Umpire "Etiquette"

[cookie]

A couple of things I'd like to ask you umpires who've umpiring a long time (way more than my 6 years)

(1) Oftentime upon completion of a game I would shake the hand of my partner as we were leaving the field remarking that it was pleasure to work with him. I was told by a fellow partner after a game recently that it is not proper to be shaking hands until we are well off the field and out of sight of the teams. Is this considered the SOP for you experienced umpires?

(2) Again, as a plate umpire when a pitch eludes the catcher (whether passed ball or wild pitch) or a pitch is fouled off behind us, I usually throw a new ball out to F1 and have the on-deck batter retrieve the errant balls. However, many times this other person will flip the ball to me from 4 to 6 to 8 feet away and I would catch it and stash it into my bag. I was told by a fellow umpire that this was an insult to the plate umpire - a showing him up. The plate umpire should insist that the ball be handed to him for examination and pocketing into his bag. Do you experienced umpires insist that balls be handed to you in this situation and never flipped?

[briancurtin]

1. I save that stuff for the locker room. If you had a great game, probably no one is going to notice your handshake. If you had a terrible game, the team you screwed isn't going to enjoy your celebration. You might as well stay consistent and save your congratulations for later.

2. To me it's more important when the ball is delivered than how. If I'm carrying 5-6 baseballs, just wait until your at bat to give them to me -- I don't need that first pitch foul ball back immediately. If you want to toss one to me while you're walking across the plate, fine, just hit me in the chest.

[kylejt]

1. Yeah, shaking hands as you leave the field looks like you're congratulating each other upon ending the game.

2. I've never heard of that being a taboo. But, I've got pretty good hand/eye. Some guys don't, and probably would look silly trying to catch a ball, so I see where that's coming from. So for fellows who can't catch a ball flipped to them from 6 feet away, that might be pretty insulting. (hunh?)

[Steven Tyler]

Originally Posted by cookie

A couple of things I'd like to ask you umpires who've umpiring a long time (way more than my 6 years)

(1) Oftentime upon completion of a game I would shake the hand of my partner as we were leaving the field remarking that it was pleasure to work with him. I was told by a fellow partner after a game recently that it is not proper to be shaking hands until we are well off the field and out of sight of the teams. Is this considered the SOP for you experienced umpires?

(2) Again, as a plate umpire when a pitch eludes the catcher (whether passed ball or wild pitch) or a pitch is fouled off behind us, I usually throw a new ball out to F1 and have the on-deck batter retrieve the errant balls. However, many times this other person will flip the ball to me from 4 to 6 to 8 feet away and I would catch it and stash it into my bag. I was told by a fellow umpire that this was an insult to the plate umpire - a showing him up. The plate umpire should insist that the ball be handed to him for examination and pocketing into his bag. Do you experienced umpires insist that balls be handed to you in this situation and never flipped?

If you don't want the on deck hitter to throw the ball back to you, either tell them so that maybe they will remember not to do it, or ignore them when they try to get your attention. Usually works for me.

OTOH, how is this showing you up?

[Matt]

1. While we are not automatons, we need to limit our emotions somewhat. Kyle and Brian illustrated why. Besides, if you guys are doing your jobs properly, there will be a postgame where you can do that.

2. Never heard it being described as "showing up," but more a minor no-win situation. You catch it, no one notices. You drop it, you look the fool; it goes by you, it holds up the game.

[bob jenkins]

1) Yes, wait.

2) True at higher levels (where you can keep both ball bags "full" and a ball-person brings out the new balls when you request them. At most HS and below games where you have 3-5 balls for the entire game, it's not as big a deal, especially if the ball fouled to the screen is the "last" one. If you still have a couple, then have the on-deck batter bring it to the plate when he comes to bat.

Both, especially the latter, are soemwhat area dependent -- much like someone calling the umpire "blue" instead of by name.

[gordon30307]

1. Game is over you should be getting "out of Dodge" noone is paying attention to you anyways. I either wait by the "exit" or I'm meeting my partner by the "exit". I don't think I shake hands I just get off the field.

2. There are games where I'm handed the ball and there are games where I'm handed the ball, they're tossed to me/catcher and they're rolled to me, airmailed to me, mailed to me, FedXed to me quite frankly I really don't care how you get them to me just get them to me.

It amazes me that people make a big deal about how they get the friggin ball.

[MikeStrybel]

1. Shake hands when one of you is leaving for home from the parking lot or locker room. It's as good a time as any and cannot be miscontrued.

2. I prefer to have collegiate minders hand me game balls. They are usually bringing three or four out. Varsity ball is a different story. I want the game to move along and have no problem with a coach or player tossing a ball my way, if I'm looking that is.

As an aside, I stopped letting coaches throw balls in to the mound from the dugout last year. Illinois has an official baseball for playoff contests. The pitcher for the home team had a big hook and after repeated foul balls out of play, I was out of baseballs. The HC tossed one in from his dugout and the kid cracked off a nasty deuce for the third out. The catcher rolled it back out to the mound. The HC told the AC to pick it up on his way to the 1B box. He was beat to the punch by the HC from the visiting team who saw it was a high raised seam ball, that is not allowed in HS ball. I am pretty vigilant now.

