How would you handle?

[Rufus]

Thanks for the quick replies.

jicecone - I agree. I'm usually too busy on the court to pay (much) attention to the sometimes inane comments coming from the bench. At the same time I realize that the baseball field is a much quieter environment and folks can hear everything that's said. Just wasn't sure the actual steps you would take up to instructing them to leave the field/park.

Mbyron - I've found that having the ability to assess technicals also helps in these situations in basketball (i.e., one more tool in to use). It all depends on the circumstance, of course, but I'll usually try and talk a coach down first in basketball but, if he earns it, call a technical. That usually shuts them up. It's interesting how you almost have to be more tolerant in baseball for the same kind of behavior. I wonder if that's because there isn't a "T" equivalent?

Would you ever picture a scenario where, instead of progressing through the steps you outline, you simply tell the coach after the first utterance "Coach, we're not discussing/listening to comments on judgment calls" then toss him/her if they did it again?

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by Rufus

Mbyron - I've found that having the ability to assess technicals also helps in these situations in basketball (i.e., one more tool in to use). It all depends on the circumstance, of course, but I'll usually try and talk a coach down first in basketball but, if he earns it, call a technical. That usually shuts them up. It's interesting how you almost have to be more tolerant in baseball for the same kind of behavior. I wonder if that's because there isn't a "T" equivalent?

Would you ever picture a scenario where, instead of progressing through the steps you outline, you simply tell the coach after the first utterance "Coach, we're not discussing/listening to comments on judgment calls" then toss him/her if they did it again?

1. The FED rule allowing umpires to restrict coaches to the dugout is supposed to be a kind of warning step, similar to sitting them down in basketball.

2. Absolutely, and a friend of mine ejected a coach last night for it: if he comes screaming out onto the field without any willingness or interest in listening to why I made a call, his rope is shorter. The line about "not discussing" I generally restrict to questions about balls and strikes.

[EsqUmp]

I think that it sort of starts things off on the wrong foot when you tell them they can't dispute judgment calls. Why bring up potential disputes in the pre-game? That seems to plant a bug in the coaches ear to look for disputes.

The disputes will find you without bringing them up on your own

[RPatrino]

Couple of points:

A good coach won't ask catchers where the pitch was from the bench. They may discuss it on the bench but they know that yelling that puts their catcher's between a rock and hard place. Most times, a catcher will ask..."was that up?" and of course, it was! IF they are asking, they know the answer. Those chirps we hear directed at no one in particular should be ignored. Like Hickey said, if you are constantly hearing chirps and *****ing about your zone, look in the mirror. It's time to get evaluated because something isn't working out.

The one I love is "that's not your pitch, Goober", I had one right down Broadway , called it a strike, the coach yells, "that's not you, Gomer". Next pitch, same spot, Gomer puts it over the left field fence. I smiled at the coach, "I guess it WAS him".

We are approachable, we will calmly discuss ANY call, but we will argue about NONE. There is no rule that states a coach can't discuss a call in a sportsmanlike manner. We should always be willing to discuss the rationale behind our calls. The downside of refusing to accommodate a legitimate request for a conference with a coach is that the refusal becomes the issue and not the call.

[DG]

I ignore the coach with where was that pitch type comments until he annoys me. Takes more than once to annoy but not much more. If catcher gives an I don't know type answer I tell him wrong answer. Catchers are smart, and from then on he will likely wave in a direction to indicate out, up, in or down.

I completely ignore "that looked good" type comments.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by DG

I completely ignore "that looked good" type comments.

Agreed. I take that as them just trying to encourage the pitcher (whether they actually were or were not, I don't really care.).

(Of course, "Blue, that looked good," is a different animal.)