Umpiring Politics

[DG]

Originally Posted by johnnyg08

Well fellas, I just found out that I have been pulled from the championship game of a local upcoming, important tournament because I had to enforce the rules of baseball the way they're supposed to be enforced. Due to local politics, the team that might get to the championship might make the tournament and they didn't want to ruffle any feathers by having me work the game. My question to you is that have you ever felt that you did the right thing when umpiring and then either not receive or get pulled from a future big game due to ejecting participants/coaches rather than simply taking the BS from participants? As I look back on it, had I not ejected and simply took the BS, I'd still be working the game.

What are your stories?

Several years ago I was working a 13-14 league and on two separate occasions I made a 15 year old "coach" (HC other son) wear a mask to warmup a pitcher a) behind the plate, and b) in the bullpen. On both occasions the HC and other adult assts threw a fit, said he was a coach, they had approval from the league, he is on the roster, yadayadayada, and on both occassions I told them it was fine for him to be a coach but minors can't warmup pitchers without a mask. Finally I said "are you going to make him wear a mask or not?" The answer was going to determine whether HC stayed in the game or not. Finally, I had to make all the coaches on this team stay in the dugout because they were all standing outside the fence during play, including the 15 year old, who was outside the dugout taking practice swings with a bat. This was 3 different games, you would think they would learn.

Well the team complained, the league said they would make all umpires enforce these rules, but, they did not want me to umpire anymore. This was about a week before legion ball started, so no skin off my back. I did not lose any sleep about it and will do it again if needed.

[JR12]

The only ejection you regret is the one you did'nt make!

[cc6]

Originally Posted by JR12

The only ejection you regret is the one you did'nt make!

What about the one you made but think you shouldn't have made?

[Matt]

Originally Posted by cc6

What about the one you made but think you shouldn't have made?

What about unicorns?

[cc6]

Originally Posted by Matt

What about unicorns?

What about them? If an ejection you fail to make does exist, then surely an ejection you shouldn't have made but made also happens from time to time.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by cc6

What about them? If an ejection you fail to make does exist, then surely an ejection you shouldn't have made but made also happens from time to time.

I'll let you know when the first one of these has happened.

Perhaps on other days I would be slower to eject someone, but the one thing in common with ALL my ejections is if the coach hadn't come out of the dugout and acted like a jackass they wouldn't have happened.

Of course, I have a grad total of one ejection the entire season.

[waltjp]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

I'll let you know when the first one of these has happened.

Perhaps on other days I would be slower to eject someone, but the one thing in common with ALL my ejections is if the coach hadn't come out of the dugout and acted like a jackass they wouldn't have happened.

Of course, I have a grad total of one ejection the entire season.

Absolutely agree. I've never had buyer's remorse after dumping a coach or player. I don't look for trouble and when it does appear I make it go away.

[JR12]

Originally Posted by cc6

What about them? If an ejection you fail to make does exist, then surely an ejection you shouldn't have made but made also happens from time to time.

Not so far, after 18 seasons. They actually all eject themselves. I have had many a time when I kicked myself all day for not giving a coach or player the early exit they were trying for.

[JR12]

Originally Posted by Matt

What about unicorns?

Lol!!!

[johnnyg08]

Ejection #1 - I was talking w/ head coach about what he thought was an "offer" on a bunt attempt. From the bench assistant coach yells "you're terrible"...after listening to the head coach who left his position in the dugout to argue balls and strikes after being warned by me to not go to the batter's box to act out the play, he goes to homeplate to act out the play, ejection #2. Then later in the game, a hitter was holding the bat out in front of the plate to attempt a bunt and the pitch was thrown behind him...the young catcher asked me if he offered, I said no...the batter heard the catcher tell me that "I was throwing the game," ejection #3. There were other incidents from F2 in the game which I was no longer going to tolerate the BS from a kid who clearly has no clue about the rule, shaves once every three weeks and wanted me to call a strike on a "bunt attempt" when the pitch was thrown behind the batter. Yes this was a political decision. Had I stood there and taken the $hit from this particular team, I'd still be working the championship.

[LakeErieUmp]

No, Johhny - you wouldn't be "working" the championship. If you surrendered your professionalism and pride you'd simply be present there.

You worked that game, you did what needed to be done. YOU can sleep tonight.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by cc6

What about the one you made but think you shouldn't have made?

That is preposterous. Never have I regretted an ejection I made. Every one was well deserved. I have regretted some that I should have ejected but didn't, but never one that I did make.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Boy, is this ever the truth as I see it.

I seldom eject, so when I do, it's always a no-doubter.

[jicecone]

Whenever you give them enough rope to hang theirselfs, and (it certainly seems as though you did), and they still hang theirself, then there are no regrets.

Stick to your morals and professionalism and if your not backed up by your assignor, then he probably isn't worth working for.

See Ya.

[cc6]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

That is preposterous. Never have I regretted an ejection I made. Every one was well deserved. I have regretted some that I should have ejected but didn't, but never one that I did make.

It sounds like a lot of people regret not making an ejection, but do not have an ejection they regret making. This suggests that you have a long leash, so that you will not have an unnecessary ejection, but this comes at the cost of taking abuse from time to time.