How do you handle a catcher's histrionics?
 

Had a HS varsity catcher yesterday who didn't always agree with my ball/strike calls. More so than any other catcher when I've worked the plate, she was very demonstrative about her disagreement -- holding her glove in position after she "framed" the pitch for long moments, shrugging her shoulders, tossing her hands in the air, hollering at the pitcher and coach, "That's a good pitch!," etc. After a short while, her coaches started yapping also, just because she was a whiner (these complaints were almost exclusively on inside pitches which they couldn't possibly judge from their 90 degree angle from the dugout). What techniques do you recommend to handle this behavior?

Ask the "assistant who just became head" coach for a substitute for the young lady who was catching up to that point in time.

What I've done in the past was a brief word to the catcher along the lines of,

"Catch, if you want to be here for the final out, you'd better get control of yourself."

Best done BEFORE she incites the coach.

There you go hawk, two good replies about the best way to handle this. I would have said something right off the bat, and then if it escalated to the point where it did in your post, done as Mike has already suggested.

I had the dish for a Regional Semifinal last Friday. Left-handed pitcher lived on the outside edge against right-handed hitters. Some times she hit it, sometimes she didn't. After two consecutive pitches just off the corner, the defensive coach asked the catcher where they were. She yelled, "They were on the corner." I called time, stepped around and swept the plate. With my head down I said, "We aren't going to have any of that. Understand?" No response. Still sweeping, I said, "I'd like to hear a "Yes, sir." I got a quiet "Yes, sir" and we finished the game with no problem. :)

From UmpYouthFP

Make the troublesome player the coach's problem, not yours. If you have a player or two on your case about the strike zone, or some player keeps whining about every call you've made on the bases so far, don't take it upon yourself to stop it. Throw it into the coach's lap. Don't wave your finger at a coach from sixty feet away demanding he do something with his player. Wait for the right moment, preferably between innings when nobody else is really paying attention. Sidle up to the coach and mention in a friendly conversational way that you're a bit tired of listening to his player complain about "everything." Chances are, the coach is tired of it as well and you're now giving him the opportunity to solve the problem. Let the coach know that if they're not able to do something about it, you may have to. You do not need to get specific, the coach will figure out what you're implying. Generally, this will work and you'll have no more trouble. There's nothing like peer pressure to solve a problem. If this doesn't work you'll have to do whatever is necessary. You have given both the coach and the troublesome player their chance. If you do have to eject the troublesome player, let the coach do it for you. That is, simply call the coach over and ask him for the name of the player who is now going to be playing and batting for the ejected player. When the coach gives you that confused look, quietly inform the coach that you need to know who is the ejected player's replacement. You do not need to get animated about it.

My story...
 

A few weeks ago, I was PU on a HSV game.

I will admit that it was one of those games that I just could not get comfortable behind the plate and I am sure it affected my judgement of the strike zone. There were several pitches that I would normally call strikes that I did not.

On the first few close pitches that I called a ball, one catcher would politely ask "Where did that miss?" So I told her.

As the game went on, her tone when asking became more sarcastic, as if she was questioning the call. Finally, about the fifth inning, close pitch, I call ball, she starts again...Where did that one miss, Blue?

My reply: "It was out of the strike zone....understand?"
Looking back, I probably let it go on too long, but after that reply, I didn't hear anything else from her for the remainder of the game.

This is good advice, but dont be surprised if the coach takes this opportunity to (politely?) complain about the strikezone. Nip that right away.
I dont believe any coach gets tired of hearing their catcher say whatever they can "to help their team" and possibly having to remove his starting catcher wouldnt be considered an opportunity to solve a problem. You are warning him, so if you have to eject, the coach cant complain that he hadnt been warned, was surprised, ect.......

I had a similar situation last week but it was the pitcher. She had a couple of good innings then couldn't find the plate. Of course it couldn't be her fault so it must be the ump. She would make faces, throw her hands up, etc. I took the ball from the catcher and quietly (so only she could hear me) told her " to call time, go out to the pitcher and tell her the next time she makes any display about the strike zone i'm going to toss her."
Every thing setteled down after that.

Slow pitch version:

Umpire: Catch, go tell you pitcher to calm down or he will not be around long.

Catcher (yells from behind the plate): Hey, a$$hole, blue said knock it off or he's gonna toss ya.

Pitcher: Blue, maybe you should be the one leavin'

Umpire: Okay, you can go now.

Pitcher: (here it comes, the standard response from a SP player) What? You can't do that, I didn't curse!

You guys have thin skins.

I don't think you want to go there

Oh yes I do! There's way too much ego all over the place.
When you show me an ump who calls the strike zone by the book, then I will defer to that ump.

