Ichiro's first ejection

[RPatrino]

I guess drawing a line in the dirt is a universal EJ, known world wide!!!

[SanDiegoSteve]

And the Japanese are usually so nice....

[Umpmazza]

im a huge Mariners fan... that pitch was right on the edge, Ichiro should have not taken that pitch.. i did like his strike 3 mechanic....

[johnnyg08]

Could he have avoided dumping him by ringing him up and walking toward the right handed batter's box? I get it, this is an automatic EJ...seemed like he rung him up, then walked right toward him.

[tballump]

Originally Posted by RPatrino

I guess drawing a line in the dirt is a universal EJ, known world wide!!!

Yes, but you might be surprised how many (of the total) on this forum would let it go, because they do not believe drawing a line is that bad and reason for ejection. They may not do it even if they know it is wrong (even claim they were not looking) because they do not want to make waves. They may be afraid, if the coach has a lot of influence with the assignor, that the coach will call the assignor and the assignor will pull some of their assignments, especially with that coach.
SDS--Is that new assignor as good as your old one, or can you tell yet?

[johnnyg08]

time for a new assigner

[RPatrino]

Tball, are you afraid of a coach calling your assignor and effecting your schedule? In all my years of umpiring I have never heard such a ridiculous assertion, that someone would ignore a situation that needed handling, because it might make a coach angry. Unbelievable, as it just doesn't happen where I am.

[tballump]

Originally Posted by RPatrino

Tball, are you afraid of a coach calling your assignor and effecting your schedule? In all my years of umpiring I have never heard such a ridiculous assertion, that someone would ignore a situation that needed handling, because it might make a coach angry. Unbelievable, as it just doesn't happen where I am.

I will let all the others on this board chime in about situations in their area where "drawing a line" and other situations that were ignored and "why" it was ignored by their partners. You are telling me it is never because it would make the coach angry and would get them reported and a downgraded schedule. I hope this is true and all the responses say this has never happened. Glad this is not a problem in your area, and after hearing from 1,000 others that it is not a problem anywhere, I will stand corrected.

[ozzy6900]

Draw a line on me, you're gone!

Call my assigner and he will tell you that I was right!

[TussAgee11]

Yup, draw a line, you're gone.

I ran one, and had to wait another season before I got an assignment in that league.

[dash_riprock]

EVERYONE knows you can't draw a line and stay in the game. It's universally understood. You MUST eject. You will be branded a pussy if you don't.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Originally Posted by RPatrino

Tball, are you afraid of a coach calling your assignor and effecting your schedule? In all my years of umpiring I have never heard such a ridiculous assertion, that someone would ignore a situation that needed handling, because it might make a coach angry. Unbelievable, as it just doesn't happen where I am.

Coaches have virtually no pull with the assignor in Southern California, either. That coach rating input and coach preference stuff is a thing of the past. My main assignor couldn't care less about what any coach or AD thinks.

And if they did, I would still stand up the same way I do all the time, because I think respecting the game is paramount, and respecting oneself is up there pretty high.

I've had to run a few players from the 18-U and 25-U wood bat leagues, and one came in a game with my assignor (who's also my high school assignor). Another came in a battle-for-first-place game, in which I was lightly assaulted (bumped, beaked, mildly butted, shoved) and the president and assignor immediately agreed to kick the guy out of the league. He was suspended before I got home, and banned before I finished my report.

The result of standing up and respecting The Game and demanding respect for it: The assignor gave me two championship games with his own crew. That's how that guy backs his umpires, and that's why I drive farther to work for him. Every now and then, you get to drive to some stadium for a championship game.

[Rich]

I stood up to a bully HS football coach 5 years ago and I haven't gotten a game in that conference (football or basketball) since. I do work baseball since another guy assigns that for the conference.

While I regret that the assignor is a small minded man who has no clue what makes a good official, I'll simply have to make do not working his conference. There are plenty others.

Funny thing - I work non-conference games football/basketball games at those conference schools since those area assigned by the ADs and schools themselves. I'm good enough for them, I guess.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Originally Posted by Highest Quality

Depending on the city, county or state(s), there may not be another conference or opportunity, good on you that you are so lucky. Still in my experience I have seen many, many more umpires lose their integrity to the paycheck when they had other opportunities. Sad but absolutely and unequivocally true regardless of the protestations of a few who disagree loudly and are most probably lying about their own character.

This guy makes another statement that further cements his low-level umpire characterization.

Mercenary umpires are indeed rare to those of us actually active in competitive baseball umpiring. It was my contention, as well as the contention of other established actual umpires. It's the way true umpiring is with actual umpires.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by tballump

SDS--Is that new assignor as good as your old one, or can you tell yet?

Too early to tell. Both have some good and not so good qualities, as do most of us I suppose. The former is old and cantankerous, and the new one is closer to my age, Italian, and a fairly famous local artist who does very beautiful sports paintings, drawings and sculptures. I did get a great assignment for today. I had two games in Point Loma, where it was a good 15° cooler than inland where all the other games were taking place where it was 95 to 100°.