Distracting cheers

[NCASAUmp]

I have no problem with players that want to cheer for their own team. However, I've never understood how "cheering" at an opposing team player to swing the bat and distracting them is cheering for your team.

[wadeintothem]

Softball is not golf. Derogatory stuff is a no go - being the noise police is OOO.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by wadeintothem

Softball is not golf. Derogatory stuff is a no go - being the noise police is OOO.

And if they scream "SWING!" on an inside pitch as the ball approaches the plate at 60 MPH?

[CajunNewBlue]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

And if they scream "SWING!" on an inside pitch as the ball approaches the plate at 60 MPH?

hopefully the batter hits that nugget outta the park and silences the bench for all time!!

This is something I've had batters b**ch about in slow-pitch, the chatty catcher who says stuff like "oh, that's a good pitch", "yeah, it's right there", etc. I've had batters ask me to shut the catcher up, and my response is simply, I can't unless it's derogatory.

The only time I ejected a catcher for USC while being chatty was a male catcher who said "That's a good pitch, swing that rack baby!" when a female batter was up to bat in a coed game. She let it go, wisely, because it would have been a ball, and as soon as it hit the ground and I called, "Ball...catcher, gimme the ball." He looked at me and asked why. I told him he was gone for USC and he dropped the ball in amazement and the batter said "now how does my rack look?"

[CajunNewBlue]

Originally Posted by Ref Ump Welsch

This is something I've had batters b**ch about in slow-pitch, the chatty catcher who says stuff like "oh, that's a good pitch", "yeah, it's right there", etc. I've had batters ask me to shut the catcher up, and my response is simply, I can't unless it's derogatory.

The only time I ejected a catcher for USC while being chatty was a male catcher who said "That's a good pitch, swing that rack baby!" when a female batter was up to bat in a coed game. She let it go, wisely, because it would have been a ball, and as soon as it hit the ground and I called, "Ball...catcher, gimme the ball." He looked at me and asked why. I told him he was gone for USC and he dropped the ball in amazement and the batter said "now how does my rack look?"

rofl

[HugoTafurst]

Originally Posted by Ref Ump Welsch

This is something I've had batters b**ch about in slow-pitch, the chatty catcher who says stuff like "oh, that's a good pitch", "yeah, it's right there", etc. I've had batters ask me to shut the catcher up, and my response is simply, I can't unless it's derogatory.

The only time I ejected a catcher for USC while being chatty was a male catcher who said "That's a good pitch, swing that rack baby!" when a female batter was up to bat in a coed game. She let it go, wisely, because it would have been a ball, and as soon as it hit the ground and I called, "Ball...catcher, gimme the ball." He looked at me and asked why. I told him he was gone for USC and he dropped the ball in amazement and the batter said "now how does my rack look?"

Well... how did it look???

Originally Posted by HugoTafurst

Well... how did it look???

The guy never made a comment. He sulked off, ranting off a profanity-filled litany as he headed to his car. I threw the ball back to the pitcher and asked if they had a sub. Before the sub got to the catcher's spot, I turned to the batter and said, "honey, they're perfect...just play ball."

[wadeintothem]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

And if they scream "SWING!" on an inside pitch as the ball approaches the plate at 60 MPH?

So?

Swing batta batta has been around forever.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by wadeintothem

So?

Swing batta batta has been around forever.

So have take-out slides and bean balls.

[NCASAUmp]

Bear in mind that the only time in the last 16+ years of umpiring that I have ever said anything about "swing" is if I see a player visibly starting to get pissed enough that they might want to do something about it. This has happened maybe... 3 times?

[wadeintothem]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

Bear in mind that the only time in the last 16+ years of umpiring that I have ever said anything about "swing" is if I see a player visibly starting to get pissed enough that they might want to do something about it. This has happened maybe... 3 times?

You work adult ball slow pitch right?

There may be some actions you take in that game that are not necessary in youth ball.. an example IMO would be the afforementioned "take out slide".

In youth ball, it is expected to "break it up" - in beer league, they gotta work in the morning and allowing certain things can lead to problems.

I think manage your game... so on a case by case basis depending on a circumstance, you may need to do something that you wouldnt necessarily do another given circumstance.

[wadeintothem]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

So have take-out slides and bean balls.

Exactly correct!

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by wadeintothem

Exactly correct!

My point is that just because things have "always been there," it doesn't mean they should be there.

Anyway, what I was trying to get at is that some chatter is fine, but there's a point at which it crosses the line. If it's creating a dangerous or hostile environment, then it should stop. If I'm calling a game where the ball is coming in at 60+ MPH, I would not want someone distracting the batter, putting them at risk of getting hit.

[HugoTafurst]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

And if they scream "SWING!" on an inside pitch as the ball approaches the plate at 60 MPH?

I close my eyes and duck!!

(then I call what it sounds like)