Partner Not Willing To Take Care of Business

[ozzy6900]

So you are settled in at the plate and your partner has had a few bangers. He seems to be doing fine although Coach PITA has had a few comments on the base calls.

R1 & R3, no outs and both are off with the pitch. There is a hot grounder to F6 who chooses to heave it to F3 and get the BR. You had no choice but "stay home" (you signaled to your partner that you were "staying home") so your partner has all the base calls. He bang out the BR, and Coach PITA starts another disapproval concert from the 3rd base box.

Your partner just goes to his position and says nothing to Coach PITA when the Coach hollers, "Damn, Billy! That's two you've blown so far!". Your partner says absolutley nothing and you are fuming over this Coach.

Now I know that this has happened to all of us and I would like to know what my brothers would do.

Do you dump Coach PITA?
Do you tell Coach PITA "That's enough!"?
Do you do nothing?

[PABlue]

You have to give him time to take care of this on his own. I might not like the actions of the coach but he's getting a LONG leash from me before I'll step in.

[mbyron]

Depends on partner's experience. With a rookie I'll step in.

[KJUmp]

Originally Posted by mbyron

Depends on partner's experience. With a rookie I'll step in.

I agree with this....need to have the back of a new guy. With a vet....tough one...we've all worked with vets that shock you with their "lack of intestinal fortitude" to take care of business. They just make it harder for other umpires.

[Chris_Hickman]

R1 & R3, no outs and both are off with the pitch. There is a hot grounder to F6 who chooses to heave it to F3 and get the BR. You had no choice but "stay home" (you signaled to your partner that you were "staying home") so your partner has all the base calls. He bang out the BR, and Coach PITA starts another disapproval concert from the 3rd base box.

I was wondering... this is a routine grounder. Why do you need to signal to your partner that "you" are stayin' home? The only signalling at pre-pitch is a 1st to 3rd rotation. This whole post sounds kinda weird to me.....

[bossman72]

What would a good reply be to this coach if you were the BU? I'm always looking for "rebuttal lines."

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by bossman72

What would a good reply be to this coach if you were the BU? I'm always looking for "rebuttal lines."

Rebuttal? To "you've blown 2 so far?" Depending on the circumstances, either:

1. That's enough.
2. You're restricted to the dugout.
3. You're ejected.

The coach isn't making an argument, so doesn't deserve a rebuttal.

[dash_riprock]

1. Only two? I thought it was more.

2. Who's counting?

[justanotherblue]

You could give your partner that "look" in hopes it wakes him up. Between innings, especially with a newer umpire, call him down and tell him it's time to start taking care of business, or I will. We've all had to learn the hard way, sometimes a nudge will keep a younger umpire from learning the hard way also. I clearly remember when the light came on for me, the games go much smoother when you stop it quickly.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by mbyron

Rebuttal? To "you've blown 2 so far?" Depending on the circumstances, either:

1. That's enough.
2. You're restricted to the dugout.
3. You're ejected.

The coach isn't making an argument, so doesn't deserve a rebuttal.

"Coach, you won't make it to four."

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

"Coach, you won't make it to four."

Mine is similar, only it's, "and you're not going to be around to see the third...goodbye." The coach telling you how many calls you've blown is usually accompanied by a hand signal with the appropriate number of allegedly blown calls. Offending party must leave.

[nfua-44]

Originally Posted by mbyron

Rebuttal? To "you've blown 2 so far?" Depending on the circumstances, either:

1. That's enough.
2. You're restricted to the dugout.
3. You're ejected.

The coach isn't making an argument, so doesn't deserve a rebuttal.

IMHO, for that specific comment or any that starts with a personal reference, and discusses what they feel is a bad call, get rid of #1 & #2, and apply #3. I'm veering off a little from the OP here, because this should be handled by the offended party.

As to the rebuttal, I'm 100% with you there, there is nothing you need to clarify besides the fact that he's done for the day. Zippy one liners can be more problematic than necessary. You come across as making things personal in many cases, which is the reason you have him leaving the game anyway. Don't give him any ammo.

Tom

[gordon30307]

Originally Posted by nfua-44

IMHO, for that specific comment or any that starts with a personal reference, and discusses what they feel is a bad call, get rid of #1 & #2, and apply #3. I'm veering off a little from the OP here, because this should be handled by the offended party.

As to the rebuttal, I'm 100% with you there, there is nothing you need to clarify besides the fact that he's done for the day. Zippy one liners can be more problematic than necessary. You come across as making things personal in many cases, which is the reason you have him leaving the game anyway. Don't give him any ammo.

Tom

Why would you take it personally when someone says "you blew that call"? To me that's stating an opinion. You suck, you're terrible, you'll never work here again. Now I dump him. You missed it, you blew it. He's disagreeing with my decision. I can live with that.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by bossman72

What would a good reply be to this coach if you were the BU? I'm always looking for "rebuttal lines."

I used the same one both times it was said to me: "You're gone."

[Gaff]

Originally Posted by bossman72

What would a good reply be to this coach if you were the BU? I'm always looking for "rebuttal lines."

How about "When the ball arrived the runners foot was 3/8" from the bag." When he asks if you are crazy tell him it may have been 1/2".