Situations

[umpire99]

I worked two tournament games today with the same partner in a high school (FED) tournament. In the first game, he was the BU and there was a very close play at first base. My partner made the out call and the BR jumped up in the air with his arms raised like he couldn't believe the call. He then proceded to fire his helmet into the fence beside the dugout and then kicked the helmet on his way back to the dugout. Looking back, I now realize that I should have stepped in and made the ejection since my parner ignored what was happening a few feet away from him.

In the second game, my partner was PU and after a couple of close pitches in the fifth inning, the defensive coach said, "Nice pitch. You have to give us that one." That was the first I had heard out of him the entire game. My partner took it upon himself to walk to the dugout and tell the coach that he would eject him for any further comments. The coach calmly said, "okay" and did not say another word to either of us the rest of the game.

After the games, I talked to my partner about game management. He said that he did not eject the player in the first game, because he felt that it was an issue for the coach to handle. He said that he called out the coach in the second game, because he needed to show him who was in charge and that there was nobody else there who would have stopped him. I didn't agree with either of these points, but I could tell I was not going to get anywhere with him. How could I have handled it differently?

[BigUmp56]

I don't know that you should have done anything about the second situation any differently than what you did. In the first situation, had I been the PU and felt the players actions warranted an ejection, I would have ejected him. I wouldn't have fired off an ejection across the field. I would have called time and pulled my line up card out and motioned the manager over, and quietly told him his player was done for the night as the manager watched me scratch his player from the line up card.

Tim.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Was the guy new or something? What is he doing working at a level beyond JV Tiddlywinks?

[umpire99]

He is not new. He has been around for a few years. He doesn't seem to have improved much. I would say that he is my partner for more than 75% of my games. We work together a lot.

[etn_ump]

If, as you've said, "but I could tell I was not going to get anywhere with him", why would work with him for 75% of your games?

I too have a partner during the summer. We work 60-70 games each summer. We constantly critique each other when necessary and ask each other's view point, call from their perspective, how's my positioning, how's my zone, etc. We learn from our mistakes and hopefully improve.

[MikeStrybel]

Good questions. We cover these types of things prior to each season in our state clinics. Handling situations is a critical part of umpire success. Hopefully your local group will help bring about clinics to discuss matters like the one you wrote about.

You stated that this was a Fed ruled game. You are fully within your authority to eject the player for his unsportsmanlike display. What he did was visible to all and a potential risk to others. You won't be showing your partner up by ejecting the player. There is no need to be dramatic about the dump. His HC will know.

For the second play, I don't see where he was wrong. We don't let others question balls and strikes. Maybe a look the coach's way would have sufficed, maybe a simple instruction with the mask on would have worked, HTBT.

I've seen a lot of post games go badly when a partner was too aggressive or defensive. A really good umpire friend told me long ago to ask questions at first. If you are the more senior umpire or crew chief, a great lead is, "That was a good game. Any thing you want to cover?" If he is reluctant, point out something he did well. Tell him that you were happy to see him cover the play, change angle, rotate, etc. so well. Read him. If he is appreciative, you can offer advice rather than criticism. If he becomes defensive, you may benefit from a discussion with the assignor. Maybe there is baggage there that you are unaware of. Around here, assignors seem to know a great deal about personalities and history. I hope you are as fortunate with yours.