Partner blues...
 

Friday, I had a big, cross town rivalry game. I was partnered with one of those 20 year rookie types. During the JV game he was calling strikes or balls before they even crossed the plate. At one point a pitch appeared to have gone right down the middle of the plate about belt high, but he was already standing and had called it a ball before the catcher had caught it.

I am always leery of these types of partners, as they seem to get me off of my game, or more specifically my rythym, because I am always concerned of what might happen. So...needless to say, I wasn't the most comfortable in working the varsity game, but I still feel like I did a decent job on the plate. Yet, I need to find a way to be as comfortable when I am working with these types of partners as I do when I am working with partners I know I can trust to be in position...etc. This is the guy who is always out of position, never hustling, doesn't command a great rules knowledge, would rather fraternize with coaches and fans than focus on the game, and feels the need to be an entertainer when on the field. At one point he was so busy visiting with a first base coach that I had to ask him three times on a potential check swing (see other post I made) before I could get an answer, and that answer was rather ambiguous. There were several other incidents, including the game ending call, that I have issues with, but that is not my question.

My question is, what steps do you take when you are on the field with one of these types to keep your game from joining his in the handbasket? What coping strategies or focusing mechanisms do you use?

lay down the law ...

wonder why this caliber official was on a big, cross town rivalry game?

The idea of "find a way to be as comfortable when I am working with these types of partners as I do when I am working with partners I know I can trust " seems unlikely by definition. They will make you (us) uneasy regardless of what we do, because that's what causes us to look for something to change. Best thing is to not change what we do, because then both of us will be off. I generally try to ignore their mistakes and add effort to covering their weaknesses.

Put on the big red nose, orange wig, spread a ****load of grease paint on your face, don the size 32 floppy shoes and join the circus and hope no one recognizes you. :D

Actually, there isn't much you can do with these folks other than block them.

That assumes you have that ability.

I wondered the same thing. It was a last minute change (like a few days before). He may have been the only available one left at that point.

Get in.
Get done.
Get out.

That's right...we can't block out games or partners up here, so SRW has to carry my sorry lazy @$$ for a pretty big game next week.

And vice versa!

The only guy without a game that day, and he does the things you described. Coincidence? ;)

Seriously, one of the things I always work hard on is not just being a good umpire, but a good partner. I would at least like to think that I am. I honestly don't think I'm guilty of any of these, but if I were I hope an umpire I trust and respect would let me know so I could fix it.

Had mine today working NFHS Freshman game. Home team pitchers were pretty bad. We only finally got out of the top of the first inning because the defense managed to record 2 outs at HP on wild pitches.

My partner showed up wearing ASA cap, shirt, and jacket, which is supposed to be a no-no for NFHS games. He didn't like that the teams hadn't taken infield yet [about 20 minutes prior to game time], wasn't pleased with how the coaches were managing the girls, or the talent level of the players, or that the catchers kept trying to trap runners off third base.

At one point, DC asks for time to discuss possible batting out of order. We approach the OC and check their book. This is the first batter of the inning. We're checking to see who the last batter was from previous inning. My pudna swoops in claiming that everything is OK because a pitch has already been thrown. It took me a couple of trys to get through to him that that didn't matter because it was the first batter of the inning. Turned out to be the correct batter, but if it wasn't, the correct batter could have simply come to bat and assumed the count.

With a runner on 3B, a WP plated the run. No other baserunners and I look up and he's still out at "C". I called time and walked out partway [apparently he's a bit hard of hearing] and told him there were no baserunners. So his bulb lights up dimly because when I got back behind the plate, he's now over in "B". We played on. After the inning, he claims he's just going to stay in "B" because there's too many baserunners [many on walks or hit batters].

We're close to a mercy game in the 5th, but home team scores a few to prolong. At the end of the 6th, he walks in from "C" and kicks the ball from the circle to the home dugout. I'm not convinced we're done. He claims that that was the 7th inning. I persist and check the score book and find we're only in the 6th. But he then claims that the run differential is in place. We're still not on the same page since there's a discrepancy between the books. As we're sorting through that, he's putting on his jacket and says he has to leave for another game. Tells us that the home team book is official [they have 12 run differential, and it looked like the visitors had 11 run differential]. And he proceeds to start walking out.

I'm over with the 2 coaches and their scorekeepers when they decided that enough was enough and they'd forego the last inning no matter the differential.

Home coach was not pleased. I got my game check, but no one went running after this guy to see that he got his.

