Blew 3 calls in 2 innings!!

[josephrt1]

Good advice. I'll remember these thoughts!

[jmkupka]

whenever it seems like they're all against me, I think of the guys doing MLB games. They have 40,000 there who hate their guts... I can deal with a dozen.

This weekend, I come in from "A" position, throw from F5 gets past F3, rolls to the fence (which goes just a little beyond 1B), rolls past the fence and out of play.
"dead ball... runner, take 2B please."

DC: "No way Blue! Get some help on that!

Me: "No problem. Hey partner, does she get 2nd or 3rd? 2nd? Thanks. Let's play ball."

[Billyball]

I played for over 25 years..played on a team that won a Class B World. When I starting umping I took the same attitude I had when I played. Be prepared, hustle and just try my best to get it right.

What bothered me the most about what happened is that the pitcher who was all over me is the type of player I have zero respect for as a player. The guy was around 6-3 260 who thought he was way better than he was. The guy was all mouth.. could not run, field and was a below average hitter with zero power for his size. The guys was bitching at his teammates when they made an error.

All the mistakes I made were in the first two innings and the game was tied 3-4 in the 4th. Loud mouths team ended up losing 18-7...but it was still all my fault.

Now the next game is starting and while I am talking to the managers/players at home plate he is behind the backstop chirping "Good luck guys...your ump is horrible!" So right away I feel like they already have prejudged me. Then he proceeds to stand behind the backstop for the first inning chirping about every ball or strike I call.

I wanted to stop the game and go berate him about how shitty a player he was!! I was so pissed off.

[jmkupka]

That's a simple one.

1) Make sure you have received your fee first.

2) Let both current teams know that you consider anyone present to be guests/fans/whatever of their teams, and if this clown is not removed immediately, you will leave this game and not return.

They will escort him from the field.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by jmkupka

That's a simple one.

1) Make sure you have received your fee first.

2) Let both current teams know that you consider anyone present to be guests/fans/whatever of their teams, and if this clown is not removed immediately, you will leave this game and not return.

They will escort him from the field.

That is pretty weak. You want to blame two teams for the acts of someone not associated with either.

[jmkupka]

nope, not blaming either. just using the tools I have available to me.
If there was blame, there'd be a forfeit somewhere.

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by jmkupka

nope, not blaming either. just using the tools I have available to me.
If there was blame, there'd be a forfeit somewhere.

I think Mike's point is that those teams have no responsibility for the "clown" and should not have to deal with him.
If there is no coordinator or TD or whoever; call one or your assigner or even the police.

Also, you knew he was not with either team, so to "consider anyone present to be guests/fans/whatever of their teams" does not fit with officials' integrity.

[Tru_in_Blu]

Originally Posted by jmkupka

That's a simple one.

1) Make sure you have received your fee first.

2) Let both current teams know that you consider anyone present to be guests/fans/whatever of their teams, and if this clown is not removed immediately, you will leave this game and not return.

They will escort him from the field.

About the only time I get a fee in advance is when working scrimmage format games. These are pretty relaxed and informal. Coaches take opportunities for teaching moments. It's usually a 1-umpire game so anything close at second base is rarely debated.

I'm with others who say you cannot leverage the "clown" with members of the other teams. I'm fortunate to not have been in that situation, but I don't think I'd take that path. Often times, UICs and/or TDs are not immediately at hand when you need them, so you have to get by on your own.

Guys like you describe generally don't have much patience. Ignore him for a couple of outs, and he'll be anxious to get to his brewskies.

[Billyball]

Originally Posted by Tru_in_Blu

About the only time I get a fee in advance is when working scrimmage format games. These are pretty relaxed and informal. Coaches take opportunities for teaching moments. It's usually a 1-umpire game so anything close at second base is rarely debated.

I'm with others who say you cannot leverage the "clown" with members of the other teams. I'm fortunate to not have been in that situation, but I don't think I'd take that path. Often times, UICs and/or TDs are not immediately at hand when you need them, so you have to get by on your own.

Guys like you describe generally don't have much patience. Ignore him for a couple of outs, and he'll be anxious to get to his brewskies.

Yes..I have been around the game for a long time and I could tellthis guy had some anger issues. even after the game he was looking at me like he wanted to fight or something..and these plays happened in the first and second inning.

[chapmaja]

Originally Posted by Billyball

I played for over 25 years..played on a team that won a Class B World. When I starting umping I took the same attitude I had when I played. Be prepared, hustle and just try my best to get it right.

What bothered me the most about what happened is that the pitcher who was all over me is the type of player I have zero respect for as a player. The guy was around 6-3 260 who thought he was way better than he was. The guy was all mouth.. could not run, field and was a below average hitter with zero power for his size. The guys was bitching at his teammates when they made an error.

All the mistakes I made were in the first two innings and the game was tied 3-4 in the 4th. Loud mouths team ended up losing 18-7...but it was still all my fault.

Now the next game is starting and while I am talking to the managers/players at home plate he is behind the backstop chirping "Good luck guys...your ump is horrible!" So right away I feel like they already have prejudged me. Then he proceeds to stand behind the backstop for the first inning chirping about every ball or strike I call.

I wanted to stop the game and go berate him about how shitty a player he was!! I was so pissed off.

If this individual is being such a distraction that it is interfering with the game, you need to go to the TD, site supervisor, or whatever the person in charge is titled and ask that he be removed. If there is no such person available, you should have someone available to call. I have found just reaching for my cell phone is often enough to get the person to leave. The worst situation I had required me to call my area supervisor. When I had my conversation with him, I repeated everything he said so the batter and catcher heard what was said, as did the AH who was causing the problems. It was basically along the lines of "You said you want me to call the police if he causes any more problems." He packed his stuff up and left the area of the field, but was still sitting in the parking lot at games end. As I was going to my car I did have my phone in hand ready to make a call if anything was said. Nothing was said and I went on my way.

[jmkupka]

Sorry guys, with my comment, I missed the first sentence of the OP, "a USSSA Slowpitch event. An "event" would obviously have an administrator of some sort on hand (TD, UIC) to address the situation.

I was responding to what I thought was a typical men's league game, where guys from previous games hang and drink and watch the next game. In that situation, there is no way I will work, with some disgruntled slob riding my butt right behind the backstop, without having some recourse.

The game will stop, and the if the guys want to continue, something will be done. I'll let them work out the particulars.

If you say call the cops, call the league president, whatever, fine, do it. That'll take longer than these guys are willing to wait. Believe me, he'll be cleared out before that.