Conversation
 

R1 & R3 two out. My team leading 4-3 in the bottom of the sixth. Ground ball to F6. He throws to F4 for the force. BU signals "out" and immediately changes to "safe". I come out to discuss.

Me: Why did you change the call?
BU: The runner beat him to the base.
Me: Why did you signal out and then change to safe then?
BU: Your fielder came off the bag before he got the ball.
Me: Which is it? He beat him or the fielder came off.
BU: I can't explain it coach. He is just safe.

At this point, I knew I was getting nowhere so I walked away.

After the game ended the PU caught me and said, "Sorry Coach. We have these kinds of problems with him all the time. You need to call the assigner and tell him you don't want him on your field again. I don't like working with him.

I was didn't know what to say. I nodded and walked away.

wow, well, if you feel strongly about it, call the assigner and let him know. he's probably available and wants to work, and the association needs umpires. umpires shouldn't throw each other under the bus like that...but you have no control over that anyway

Sounds to me like you had two choices:

1) Live with it!

2) Give him a piece of your mind and probably get run!

Did you team end up winning?

Well coach, what did you see? It doesn't look the greatest to make two calls...but did he get it right? Was the guy out or safe?

There are 2 ISSUES going on here. One in which you could have a say and ANOTHER which is NONE of your business meaning it's the PU's business as to why he doesn't want to work with this umpire again. Also, the PU just through his partner "under the bus" so keep that in mind.

Some questions?

Other then this play how did you find the BU's overall performance?
Did you have this BU any other time?

Perhaps the BU had a "brain fart" and that's why he said what he did. It happens.

As far as you calling the assignor, that's your perogative but IMO, one call does not "make or break" an umpire. The assignor upon receiving the call would most likely go and watch this particular umpire for himself or have one of his staff members go and watch this particular umpire to get a good evalutaion.

Pete Booth

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The next hitter did get a hit to score the go-ahead run. We were unable to score in the seventh and lost. I did not call the assigner. Had I done so, I would have shared what happened and left it at that. I would not request that he not call my games in the future. I have heard of cases where this happened and the umpire finds out and somehow sees that team again. That almost always leads to bad situations.

I chose to live with it instead of make my point and take the chance of getting run. I did think the safe call was incorrect and that is why I asked for clarification. This was probably his second close call of the game so I cannot say that he had a lot of chances to show his capabilities. He did not show a lot of hustle throughout the game (never has been known for taking the game too seriously) and this could have led to his lack of concentration on the play. He did not cost us the game by any means. We had our chances to put it away earlier and not make this call an issue.

As far as his partner throwing him under the bus, that is what I sensed and is why I walked away from that conversation. The "funny" thing was that his partner had a lot of the same tendencies as him and I would put them pretty much on the same level.

The plate umpire saying what he said about his partner on the field during a game makes him bottom level. Most of us here have never done that once--irrespective of how heavy the partner was to carry.

And you sound like a top level coach.

Not much you can do here. I don't think any amount of conversation with a coach is going to get a judgement call changed. It sounds more than anything like this umpire just needs to slow down and let the play finish. Plate umpire was wrong for his actions. It never feels good to be hit by that bus.

study in contrasts
 

I second Mr. Finnerty's comment.

I can't help but contrast the class shown by harmbu, both at the time and afterward, to the craven and contemptible behavior of the PU.

The PU should sit out a couple games to think about what he did. If these guys aren't taking the game seriously, I think you are justified in bringing this to the assignor's attention.

Sounds to me like the BU was anticipating and rushed the call (poor timing). Then he realizes he is wrong and changes the call and can't explain it. Defiantly sounds like bad timing.

That was a good decision on your part. A coach is always more valuable in the dugout than in the parking lot.

Sigh..... we have people like this throughout our lives. They are called kiss-a$$es!

Another good move because when you wallow with the pigs, you end up smelling like one!

We are not all like this and the BU can be fixed with a little training, but people like the PU will always be with us.

How would you recommend the plate ump be dealt with?

Pull him aside and ask him how to spell the words code and ethics.

THE BASE UMPIRE

:D:D

That is the funniest damned thing I have ever seen on this board!!

Classic!