Federation ambiguity w/ "Distraction"

[johnnyg08]

Easier said than actually done on the field, don't you think? I guess my point is why fight the battle? I'm not disagreeing with you...after all, I asked for the advice...but from a game management standpoint, if you know coach is going to come out anyway...you now are calling time, going to talk to coach, then telling him that "it's not distracting when he says it is" now, in his player's minds...they're convinced that they're all distracted so he tells his on deck hitter to ask the umpire to x,y,z because he's distracted.

I guess I just don't think it's that easy. Esp here in MN where coaches are rating you as part of the State tournament selection process.

[MrUmpire]

One difference is that if you enforce it without being asked, you're an OOO in the eyes of the other coaches; whereas, when you enforce it at the the request of a coach, the coach takes the heat from his brethern.

That said, I tend to agree Welpe and decline the invitation to be part of the complaining coach's game strategy as much as possible.

[johnnyg08]

Originally Posted by MrUmpire

you enforce it at the the request of a coach, the coach takes the heat from his brethern.

That's an interesting take. Is keeping the game moving on something inevitable considered OOO? I guess I don't really care what the coaches think of each other when if the shoe was on the other foot, they'd probably do the exact same thing?

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by johnnyg08

That's an interesting take. Is keeping the game moving on something inevitable considered OOO?

That's not what I meant to suggest. Sorry if I wasn't clear. In this area, taking it upon one's self to enforce BS trivial "distractions" is considered OOO by many in both the umpiring and coaching ends of the business.

[johnnyg08]

Fair points...I certainly agree...I guess in my area I have learned that I can't be too proud to simplly prevent the ticky-tack issue of even coming up because I don't want to get into pi$$ing contest w/ a coach over what is or isn't considered distracting

[Welpe]

I guess I fail to see where the pi$$ing match comes in. Coach comes out, states that a batting glove in the pitcher's back pocket is distracting, I tell him "Not in my judgment." The conversation is over at this point and I am going back to my position. No further discussion is necessary and we're going to play ball. If he wants to be petty about it and belabor the point, he can go sit down or enjoy an early shower.

A smart coach will get the message and if he wants to pick a fight over something trivial such as this, he probably isn't a very good coach anyways.

Now if you have a pitcher doing an Al Jolson impression with eyeblack or something equally as ridiculous...that is a different story and deserves to be addressed.

[johnnyg08]

I guess I can certainly give it a try. How do you get around the "power trip" rebuttle? In an effort to not sound like I'm trying to argue, I'm trying to think through the things that they'll say to me when I say...'it's not a distraction, let's play ball' I have no problem being assertive about things, but some battles are worth fighting, some aren't. I guess I'll find out this spring if it was worth it or not.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Welpe

I guess I fail to see where the pi$$ing match comes in. Coach comes out, states that a batting glove in the pitcher's back pocket is distracting, I tell him "Not in my judgment." The conversation is over at this point and I am going back to my position. No further discussion is necessary and we're going to play ball. If he wants to be petty about it and belabor the point, he can go sit down or enjoy an early shower.

A smart coach will get the message and if he wants to pick a fight over something trivial such as this, he probably isn't a very good coach anyways.

Now if you have a pitcher doing an Al Jolson impression with eyeblack or something equally as ridiculous...that is a different story and deserves to be addressed.

I have said this before and I will say this again. If you have a certain presence on the field, you will not have to worry about many pissing matches in the first place. If you are constantly having coaches challenge your positions, it might be how you are being precieved and that has a lot to do with how many times you have to eject coaches in many cases.

Peace

[MajorDave]

Originally Posted by Welpe

.....A smart coach will get the message and if he wants to pick a fight over something trivial such as this, he probably isn't a very good coach anyways.

An observation of mine over the years is that the teams that aren't very good (read: suck) usually have coaches that aren't very good (read: suck).

They have a way of blaming all the poor play and coaching by their players and themselves on the umpires. Sometimes I let myself get caught up in all the sorry, poorly played and coached baseball and let my game drop to their level. I hate it when that happens.

Examples like Welpe's and others' are usually what these guys resort to-asking us to call stupid stuff and whining about calls.

Makes for a very long day/night indeed..... Make 'em ask and then, if and only if, you deem their complaint has merit and action is warranted make the correction or make the call. Don't be afraid to tell them to get their butt back in the dugout. I hope some of these sorry coaches scratch me. I hate poorly played baseball with whining coaches.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by johnnyg08

Easier said than actually done on the field, don't you think? I guess my point is why fight the battle? I'm not disagreeing with you...after all, I asked for the advice...but from a game management standpoint, if you know coach is going to come out anyway...you now are calling time, going to talk to coach, then telling him that "it's not distracting when he says it is" now, in his player's minds...they're convinced that they're all distracted so he tells his on deck hitter to ask the umpire to x,y,z because he's distracted.

I guess I just don't think it's that easy. Esp here in MN where coaches are rating you as part of the State tournament selection process.

They're part of the process here, too. Stop letting it affect how you umpire, it isn't worth the aggravation.

[johnnyg08]

points well taken fellas. the candid, constructive posts are appreciated. thanks!

[DG]

I don't think it is OOO to tell the catcher while dusting off the plate to go out and tell his pitcher to tuck the batting gloves in and thus head off the pending complaint. And I don't think it is fair to the offense to tell the coach it's not distracting when they clearly think it is.

[ozzy6900]

I've been pretty much line Rut in that if the coach comes to me complaining, I am going to give it a good look and tell him that I do not find it distracting.

However, if the coach comes to me (as SMART coaches have) stating that their batter finds it distracting, the distraction will disappear very quickly!

[johnnyg08]

right...so do you play word games with the coach or do you do as DG said and just take care of it if there's any doubt in your mind that they're going to say something

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by johnnyg08

right...so do you play word games with the coach or do you do as DG said and just take care of it if there's any doubt in your mind that they're going to say something

this is not playing "word games" with the coach. I do not care if the coach finds anything distracting. He is in the dugout or the coach's box. HE is not playing the game. However, if he tells me that his batter has a problem with the golf glove or if the batter himself tells me he has a problem with it, the golf glove is gone! Why? Because coaches always have a problem with things. You have to know where to draw the line between a "b-i-t-c-h" or a valid complaint!