When did they change the balk rule?

[Ump Rube]

Originally Posted by cardinalfan

As far as all the other accusations in this thread... if this was a real game, somebody would have been ejected by now.

I think the umpire in Major League II said it best, "That's it you're outta here! All'a ya'!"

[SanDiegoSteve]

My only point was that if you have umpired for any length of time, an ejection of a coach would be inevitable and unavoidable. This leads me to believe that Kevin has not worked as many games as I previously thought. And for the record, I usually agree with what he says, as I think in most cases he is right. But, I still stand by my comment that never having ejected a coach is most certainly not something to boast about, or be particularly proud of. If you are a new official, then I can understand that statement, but not from a veteran of many a season. Either the coaches in Kevin's area are all gentlemen and scholars, with never a harsh word uttered, or someone's not takin' care of bidness. It has to be one of the two.

[UMP25]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

...Either the coaches in Kevin's area are all gentlemen and scholars, with never a harsh word uttered...

Probably the former, which would explain this utopian world in which he umpires. Where IS this place? I'm booking the next flight out!

[Tim C]

"My only point was that if you have umpired for any length of time, an ejection of a coach would be inevitable and unavoidable."

Let's step back and look at Kevin in a slightly different light:

As I have posted over the years in my first 3,000 games I have 314 ejections.

No one can say that is too few or too many . . . you had to be there.

In my last 1,000 games I had fewer than 10.

Let's look at me as an example:

Over the last 6 season I have had two ejections (the same assistant coach twice).

Other than that I have maybe had ONE COACH perseason even come out to argue (the say talk) with me.

Am I that much better of an umpire.

Heck NO!

As my friend Mark puts it: "Tim you can get away with stuff just because who you are . . . all the coaches know you and recognize that to come out to talk to you will not get them anywhere AND they respect you because your OLD!"

Maybe Kevin has work A LOT of games (not a few) and maybe he is the kind of guy that coaches recognize because they have seen him often.

Don't just toss him out (pun intended) because he has little action in on field arguments.

Kevin could just be good, respected and known as a guy you don't go after.

[UMP25]

Originally Posted by Tim C

Kevin could just be good, respected and known as a guy you don't go after.

As I am probably considered, Tee.

Earlier in my career, I probably averaged 12-15 ejections per year. As time went by and my career got longer, as I advanced through the various levels of umpiring, the number of ejections I would have each season slowly declined, yet the number of games I had remained fairly consistent--usually 150 or so each year.

I am capable enough of knowing that when I step onto a field, the players and coaches don't fear me; they respect me. Respect, of course, must be earned--it's not deserved--and I believe that I have, indeed, earned this respect for several reasons.

[ozzy6900]

Similarly, my ejection rate has fallen over the years. Early on, I was taught to establish myself as one who will not take any crap. It was rough going, but as the years went on, I was approached by my peers who stated that I had "calmed down" when in reality, it was the coaches who learned that if they didn't irritate me, they could stay in the game.

Some of you say that it is a great feeling when you can walk off a field and not be remembered. I prefer to walk onto the field and have older coaches tell the younger assistants "If you screw with this guy, you are on your own!".

Was I a red-a$$? In my day, yes I was. I did what I had to do, that was the way the system worked then so I adapted to it.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by Tim C

Let's step back and look at Kevin in a slightly different light:

As I have posted over the years in my first 3,000 games I have 314 ejections.

No one can say that is too few or too many . . . you had to be there.

In my last 1,000 games I had fewer than 10.

Let's look at me as an example:

Over the last 6 season I have had two ejections (the same assistant coach twice).

Other than that I have maybe had ONE COACH perseason even come out to argue (the say talk) with me.

Am I that much better of an umpire.

Heck NO!

As my friend Mark puts it: "Tim you can get away with stuff just because who you are . . . all the coaches know you and recognize that to come out to talk to you will not get them anywhere AND they respect you because your OLD!"

Maybe Kevin has work A LOT of games (not a few) and maybe he is the kind of guy that coaches recognize because they have seen him often.

Don't just toss him out (pun intended) because he has little action in on field arguments.

Kevin could just be good, respected and known as a guy you don't go after.

So, you, in an attempt to sound fair, state that you have a total of 314+ ejections total, and you don't find it just a bit odd that an experienced, seasoned veteran umpire wouldn't have one single coach ejection?

A lot of coaches recognize and respect me, and are happy as clams to see me coming, yet find a way to get ejected now and then. To not have any ejections at all is just a bit odd, and to use it as a selling point of one's skills is disingenous.

[Ump153]

Originally Posted by Tim C

Kevin could just be good, respected and known as a guy you don't go after.

Doubtful. He has never given anyone a reason not to go after him. Never.

I have yet to meet an umpire with upper levek experience who could or would boast of never ejecting a skipper or an assistant.

Most likely KF is a youth ball umpire with a good library.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by Ump153

Most likely KF is a youth ball umpire with a good library.

Possibly. But I find that the ejection rate is higher at the lower levels (as the coaches haven't learned how to talk to the umpires.)

I think the numbers can only be compared within a relatively small geographic area and at the same level -- and then if you have a number that is "extreme" on either end of the spectrum , you need to consider whether that means some changes are needed.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Originally Posted by Ump153

Doubtful. He has never given anyone a reason not to go after him. Never.

I have yet to meet an umpire with upper levek experience who could or would boast of never ejecting a skipper or an assistant.

Most likely KF is a youth ball umpire with a good library.

You have already proven yourself here and freely demonstrated the limited scope of your thinking. If you can't see it or imagine it, it comes as no surprise.

I have skills and a background in baseball and in life that naturally come into use when it is time to deal with an angry or frustrated coach, who often takes on the character of a child. I rise above the childishness quickly, change the tone quickly and arrest the situation quickly before it gets bad. If you lack the skills or imagination or strength or maturity or patience or life experience to accomplish that from situation to situation, then be what you are and continue to operate the way you do. Booting coaches probably gets you off somehow. Rising above the nonsense rather than adding to it is what satisfies me.

[UMP25]

Just out of curiosity, what do you do when a rule violation specifically calls for an ejection? Do you then ignore the rule just to boast that you are continuing your never having ejected someone?

[Kevin Finnerty]

Originally Posted by UMP25

Just out of curiosity, what do you do when a rule violation specifically calls for an ejection? Do you then ignore the rule just to boast that you are continuing your never having ejected someone?

No.

And I also never baited a coach, so I never had that type of situation arise either.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Well, the first time a coach comes out and hollers, "you suck," you damn sure better eject him. I don't want to hear how you let him stay in the game so the game wouldn't end.

[ODJ]

Were you wearing your cool blue contacts or your red 'devil' set?

[Kevin Finnerty]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

Well, the first time a coach comes out and hollers, "you suck," you damn sure better eject him. I don't want to hear how you let him stay in the game so the game wouldn't end.

I have never had a coach yell that or anything of the sort.