Is whining & *****ing more prevalent this year?

[billken]

After last night, I'd have to say yes to the OP's question!

I balked a kid twice in the first inning for not coming set...flapping his mit during the stop which was not discernible. The second time the coach came out for an explanation and told me that I must be really great because I was the only umpire in this kid's 4 year career that had ever called it. I couldn't resist..."I don't know about everyone else coach, but I am pretty good!"

Funny thing, the kid quit doing it after the second balk call!!!

[UMP25]

Must be something with calling balks that is making coaches go nuts this year. I had two balks yesterday that both scored a runner. In fact, the home team lost 3-2. Both their runs came off the run-scoring balks, kind of weird after they won the first game 13-8.

The balks were rather obvious, too, and when each time the head coach questioned us, he went away not so pissed. His pitcher actually went the distance, pitching a good game. He just got confused a few times there on the rubber and it showed.

[TheShadowKnows]

3 weeks into the HS Season, it appears to be the same suspects are just being themselves. My only problem has been, I have been assigned more games with these yahoos. Last night, doing the dish was a perfect case in point, the visiting coach was whining from the get go about my strike zone, "too low' inconsistant, not calling high strikes", etc.

The problem with this veteran coach is his players feed off the fine whine he dishes out, I warned him in the 6th when he came out to talk to his pitcher, and used the trip back to the dugout to beetch about the zone again. His starting pitcher, who became the catcher when he blew a 4-1 lead, whined from the mound, whined from behind the plate. The coach has rubbed off well, and of course it spreads to a couple of "Daddy Fans" in the stands behind home plate. Warned the Coach, warned the player, ignored the fans. He ended up blowing a lead and got beat 6-4, dumping him down in the league standings, I'm sure I was the reason his team lost.

In General with a dozen Varsity contests and 3 JV games under my belt, 9 or 10 behind the plate, I'm thinking it's no worse than previous years. The loser/whiners are still just that, The quality coaches that know the game, complain on occasion, but never let it get to them, or make it personal. After all they are just being coaches, the others are being and are "Jerks", nothing has changed.