Was I Trigger Happy?

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by SouthGARef

He says "That wasn't even close." I respond "You're right Coach, it wasn't."

Why would you say this? I'm sure we've all thought that in our heads... but you don't say it."

Originally Posted by SouthGARef

He just kind of stands puzzled, then says "Your timing is awful." I just ignore him.

Kind of funny here... guess we're just different. I think you should have ignored the first comment. But then he made it personal and was showing you up by continuing to shout at you. I would have ignored the first and given a short concise, "That's enough coach" to this one.

Originally Posted by SouthGARef

He's about 20-25 feet from me, so his dugout can of course hear him. "You need to stop anticipating calls." I say "OK Coach, that's enough." He then says "Your timing is awful." At this point I restrict the coach to the dugout (which I know isn't in OBR rules but the TD has allowed us to do because often times these teams only have one coach).

I wish all jurisdictions had this. There are times where an ejection might not be warranted yet but you need to do SOMETHING to head things off - restriction would be perfect for that. Alas...

Originally Posted by SouthGARef

After a couple of minutes, I hear him say something to the effect of "I'm not going anywhere." Should have tossed him. Don't know why I didn't.

OMG, absolutely. You can't restrict the guy and then put up with ANYTHING. You just castrated yourself.

Originally Posted by SouthGARef

I leisurely walk up to my partner, tell him Team A's coach is restricted, and he puts him in the dugout. Wish my partner would have done that on his own, but alas.

Worser and worser... you ABSOLUTELY should have dumped him ... but you didn't... and now your dumping the problem on your partner, who had nothing to do with this situation, and you wish he'd have handled it for you? Egads man.

[SouthGARef]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

Why would you say this? I'm sure we've all thought that in our heads... but you don't say it."

Kind of funny here... guess we're just different. I think you should have ignored the first comment. But then he made it personal and was showing you up by continuing to shout at you. I would have ignored the first and given a short concise, "That's enough coach" to this one.

I wish all jurisdictions had this. There are times where an ejection might not be warranted yet but you need to do SOMETHING to head things off - restriction would be perfect for that. Alas...

OMG, absolutely. You can't restrict the guy and then put up with ANYTHING. You just castrated yourself.

Worser and worser... you ABSOLUTELY should have dumped him ... but you didn't... and now your dumping the problem on your partner, who had nothing to do with this situation, and you wish he'd have handled it for you? Egads man.

All worthy constructive criticism. I completely agree that I should have dumped him when he said he wasn't going anywhere. I'm human, I make mistakes. But I don't think hoping my partner would have helped me is out of line. Just because I made a mistake means my partner has to be of little/no help? Isn't part of being a partner being there to back you up when you make a mistake?

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by SouthGARef

All worthy constructive criticism. I completely agree that I should have dumped him when he said he wasn't going anywhere. I'm human, I make mistakes. But I don't think hoping my partner would have helped me is out of line. Just because I made a mistake means my partner has to be of little/no help? Isn't part of being a partner being there to back you up when you make a mistake?

I see your point. Honestly though, I think most umpires would be rather upset if their partner inserted themselves into a situation where they were dealing with a coach. Partner's duty is not to tag-team the coach in this situation... really his only responsibility would be to keep OTHER coaches away should you get approached by more than just the coach you're addressing. Assuming we're not talking about a complete rookie here... and I KNOW you're not ... I think your partner would have been WAY out of place nosing into this situation.

(In fact, I'd go one step further and say that the 2 worst ejections I've ever witnessed both involved a coach "interacting" with one umpire and the OTHER umpire ejecting him.)

[SouthGARef]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

I see your point. Honestly though, I think most umpires would be rather upset if their partner inserted themselves into a situation where they were dealing with a coach. Partner's duty is not to tag-team the coach in this situation... really his only responsibility would be to keep OTHER coaches away should you get approached by more than just the coach you're addressing. Assuming we're not talking about a complete rookie here... and I KNOW you're not ... I think your partner would have been WAY out of place nosing into this situation.

(In fact, I'd go one step further and say that the 2 worst ejections I've ever witnessed both involved a coach "interacting" with one umpire and the OTHER umpire ejecting him.)

Understood. We agree on a lot. I agree, if I hadn't already enforced some sort of penalty on the coach and we were just debating, I would have been upset had my partner stepped in.

It's actually been a point of emphasis in this area that once one official (this goes in all sports beyond baseball) initiates a restriction/penalty on a coach such as restrction, technical foul, etc. that the other officials then begin to work with the coach to assess the penalty and to make sure he complies. For example, when one official gives a technical foul he should move away from the coach while another official is entrusted to make sure the coach complies with the seat belt rule. This was mentioned to us as a way to insure that one official can't be seen as the only one that had a problem with the coach. Crew unity, I suppose.

[PeteBooth]

[QUOTE=SouthGARef;678337]

Isn't part of being a partner being there to back you up when you make a mistake?[/

QUOTE]

Your OP is NOT the same thing as YOU mis-interpretting a playing rule or you asking for your partner's help.

You had a problem with the coach so why do you expect your partner who has NOT even entered the conversation to restrict him.

here is what I was taught.

When the coach is arguing with my partner walk towards the conversation - DO NOT ENTER it but simply be an observer. If your partner dumps him then you make certain the coach leaves.

RE: If there is a report written it could be a he said she said situation so to back up my partner I want to make certain what was said so that the EJ report (if it comes to it) is accurately written.

Also, If the coach is hot it's best that you simply tell the coach to leave etc.

HOWEVER,

Do not expect your partner to DUMP OR RESTRICT the coach. That is your job if you so warrant it.

Pete Booth