Warn her.. .then dump her.

Thats it. Don't tolerate it from anyone on the field.

If you are on my field, you will defer to me or you will be gone. I dont give a crap what you think of my zone... just keep your mouth shut about it.

Plain and simple.

How other umpires handle you is up to them.

If you are an umpire, you take too much crap.

Yup.

bottom line why dont you let the catcher know that showing you up isnt going to happen. Hold your ground. Be confident(not arrogent) and just dont let crap like that let you get all hot and bothered. Chances are that you show that you are letting it get to you which lets that player and everyone else know they have your punk card... and the WILL play it

AMEN:cool:

"I don't throw people, I've got thick skin"

A sorry excuse for a sports official not willing to take the responsibility for which they are being paid. Their job is to manage and control the game.

Allowing players and coaches to act like ucking fidiots ($.02 to John) is not part of the job. And it just isn't about it getting personal. Part of any sports official's job is to protect the integrity of the game AND the crew. Without that, the game is a joke.

A sports official is no less a human being when they don the uniform. Until an official has given a reason for not receiving it, s/he is due every bit of respect earned by the position assigned them. Part of that is civil, non-abusive communication. Under no circumstance should a sports official accept a loud, abusive tirade or any attempt to bring their integrity into question.

My right gonad.
If a player or coach has ejected themselves, then they have ejected themselves. The thickness of someone's skin has nothing to do with that.

I agree with many other posts. I will finish the game doing one-man mechanics. You throw my fat butt under the bus with something like that, you will have your butt ON the bus.

MEANWHILE, in a recent game, had the catcher leave the glove up, ask the question, etc etc

I politely told her loud enough for her to hear that she had just committed the fatal sin of showing me up and showing total disrespect. I asked if they had a good backup catcher. She said, very meekly, yes, but she hasn't caught all year, etc. etc. She was damn near in tears as she apologized.

Often, players will take as much rope as they are given. Make sure you don't give them so much they end up hanging you out to dry.

I think the problem is that most people think that harassing an umpire is just "part of the game" when in fact it has no place at all in the game.

My experience shows just the opposite. I have learned (the hard way) that you must nip it in the bud right away. If you don't the coach and other players will pick it up and you'll hear it from everyone, including the spectators. Stop it early with a warning and 99% of the time it will stop. JMO

Grim Reaper, are you makin' the lil' girls cry again?

;)

AMEN

No problem, so are ejections!:D

A week ago I was the PU on a varsity softball game and F2 was setting up inside and I was calling balls. In the first inning she turned and asked what was going on. I stated "you are setting up inside and she is hitting ther glove."

In the second inning the same thing happened and she again asked. I told her the same thing. She asked for time and went out to talk to F1. Both of them looked at me and had a discussion. F2 came back and we started to play. I called another ball and she turned around and looked at me. in the Third inning we started the same way. She asked for time and went out to talk to F1. When she came back, I told her she had the choice of playing or watching and she needed to decide. I also told her that if she insisted, I would decide for her. Had no more looks or questions the rest of the game.

As per the OP, if F2 is not addressing the PU, then why should the PU even dignify any of the F2's actions? Where does the rule book read that F2's can't hold their mitt up/frame a pitch, or shrug their shoulders?

This is the right way. Preventive umpiring is what you need to do. Our job entails managment of the game that includes rotating balls checking bats and checking egos. That doesn't include being disrespected or having to take guff from some 16 yr old ill mannered child. After you warn them,you toss them!

So, no one is able to cite these 'rules'?

I didn't think so.

Don't mistake being ignored with posing unanswerable questions.

What is he saying? Is he saying that because there is no ASA rule that says "A player cannot take a big dump on home plate" that its legal to do so?

This guy is a weird one. I bet a 12U daddy ball rec league coach.

Hes got a tough road if every unsporting act must be spelled out for him.

Dear Richard Cranium,
Not only could it be considered an unsporting act, I have the authority to rule on anything not specifically covered in the rules.

There.

Sincerely,
Someone who hopes like hell I never umpire with you

Where does it say in the rules the pitcher or batter cannot tell you to go f*** yourself everytime s/he disagrees with your call?

Where does it say the catcher cannot throw their mask in your direction every time s/he moves into position for a play?

Where does it say the coach cannot grab your *** in the pre-game meeting?

???? Yeah, right.

As our resident expert in idiocy has already noted. These can be considered acts of unsportsmanlike conduct and, as a matter of rule, the plate umpire can rule as s/he sees fit on anything not specifically addressed in the rules.

Any questions? One step closer to tickling the ivories.