Distracting cheers
 

From NFHS board. We have rules against attempts to distract the pitcher, but apparently no similar rule against trying to distract the batter? What is the general consensus about a player or team yelling "swing batter" or any other obvious cheer or attempt to distract the batter?

ignore it. Try not to let it get to you.

Tune it out.

There is none. My personal opinion is that addressing an opponent in any manner other than common pleasantries is form of USC. Many do not agree. Some believe anything goes. I don't.

Speaking ASA

Base coaches are forbidden, by rule, to address the opponent or make any comments which would reflect negatively upon the opponent, umpire or spectator. Why should one expect less from a player?

If, in your judgment, it is actually distracting the batter, (and that is its obvious intent), you do have rule backing to stop it (at least in NFHS).

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.

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?

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

So?

Swing batta batta has been around forever.

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?" :D

rofl

IMO, this would be a gross violation - such as F5 charging in screaming like a banshee waiving her arms.. simply yelling "swing/ring/bling" is not interfering with a batter's ability to hit the ball.. is more like anti-interference-- its encouraging them to hit. There is no rule against encouraging them to hit the ball... not even that one.

I was just pointing out the rule... the umpire does not need to rule USC; he may rule verbal OBS. I've never made this ruling. Ever.

Thats cuz ur a good umpire! ;)

this type of behavior would never, ever (no proof:) happen at the Olympics. Behavior from players should imitate Olympic behavior IMO.

I side with Mike on this. We just have higher standards:D:D:D

The issue is not whether I should tune it out, or it should not bother me, etc but rather is it sportsmanlike. Of course not, a good sportsman does not resort to that.

I have not allowed it where I thought it was inappropriate and the UIC backed me up as the team that could not do it went and complained to the UIC.

So have take-out slides and bean balls. :)

Folks, I'm not talking about picking nits, here. I'm talking about directed comments for the purpose of affecting a player's immediate actions. It does not necessarily have to be disparaging language, then again, if it is, it need not be of a loud volume. Really don't care about idle chatter, defining pitches or offering direction to a teammate.

I have never ejected anyone on this type of issue. It stops when I make a point of it. This is a type of violation that when you hear it, you instruct the participant to cease. If ignored, then you take whatever you deem is the appropriate action which whomever it is necessary to get control of the game.

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?

Exactly correct!

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.

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.

Or the ball coming at a fielder at 98 mph and a passing runner screaming.....oh, wait a minute, that one we call!

Yes, indeedileedoodly! However, I called youth games for many years. :)

I was not aware that ASA had different rules regarding sliding...

Absolutely, each game will be different. The players are different, the setting is different, and the mood is different. Just like some days, I can put up with more crap, and other days, I might not always be so willing to tolerate things (try as I may to be as consistent and cool-headed as possible). But if I see some bad mojo brewing, or if I see some potential danger in the act, I put a stop to it quietly and without being adversarial.

Come on! Now youre reaching for justification now for OOO by inventing a "safety save the children" justification, which is beyond the previous USC argument.

Yep! And I do tell the runners not to do that. I've even called INT on a runner for doing that. He screamed as he ran into 2B on a force play, and I could see F4 flinch big time, causing her to drop the ball (when she normally doesn't drop it).

is that why no one likes you and you keep on having to eject everyone ? ;)

Oh, as George Carlin used to say... "F*** the children!" :D

Actually, that was part of my argument from the start, so I didn't tangent into that. But yes, if I see an unnecessary behavior that makes things unsafe, I put a stop to it. I do that for all levels of play, from 10U to Seniors.

Could be! :)

You know I'm just messin' with you, bud. :)

We apparently have different styles, and each umpire has his/her own threshold. I'm comfortable with mine, you're comfortable with yours. As long as neither of us are d1cks about it, I see no troubles in how either of us handles the situation. Know what I mean?

Low blow...


:D you know it bro!

You're right, I broke my promise. Comment redacted, so you can edit it out of your quote. :)

Absolutely!

I'm too lazy ;)

Oh, and I dont care :D

Yeah, well, my word is my word, you know? :)

Yeah but that was just mean... :D

I guess that is what happens when you have humans umpire, we all have different thresholds for things.

I'm likely to nip some things in the bud during an adult AA game before a JO youth game because the adults will start going after each other. I've seen it happy and it wasn't pretty.

I close my eyes and duck!!:D

(then I call what it sounds like)

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." :D