Federation ambiguity w/ "Distraction"

[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

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

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

I completely agree.

[johnnyg08]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

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

I wouldn't say constantly by any means, not even seldom...but the crappy coach's rating is worth just as much as the great coach who "gets" how the game is played. I haven't had to eject, nor do I think this would ever escalate to a situation where a coach would eject himself, he'll just take it out on me in my rating and in MN, where rating does matter whether I like it or not, I feel like I need to consider that in how I approach things.

Bob J. I understand that they can never make a rule for every color combination but the rules specifically deal with "white issues"...my argument would be that if those who argue the ticky-tack would worry more about hitting than the hint of white somewhere, they'd be better off, but you can't get in that discussion on the field.

Thanks for offering your thoughts on this...keep 'em coming

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by johnnyg08

I wouldn't say constantly by any means, not even seldom...but the crappy coach's rating is worth just as much as the great coach who "gets" how the game is played. I haven't had to eject, nor do I think this would ever escalate to a situation where a coach would eject himself, he'll just take it out on me in my rating and in MN, where rating does matter whether I like it or not, I feel like I need to consider that in how I approach things.

I stopped worrying about ratings years ago. It is not something I can control in any way. You either like me or you do not like me. All I can do is look good in my uniform, hustle to every spot on the field I need to, get in good position to make calls, have good timing and have good knowledge of the rules. After that it is not my job to be liked by coaches and I do not care if any of them like me. But with all those things I just mentioned, I do not have many coaches challenge me and my ratings (especially in baseball) have been some of the highest I have had than any of my other sports and I have achieved the highest level in that sport and I was not trying to do so. I think a lot of this is because of how I carry myself and what I expect from coaches and players the minute I step onto the field. And often that is not even saying a single word. And an issue like this is so minor and insignificant, if you cannot tell a coach in a way that follows the rule and your judgment, and then you will have more problems than it is worth. I have never had a problem with this rule because I stop things from escalating and if I feel a rule is not violated, I tell the coach that fact in a calm and professional way.

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.