It was a pretty rotten Spring for baseball this year. We went through a bunch of balls due to the wet conditions. I had coaches toweling them off during many games. With tighter budgets, it was unlikely that we would see a coach crack open a new dozen late in the game. Get me a game ball and let's get the game finished.

[jicecone]

I agree, congratulate each other when you leave the field. The losing team can easily take it the wrong way.

As far as having the ball tossed back, just make sure I am looking at you.

[jdmara]

Originally Posted by MikeStrybel

...
As an aside, I stopped letting coaches throw balls in to the mound from the dugout last year. Illinois has an official baseball for playoff contests. The pitcher for the home team had a big hook and after repeated foul balls out of play, I was out of baseballs. The HC tossed one in from his dugout and the kid cracked off a nasty deuce for the third out. The catcher rolled it back out to the mound. The HC told the AC to pick it up on his way to the 1B box. He was beat to the punch by the HC from the visiting team who saw it was a high raised seam ball, that is not allowed in HS ball. I am pretty vigilant now.

I'd like to hear how this situation was remedied?

-Josh

[MikeStrybel]

Originally Posted by jdmara

I'd like to hear how this situation was remedied?

-Josh

We had a rough Spring here, Josh. In fact, our playoff games were delayed due to the rain and field conditions. I'm not sure how many baseballs are issued by the state for these contests but they were depleted quickly at our field. It seemed that almost every outfield hit required a new baseball. Between innings, the HC would almost always pick up the game ball and rub it up as his pitcher came out. This hadn't been a problem as the ground was saturated and we did all we could to keep the balls clean and dry. He saw the ball and waved it to me. I figured he wanted another one and flipped one that I had just been given to his pitcher as he came on the field.

After inspecting the suspect baseball, I approached the other HC and asked him why he didn't give me an official ball. He pleaded innocent and said that he just grabbed a ball from the bucket after he saw me show empty ball bags. We had used the supply of new balls and were toweling off others as the game progressed. He knew the opposing HC and apologized loud enough for him to be placated. The opposing team wound up winning so karma prevailed.

[yawetag]

Originally Posted by gordon30307

quite frankly I really don't care how you get them to me just get them to me.

If the next batter isn't going to bring them to me and someone insists on throwing them, I have them throw it to the catcher. He's the one with a glove on.

[LMan]

Originally Posted by yawetag

If the next batter isn't going to bring them to me and someone insists on throwing them, I have them throw it to the catcher. He's the one with a glove on.

Same here. After my shoulder surgery limited my range of motion, I don't throw balls to the pitcher or catch them, either. That's what the catcher is there for, and that way I'm not embarrassed if I zing one to the shortstop by mistake

I've never heard of tossing baseballs to be disrespectful. Depends on how hard they throw them, I guess

Also agree with other posters, your only on-field duty after the last out is to leave ASAP. We don't discuss anything about the game until we are at our cars.

[yawetag]

Originally Posted by LMan

Same here. After my shoulder surgery limited my range of motion, I don't throw balls to the pitcher or catch them, either. That's what the catcher is there for, and that way I'm not embarrassed if I zing one to the shortstop by mistake

I've hardly ever thrown a ball back to F1 when behind the plate (I might, as JM mentioned, do it when the situation puts me within 10 feet of him), and I can count the number of times on one hand, usually when F2 decides to go pick up a fouled-back ball.

In my second year of umpiring, I was the BU for a youth league (I believe it was 13- or 14-year-olds). After the plate meeting, PU went to throw the ball to AT's F1 to start warm-ups. He got F1's attention, and as he was throwing it, F1's coach yelled to him. There was no time to react, and PU tossed it into F1's "athletic supporter area". Thankfully, he was wearing a cup.

[gpdeppert]

For me it depends on how the game went. If it was "clean", then most likely everyone is just gathering equipment, shaking hands etc. and not paying attention to my partner or me. If the game were "rough", then we might attract more attention as we leave and be on the end of some non-flattering comments.

As for the ball, it does not matter to me. The one thing I will offer is this - if the ball gets past the catcher (WP or PB), I do NOT toss a ball back to F1. I would not want to get into this habit in the event there is a runner on and I inadvertently put a second ball into play. Then I would have some splainin' to do.

Foul straight back? Sure - dead ball. Toss to F1 and lets keep it going.

Quick story - during a game a couple pitches were fouled back, I tossed a ball in and turned to the catcher as he tossed the fouled back pitch. One time it gets past him and I am looking out at the field when -- BONK!! Right in the back of the head. The catcher expected me to toss a ball to F1 and just turned and threw it back to me before he realized I was not looking.

Next inning ball gets past him again, this time I turn and watch him go get the ball, when he turned back to me I just wordlessly pointed out to his pitcher. Got a little laugh from some of the folks.

FTR - I did explain to him why I threw it in on the foul balls and not the "skip aways".