Before the game he told me he was working the game as a favor to [insert higher UIC-type official name here], but I'd seen his name as my partner for over a month on the Arbiter. And that he ran a league and this guy worked for him on occasion. And that he was often asked to work with newbies.

Well, the game was a tough one, and I've had some like that before. But with him there it was just downright unpleasant.

Had one humorous moment. During one of those traps off third base where the runner tries to get the catcher to throw the ball and then runner takes off for home, the throw from F5 bonked the runner off the helmet and headed over to the dugout and another runner advanced another base. Time called, DC [varsity coach subbing for Freshman coach] coach comes out and asks if the runner was running in fair or foul territory. I said it didn't really matter, that she was in her "base path" and it wasn't like she was running to first base. Epiphanized, [yeah, made that up] the coach smiles and says, "Right, OK good. We never had this conversation." and walked back to the dugout.

Ted

What is the general rule of thumb (I have heard different, from different UICs) ASA mechanics. I am PU. No runners on. Batted ball BR going for 2nd. Slides in to 2nd and is stooped by the fielders foot. Fielder does not have the ball. Easy OBS, but my partner does not call it.

Question: Do you as the PU call this or do you let the OC talk to the BU and if he/she ask for help you tell him/her what you had? Like I said, I have heard it both ways from UICs at 16U and 18U tournaments.

Is this one of those find out what the UIC wants type of mechanics?

Cecil and Mick both have the right idea about working with this type of partner.You simply have to prepare yourself mentally for who your working with and not let them throw you off your game.

We've all experienced this (some of us more than others)...you could pre-game until the cows come home with these guys and they generally just nod and just yes you to death as it goes in one ear and out the other. I mean the game starts and forget about wether they're correctly in B or C...these guys have their own alphabet when it comes to proper position.

Working a lot of adult SP as I do, what worries me about working with these type of umps, is that their incompetence, stubborness, lack of rules knowledge, etc. always seems to causes the s**t to hit the fan when they get involved in a situation.

I'm with one of these guys the other night. ASA Men's SP...rec league. He's got the P, (we're playing under a league 5HR limit rule), s**t hits the fan when he allows a team a 6th HR, (3 run shot BTW), because he said that one of the first 5 HR's had hit off the F7's glove as he leaped above the fence line trying to make the catch....he says.."that's an error, hence it's does not count as a HR." I came in from my position as I saw him getting tripled teamed in the ensuing argument, not having any idea at the time what the hell the arugment was about. As I'm getting the two guys who shouldn't be there away from him, I hear what he's telling the HC... and I can't believe what I'm hearing. I calm down the HC, partner and I get off to side, we review the sitch., I try to point out that he's not correct on this, I'm advised by my partner that he doesn't need my help he knows what is and isn't a HR.
OK partner, I'm going back out to my position....I get there just in time to hear the HC tell PU he's protesting the game.

I'd rather work alone. Then the only umpire I have to worry about is me.

Bad news. If you were working alone, you would have been wrong all by yourself.

I really don't care whether ruled an error or not, but your partner is right as far as counting against the HR total. Check page 58 of this years book, rule 8.8.A.Note.a

If the defense touches a fair fly ball that clears the fence, it IS a four-base award. And, no, it doesn't matter that the ball would have cleared or was already over the fence.

BU is on top of play , right in front of him, no other responsability?
PU about 75' away?

No way I'm butting in until BU asks.

I am new to my area and was asked to do an NCAA local game. I was told I was with a veteran who books games for another local college. Has to be good, right? I found out I ran into the same situation as a few of y'all with just wanting to get through the game.

Doubleheader, he has the plate the first game to "show me the ropes". Questionable mechanics, couldn't hear any calls, I had to cover all the bases no matter what, strikes below the knees and he was very quick to call pitches seemingly before they crossed the plate. Stressful as it was a close game. 13-12 final, away team (who was markedly weaker) won and 2 long hours.

Specific play that got him some heat and put the coach over the edge...the batter thinks the ball is going to hit her. She falls back and the ball goes off the bat. An immediate dead ball is called. The ball rests in fair territory and is thrown to first. Ouch. Coach comes directly out to me. I politely let him know that we can talk about the movies, good food, whatever he likes, but I am unsure what happened (playing stupid as I couldn't hear anything anyway all day). He laughed, understood and simply said the poor old man behind the dish shouldn't be calling high school let alone college. Then, the plate ump sees us together, shouts he "I goofed up, let's play". Oh man, foul ball called...I am learning the ropes...LOL.

