Getting Your Point Across
 

I had a pitcher who didn't seem to like my strike zone the other night. I called time and moved around to the plate. While cleaning the plate, I told the catcher to go tell his pitcher that if he didn't like the way I was calling, I would squeeze him so tight his balls would hurt.

When I turned around, I saw that the coach was on his way to the mound to remove the pitcher because of his actions. Later in the game, the coach asked me about my comment to his catcher, but I couldn't recall saying it at that time.

Gutsy...personally I wouldn't do it that way...I'd simply eject him if it got to the point of me feeling like I had to say something like that.

You did not say what level of ball but generally speaking a comment like the one you made could get you suspended in my HS association.

Give the coach "his due" FIRST. The coach saw what was going on and went out to take care of it, so you just added "insult to injury" by what you said.

I know coaches can be a pain in the you know what but sometimes especially the good ones "take care of business" ahead of time.

I had an instance where the batter didn't care for my zone. Said a few choice words (nothing to get him tossed) but the coach heard it and said "Blue I have a substitution for you"

In Summary: Give the coach a chance, then if the coach does NOTHING toss the kid. It's better then saying derogatory remarks which can get you in trouble.

Pete Booth

I would not have said anything. When you call a couple of them in a different tone and maybe shoot a glance over to the HC, you should get your point across if he has any clue. If he doesn't, simply just tell the catcher to tell his pitcher to quit. But, don't go any further with details. The catcher should know what to do or what could happen.

If he was making expressions and gestures and I felt he was "showing me up" I'd take my mask off and say "do you want to stay in this game? Well knock it off!" Then if it continued, he's gone! A good HC would't let it get that far!

It is a lot easier to fill out an ejection report than to defend a comment like that. If it is to the point that you are going to say something like that, just point him out of the ball park. Not only will your point be taken, the next ump won't have to deal with the attitude as well.

You could have just told the catcher to have him stop. That gives the coach time to act. My guess though is that this isn't the first time the pitcher had behaved in this manner.

Nor the umpire, probably.

Unless this is just a funny story that didn't actually happen (I hope).

The closest I've come to anything like this is to ask the catcher to go talk to his pitcher before I have to.

You should have a CAT scan. Short term memory loss could be a sign of a concussion. Glad to see it came back to you.

Not the smartest comment that could have been made. Good timing on the selective loss of recollection.

Flat out bad umpiring.

I'm going to call bull on this...I suppose it could be real...but it seems like something from the chapter of Please Don't Kill the Umpire...the fantasy chapter.

Total BS!

I would recommend that no one follow the advice of this troll!

This is pretty much all I do. I will tell the catch, you better get him before I have to take action. I would not say how I will call the game or suggest that he must listen to me.

Peace

Obvious troll. Not sure why anyone responded.

My balls hurt just from reading such total BS.:rolleyes:

I know that if I had ever said something like that, my association would have quite cheerfully given me the boot!

TMI, TMI, TMI, TMI, TMI, TMI, TMI, TMI, TMI, TMI, TMI, TMI, TMI, TMI, TMI, TMI, TMI, TMI, TMI, TMI, TMI, TMI, TMI, TMI, TMI, TMI, TMI, TMI, TMI, TMI!!!!

Peace

Do that and you have just confirmed that the pitcher is correct in his assessment of your strike zone.

I won't call BS on the OP. I was working the bases in an American Legion tournament game a couple of years ago when the coach sprinted from the dugout between innings & got in the PU's face.
I had to physically separate them. Turns out PU had told the catcher, "Tell the pitcher to shut his d@mn mouth & throw the ball or there won't be anymore strikes."
PU didn't deny the comments & got suspended for the rest of the year.

There's better ways to handle these things.

I try to eliminate any questions posed to players or coaches during a dispute. I learned this watching a newbie ump go up to coach and ask, "Whatsamatter, you don't like my zone?"

And the, the sh!tstorm ensued.

Ace in CT

Make it simple, sweet and to the point. 15-16 year old game.

First two innings pitchers is moaning and groaning slightly, I ignor it.

Third inning I send catcher out and ask him to calm his pitcher down.

End of the inning I speak to the coach and ask him to speak to his pitcher. He defends his pitcher of course, and I explain to him that it's battle his pitcher is going to lose and walk away.

