What would you do??

[BretMan]

If I'm working alone, my plate conference is exactly the same as any other (well, with the obvious exception that I'm not going to be introducing my partner to the coaches).

I really believe that going into long-winded explanations about how you're by yourself today and might not see some things because of it can backfire.

First off, if these coaches have been around the game at all, for any length of time, they should already understand the limitations of the one-umpire system. No need to explain that to them.

But even worse, it can come off as an umpire "making excuses" for bad calls before the bad calls even happen. It can plant the seed in the coach's minds that you are not up to the task of handling a one-umpire game and that you will be making questionable calls. I prefer to not give them one single tiny bit of ammunition to make them even begin to think that I'm not in control of this game- the same as any other game.

In short, if you start the game off by making excuses for why you might make some bad calls, what the coaches might get from that is, "This guy's going to make bad calls". Right off the bat- before the first pitch is even thrown- you've just given the coaches a reason to doubt you and to question your ability to handle this game.

Just give your usual pre-game, then call the game to the best of your ability. If someone argues, handle it the same as if there were two, three or four umpires on the field.