Getting Tuss's EJ thread back

[tcarilli]

Originally Posted by TussAgee11

1) How does the idea of "letting them know they're being heard" differ between a player and a manager? What are some possible conversations that need to go different ways, and at what time, because somebody is a player as opposed to a coach?

I don't think it necessarily should differ. Most of the stuff we get in baseball is long distance sniping from dugouts. In that case, a glance at the dugout will let them know you can hear them. (By glance I do not mean whip your head around whip your mask off and stare the dugout down. I mean a casual look toward the dugout with your mask on if you are working the plate and they are chirping about balls and strikes. If I'm working the bases and I hear something about a balk, I will often just touch my ear signifying "I hear you." Again the movements are casual. Depending on my relationship with the team sometimes I will say just audible to the "offender" "I hear you" in a casual tone. If they respond with the "don't look in here!" nonsense. Hold up the stop sign. Remember if they are speaking loudly enough for you to hear them they want you to hear them. Think about all of the things that are said in dugouts that we can't hear.

Immediate emotional responses, like the one in your situation, can be dealt with in much the same way. When the runner declares his belief, you can just glance at him, but generally, if it does not involve immediate histrionics, and a question is not asked, moving on to your next position is likely to be the best response.

There is a difference between arguing with and "entertaining" participants. While managers (head coaches) are allowed to argue, players and assistants generally are not. So don't engage them in argument. That doesn't, however, mean that you should not allow them to address you in any way shape of form.