Weekend tourney

[charliej47]

On Sunday my first game started at 8AM and I'm the PU. During our pre-game conference with the coaches for ground rules I stated "We are using OBR with certain safety youth modifications. No malicious contact is being emphasized." Both coaches stated that they were aware of this. We start the game. In the 2nd inning R1 is on 2nd base and B2 hits a long fly ball to F8 my partner calls no-catch and R1 is off on the touch.

I'm watching the relay throws and know that there is going to be a play at the Plate. The throw beats the runner by at least 30 feet. I have time to get set and watch as R1 is coming home. F2 has the ball and is blocking the Plate. I watch as R1 charges F2 with a football type of charge. Both elbows are out, the fists are on his chest and as contact is made, R1 picks F2 up and dumps him. I call "TIME, that's malicious contact, you are out!" I go and tell the coach that number #8 is ejected for the day. Nobody argues. The coach starts to walk away and then turns back and says, "Blue I think it is only for this game." That's when I remember that the Tourney director said that all ejections were for one game unless there is a fight. Anyway the team looses for the third time and are out of the tourney.

[DG]

Most leagues have suspension rules after a MC ejection, and some conferences. But youth tournaments don't, in general.

It is probably not proper umpire mechanics, but the first thing I do when I see MC is an emphatic toss. A simple out call will follow. I can count on one hand the number of MC ejections I have made and I enjoyed every one of them. The last time it happened the 3B coach (DAD) came by (3rd out) and said "you were kind of quick with that call" and I said "I could not have been quick enough".

[constable]

I've always been told if you are ejecting someone you need to sell it like you would any other tough call,without showing off and being antagonizing.

Anyway- I personally wouldn't get involved with telling a player they are done for the day.If I'm ejecting that one, it is for that game. If they have to sit out anything beyond that, it is up to the league/tournament conveners etc.

[ManInBlue]

The complex where I call U-trip tourneys has a one game suspension for coaches. That can be over-ridden if the umps invovled agree to it. But in general, if a coach gets dumped he's out for that game plus the next one. I honestly don't know if that holds for the kids as well. In the 5 or 6 years I've been there I've ejected 2 players for MC, one was the final out of the game and I have to admit, when I made the toss it didn't cross my mind that the game was over (I could have called INT, gotten the other out, and been done with it).

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by constable

I've always been told if you are ejecting someone you need to sell it like you would any other tough call,without showing off and being antagonizing.

I disagree. I had one ejection during the HS season just concluding, and it was for MC during a play at the plate. Big kid barrels over the skinny F2 who did not have the ball, obvious OBS/MC call. (The runner hit him in the chest so hard he flew up off his feet and landed 3 feet behind the plate; his AD told me the next day that the kid plays football but hasn't hit anyone that hard on the gridiron!)

The D coach came out to attend to his player and didn't say a word to me. The O coach was standing expectantly at his dugout. I paused long enough to replay the scene and remember that MC supersedes OBS. Then walked over and calmly told the O coach, "he's gotta go." He asked about OBS, and I "reminded" him that to get that call, his player still has to slide or go around F2.

Point is: everyone expected the EJ, and no good purpose would have been served by giving a giant "heave ho" signal.

That F2 came out to play the rest of the game, too!

[DG]

The few times I have EJ for MC, I give the big emphatic EJ first (like throwing a ball over LF fence) and then call the out later after dust settles. Can't help myself. The big EJ comes first for MC.

If somebody gotta come tell me he gotta go, he ain't going because if I thought so it was INSTANTANEOUS.

The "purpose" of the big EJ is the offending player should not forget it and offensive coach should be wary of coming out to argue it. Wimp out on this call and do injustice to those who follow you.

[zm1283]

I had two ejections tonight in a varsity summer game, FED rules. R2 tries to score on a base hit with two outs. The catcher is waiting for him with the ball, R2 doesn't try to slide or avoid contact and ends up putting the catcher on his back. I give him a casual "toss" for the MC. The HC comes down from the third base coaches box and can't believe his player has been ejected. After I explain it, he tells me that it's "bull****" which gets him dumped too. As my partner helps get him moving toward the exit, he tells me that I don't know the game and that I shouldn't be working varsity baseball. I didn't come back with anything, just gave him the "Okay" and nod then ignored him.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by zm1283

I had two ejections tonight in a varsity summer game, FED rules. R2 tries to score on a base hit with two outs. The catcher is waiting for him with the ball, R2 doesn't try to slide or avoid contact and ends up putting the catcher on his back.

That's an out, and interference, but there's nothing in your description that indicates it was MC.