Babe Ruth coach KOs umpire

[Stu Clary]

The incident:
Vallejo Babe Ruth coach ousted after allegedly KO'ing ump - Vallejo Times Herald

The follow-up:
Vallejo Babe Ruth coach Davis turns self in, booked for assault - Vallejo Times Herald

This happened about 20 miles from where I live. The umpire and I work for the same high school association (I'm softball only, our group covers both sports) and his name is familiar, but I can't put a face with the name.

[rbmartin]

They should stand this coach at first base and let Jake Arrieta throw pick-off throws at him

[Welpe]

Vallejo...I am truly shocked.

The only time I've been involved in a game where the umpire crew needed a police escort from the field to the freeway involved a Vallejo team that lost.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Turned himself in???

Where were the witnesses? This guy got to leave the scene?

Wow!

[Kevin Finnerty]

We all have moments of utter lunacy that we need to handle in order to do this marvelous job.

But when a human animal playing a coach attacks one of us--and I include any sports official--it is a crime of a greater scope than a simple assault on an everyday citizen. An assault on an officer is treated that way, so should this. Good grief! Sucker-punching an umpire?!?!? He was knocked cold.

That guy is an example of the sickness in the minds of so many baseball parents in America today. They think that a game or a tournament played at age 12 or 13 carries some significance, and they lose their souls to it. I have never really accepted how these people could have been led to believe that these games mean so very much to their sons' magnificent ascent to the big leagues.

We never tell our sons that they won't make the big leagues, or we'll derail their young lives. A lofty goal is good, because it still leaves you at a higher place if you even try. That's why so many adults actually believe it is possible. These parents have virtually no idea what it takes for a player to make it to the big leagues, and if they did, they wouldn't believe their son had the chance, and they wouldn't behave as uproariously as we all know they can.

I will follow this one to see if this animal gets nailed to the wall, or if they bury it.

Let's all lend our thoughts to that umpire. Getting knocked cold like that can cause life-altering injuries. I hope he's one of the lucky ones and has no lasting effects. He has the support of thousands and thousands of umpires that he doesn't even know about.

[d26]

(I have no idea what group, if any, provided the umpires for the game in question. There are many overlapping groups in this area.)

I am a newish member of the same HS group (BB only). I do many JV games at Wilson Park. I carry a phone in my back pocket, with the direct local PD number set on speed dial (for any location I am at). There was a time, before the City of Vallejo declared bankruptcy, where the PD routinely had an officer patrolling in the area - if not actually walking the park - during most games. (Have an acquaintance or two who work/worked for VPD.) On the other hand, I have NEVER felt in danger during a HS game at that location. The HS assignor works closely with the local schools which helps make sure problem coaches are dealt with.

While umpires should not be in shock, fans, even in Vallejo, were certainly not prepared to deal with battery (such as detaining the suspect), and a fair (majority?) percentage would simply not want to get involved. Being BR, it is a near certainty the suspect is a dad, relative, or close friend of a player, making the person easy to find.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Now that I am calm and reasonable, and being that I am somewhat familiar with lovely Vallejo, California, I was starting to imagine more of the picture, using the patience born of that calm state, and it's much easier to imagine how this coward snaked his way out of there.

I've done games in East Los Angeles and South Central Los Angeles (the southern equivalent of Vallejo and Richmond), and once had an off-duty cop carry my partner and me on a cart from the car to the diamond and wait there like a game administrator. Then, at game's end, he took us to the car and waited with us until we left the area. It always worked out when I went into the inner-city, but it gets a little hairy if you think about it too much.

It's an outrage that the climate can be so harsh for us at times.

[d26]

Coach Knocks Out Umpire In Teen Baseball Game - cbs13.com

VALLEJO, Calif. (CBS13) ―

A youth baseball coach is facing assault charges after allegedly knocking out an umpire during an argument over a close play during a game.

The umpire, who asked not to be identified by CBS13, said he was overseeing an All-Star Babe Ruth League baseball game between Sonoma and Vallejo when he called a player out at first base.

Vallejo's first base coach, 42-year-old David Davis, was allegedly furious and struck the umpire.

"I heard my head explode, and that's the last thing I remember," the umpire said. "There's still a whirlpool in my head. I'm still dizzy, my jaw still hurts, my teeth are cracked."

Witnesses said the attack stunned the crowd.

"I've never seen anything like this. He just hauled off and punched the guy," said Carol Forman. "Even though everybody wants to win… it's just a game."

The umpire was rushed to the emergency room for treatment. Vallejo's team was eliminated from the tournament for the assault.

CBS13 was not able to contact Davis at his home for comment.

The victim is still recovering from his injuries but said he plans to return to the field next year for his 27th season as an umpire.

The Solano County District Attorney's office has filed an assault charge against Davis.

[rookieblue]

I guess umpires in Solano County need to start carrying a tazer in one ball bag and a can of OC spray in the other.

Simply execrable. Too bad we don't do public caning here. It would have a salubrious effect on our behavior and general civility.

[Bandit]

I know I'll get blasted for this......
As a umpire. Having had the pleasure of doing ages from the youngest of youth to the NCAA level. And now having a daughter playing travel softball and a boy playing travel baseball. I have come to the conclusion after seeing some of the officiating there is no excuse for anyone to attack an umpire or official but there are many times the officials deserve to be attacked. Excuse/no. Reason/yes.

[PeteBooth]

You should get BLASTED for these comments.

baseball is only a GAME. If a team (includes coaches / players) gets hosed so what.

What's going to happen when these "people" have a job and the boss "hoses" them. Going to "attack the boss".

I have umpired some horid games. Coaches / players make mistakes. What's one of the cardinal rules of baseball.

NEVER make the 1st or third out at third base. I have done many a game this year in which that happened. Simply terrible baseball.

The coach in this OP should receive a visit from "Uncle Vinny" who will have a "nice chat" with this coach who after the "chat" will not be able to coach again. "say hello to my little friend"

Pete Booth

[yawetag]

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

Turned himself in???

Where were the witnesses? This guy got to leave the scene?

Wow!

Kevin,

Probably one of two things, and most likely a combination of both:
1. They were more worried about the umpire.
2. No one wanted to try to stop someone that just knocked out an innocent person.

There were enough witnesses to get the identification of the coach. Either way, he was going to get arrested for it.

[rookieblue]

Already has been. Turned himself in and was booked for battery against a sports official. Facing a possible $2,000 fine and/or 12 months in the pokey.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by Bandit

I know I'll get blasted for this......
As a umpire. Having had the pleasure of doing ages from the youngest of youth to the NCAA level. And now having a daughter playing travel softball and a boy playing travel baseball. I have come to the conclusion after seeing some of the officiating there is no excuse for anyone to attack an umpire or official but there are many times the officials deserve to be attacked. Excuse/no. Reason/yes.

Deserve to be attacked? For not calling a game to the fans' or coaches' expectations?

It would be a great pleasure for all officials in all sports if you gave up trying to be one of us. You aren't. And you never will be.

You're just another dickhead fanboy masquerading as a sports official!

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by rookieblue

Simply execrable. Too bad we don't do public caning here. It would have a salubrious effect on our behavior and general civility.

Awesome! 2 bonus words in 1 sentence!