Second pitch of next inning, pitcher moans about call and I call time, "Coach please replace your pitcher. So ends the lesson.

You see gentlemen, when your the official, you have the final say in the game. There is no need to get in a frenzy about anything and no need to show anyone who is in charge. Competency can be measured by confidence. Confidence can be displayed by your demeanor. Your demeanor should never be anything less than professional at all times.

Enjoy what your doing.

excellent

thats how it should be handled

I disagree. Doing that and you have just let the coach know you will not tolerate his pitcher's antics. This allows him to get a chance to do something before you have to. By not doing it and just ejecting the pitcher, you have not allowed the coach to do his job. Some need a little nudge of what they need to do.

No, doing that would say you'd be wiling to cheat to get your point across.

The last thing any good umpire would want to be branded would be a cheater. Don't cheat, or even threaten to cheat. Word will get around, and you won't last.

Just have the catcher go out and talk to him.

I don't think anyone is saying that the OP didn't do this, they are saying that doing it is BS. At least that's what I meant.

Rutledge, sorry for the visuals!:p

You see gentlemen, when your the official, you have the final say in the game. There is no need to get in a frenzy about anything and no need to show anyone who is in charge. Competency can be measured by confidence. Confidence can be displayed by your demeanor. Your demeanor should never be anything less than professional at all times.

I like that piece.

Who said anything about changing the zone. I never said that. I said change the TONE of voice. Letting the coach, pitcher, and catcher know this needs to stop. This gives the coach a chance to react or his pitcher's day will be real short. Never said anything about changing the zone.

OK sorry. I thought it was a typo.

Funny story, maybe. My last forfeit, about 3 years ago. Summer league recreational game of 16-17 year old players.

The team on defense is winning big, like 14-0 in the 4th. After I call ball 4 on the batter the pitcher comes off the mound with his hands spread wide and says "where was that pitch". I turn to coach and say "you need to talk to your pitcher" He says "he deserves an answer" and I say "you need to talk to your pitcher". So he does. A couple batters latter same thing happens, this time the coach is proactive, he calls him to the foul line and he, the catcher and pitcher have a discussion. As they are breaking up I tell the coach that is two trips and who is he putting in for his new pitcher (OBR rules). He goes on a rant, about how this was not a trip, he did not cross the foul line, ask my partner, etc. I tell him he has to change his pitcher and if not his assistant will have to do it. He hollers out to F5 to take the mound and then heads toward the dugout and says something about "you making all this money you should know the rules". Good bye.

I turn to look at the pitcher who is hollering "you can't make me leave". Good bye. I start walking toward the official scorer/league administrater and I hear footsteps behind me and turn to find another player in my face. I don't know what he said because... good bye. Before it was all over I got about 3 more and my partner, who was also district commissioner comes up to me and says "I think we need to forfeit this game". I agreed, they did not have enough to play now anyway.

My partner called the assigner. He said he had been warned that this team was nuts and when he looked at the schedule he saw me and the district commissioner working the game so he did not bother to call us to clue us in. He figured we would handle whatever came up.

I found out later that coach and pitcher were father and son. Go figure.

Funny story. I love when they think they know the rules and you don't.

Quite a compliment when your assignor thinks you can handle whatever.

Funny how these nuts think you'll stop tossing after the first guy goes (or the second, or third...) :D

I'm with JRut. I would probably say something like he did. If it was say a Men's league (or I was really steamed), I would be a little more stern and say to the catcher, "Hey, you'd better go tell your pitcher to cut the crap or he's going to be in for a long friggin day."

The father and son coach/pitching team may as well get tossed together. It makes the travel arrangements a lot easier.

It makes no sense. After all, you're all warmed up!:D

umpire 99
 

bad choice of words.if the catcher would not comply with the approiate warning then its the head coachs responisibly to control players and fans of that team. if there was no dicipline action taken then remove the pitcher. we should always conduct ourselves as professionals! and vulgar statements to players is immideate suspension...if they dont like it just :) remember we are the final word on the field

A coach came over to me after three innings to report a pinch-hitter, and I asked him, "Did you plan on having this pitcher go the distance?" I never even looked up from my lineup card. He walked away and went into the dugout and told the guy to keep his arms at his side and stop griping at every close pitch. The kid was a model citizen the rest of the game. And the coach has been one of the most respectful coaches I have had in the three other times I've done his games.