying that he forgot to wear a jock, and the cup kept slipping down so he had removed it midgame(I was wrong on the weak bladder thought).
I just know that if I did either of these, I'd be hurting in 2 places for sure....Oh, and he did call a good game....

[umpduck11]

Originally Posted by umpire99

I did attempt to have a post-game talk with him, but his overwhelming arrogance would not allow him to hear anything I had to say.

At this point, I'd have no alternative but to scratch him as a potential partner, if your assignor/association allows it. I can work with anyone, even inexperienced guys, but they better be willing to take constructive criticism.

[jdmara]

Originally Posted by umpire99

I did attempt to have a post-game talk with him

God forbid I ever work with him again but if I did and he flubbed up a call, I might just sit back and watch him get worked over by a coach.

[Rcichon]

Originally Posted by umpire99

...clipped...but what do I do in this situation?

"Coach, he got the call right. Let's get back to the game".

"Partner, bye bye now."