We got through it. Second game I'm behind the dish. 5 inning run rule, 1:15 game and the home team wins as they should and luckily positions themselves for the playoffs.

I think the guy was good at one time, but just lost the edge as we all will someday when we hit the golden years. How I managed it, I covered everything I possibly could to make him look better, kept my mouth shut and couldn't wait until it was over.

Next time at the same place I was with someone outstanding. That was great!

I'm more of a believer in "see it, call it"; especially things that are either umpire's call like OBS, INT, IP; obviously not specific responsibilities like safe or out at a base, catch/miss, etc.

Your judgement about that particular ump might be correct, but remember some of us are touchy about our national youth obsession, especially whne it is tied to chronology rather than performance. To brag, I cover fields better than some 20 year younger than I. :(

My compliments !! :D


Isn't it great that we can always look forward to the good partners, knowing coaches and happy players? :cool:

Generally I'd agree with you, but as described here I wouldn't (unless the poster had added that BU was way out of position).

The BU should be right there... (if he isn't there, it's a different story) He has to have a better view than me..
If OC convinces him to ask me, I'll tell him what I saw...

I've called it and I've not called it. I think its a case by case thing. If my partner is lost somewheres, I can call it and have. If he/she is right on it well then I leave it to them.

Whatever you do, I dont believe you should invent a dead ball call in conversation later. If you dont call it, then its done. I dont think you should later be telling a coach you saw a dead ball situation but didnt call it (even a delayed dead ball). Any coach who knows what he is doing will eat you alive, and rightfully so. You would deserve whatever you got for doing that.

As far as I'm concerned, a dead ball situation is not even a "go for help deal". We shouldnt be discussing that. I'm not going to my partner on one either. If the situation is different, I'm not reversing it if you didnt call it. If you come to me on a dead ball call, my answer is "If I saw a ddb/dead ball, I would have immediately called it."

You can post game it later if you did not initially call it.

You know you can always 1/2 raise your arm out and then kinda play it off until you know how its all gonna go down. Then you have plausible deniability no matter what you call...

Just kidden.. sorta.. :cool:

Plausible deniability gets you done on Friday afternoon. Handling what happens on your game is an umpire that may work Sunday.

Riddle me this, Batman.
I am observing last weekend. No one on, 2-2 count on B1. Of course (aren't they all anymore?) she's a slapper. Takes the ol' running swing thing but pitch is high and inside. She definitely went/offered/slapped at -- and missed, but is hit by the pitch in the upper shoulder. Goes down in a semi-heap. Gets up with able assistance from both base coaches, finally trots down to first. I'm thinking well, someone has got to say something about went/offered/slapped, DC or someone. Not a peep.

What is YOUR thinking? Should BU intervene? When asked after game, BU said would not do anything until/unless asked. Head coach for OC is also ISF certified (team was from Canada). I asked him afterwards to put his umpire hat on, and he also said no intervention by BU until asked -- but that was just his opinion (his words). Also said as OC he likely would have been ejected if BU had intervened...

Unless asked by my partner I would never offer an opinion on a swing/no swing if I am working the bases.

I have nothing until the PU asks me for help.

No doubt about this one. Rule 10-3.B is clear, no umpire may seek to reverse the decision of another; intervening in this case would be a clear rule violation. Only the PU is empowered to judge swing/no swing, unless PU asks BU if there was a swing.

Once asked by a partner, I believe all umpires need to be truthful about what they saw, not deny to cover; but that truthfulness needs to be in a private conversation, to allow the calling umpire to determine how (and if) the new information will be used. This may require consideration of 10-3.C, where the PU must consider the possible jeopardy of a delayed or changed call. Some bells simply cannot, and should not, be unrung; but that doesn't mean your partner shouldn't tell you the unadulterated truth.

You call what you see, if, and only if, it is your call to make; you tell your partner what you see, if and only if he asks. In postgame, you tell the rest.

Why would BU even want to intervene? There is an entire defensive team that should be yelling "she swang she swang!"

BU is not a defensive coach.

Agree with Steve who said it much better..

Do you agree that sometime a good position to rule on force or tag is not the best view of a possible OBS (or INT for that matter)?

I agree 100%...and it was saved for the folding chairs and cooler. The PU, visiting from another association, got kind of upset that BU didn't say anything, even insinuated that I might need to say something. At that point we moved on to more important things and had a spirited discussion about spirits.