Coaches questioning calls
 

Have you ever just said, "Are you kidding me, coach?"

Its the "get the call right" mantra. Excuse to come out and question every close play, and even not so close plays.

I had a coach come up behind me after the third out and ask how I could make that call? I wanted to raise my right hand to signal an out and say "like this Coach". But common sense took over and I didn't.

Oh, yes.. Now when I start raising my voice- I just take a deep breath & remind myself to communicate, not confront.

Often thought, never said aloud:

Coach, you are closer to being ejected than that play was :)

A few years ago, on a balmy spring night, I was working a HS game as PU where I had to rotate up to third to make the call. On a close play, we had and I sold the out. There had been a dad in the stands all evening espousing to anyone who would listen to him his umpire expertise. While I was over getting a drink of water, he was telling his neighbors how that wasn't even my call to make. Then, showing what a big man he was, he yelled out to me, "that wasn't even your call. How could you make that call." My back was to him at this point, and without even taking the water bottle from my mouth, I took off my glasses and held them up for him to see. His audience cracked up. I, and more importantly those around him, never heard another word about his umpiring skills the rest of the evening.

That was funny, but in my neck, something like that could lead to an unwanted visit in the parking lot after the game. I just do what my Dad told me many years ago: Ignore the Ignorant.

Sort of... Saturday Freshman game w/ varsity coach filling in for freshman coach. In a rundown between 3rd and home, her F5 threw a ball that hit the runner in the helmet and bounded away as the runner scored.

She came out to ask me if the runner was in the running lane when she was hit with the ball.

I asked if I had missed a rule change that may have just come out about having a running lane on 3rd base line.

She paused, said "I was never here", turned and went back to her dugout without another word.

We have some funny responses to this issue but on a serious note, I think the problem occurring is that there are too many situations where coaches are asking the base umpire to " get help". If your in the right spot mechanically on the field, tell the coach that and stick to your call. No help necessary. The only thing we are doing is changing the person who we will be having a debate over the play with and now we are going to have the other coach come out on close plays the rest of the game trying to get us to change a call

On a side note, I made a call at the plate in a baseball game and the 3rd base coach asked me to get help from my partner. Conversation lasted thirty seconds. He didn't ask another question the rest of the day.....

We had a local umpire respond to a coach's question with this statement:

What?!? Are you f'ing stupid or something??

This was during a JO fast pitch game and was said loudly enough for several players and fans to hear.

This umpire was suspended for awhile and to the best of my knowledge, still thinks he did nothing wrong.....

Was the statement accurate?

AF Championship - 3 umpire crew, I'm on 3rd

Line drive through the 3-4 hole rolling to RC field. We rotate properly and I'm lined up with the throw coming from RC, maybe a foot or two toward the 1b side of 2nd, 8-10 feet from the play. Runner executed a perfect pop-up slide with F6 making a late tag on his thigh. Everyone did everything right, textbook mechanics and call. Pitcher who is standing behind me immediately says, "can you ask for some help". I look over my shoulder and see U1 at the plate and the PU in holding zone toward 3B, so I look at the pitcher (Navy) and say something along the lines of "Really? Are you ****ing serious?" He just laughed and said, "well, I gotta try".

I should note that this was my 3rd AFC, so there was some familiarity with the players and coaches.

But seriously, you are correct. If you are satisfied that you had a clear view of all the aspects of the play and call, no need to go for help.

I think we have all had times where we thought of a snappy response, but fortunately kept quiet. One time I was calling a high school baseball game in a very small central school in the sticks. On a close play, fan yelled out "that was a bush league call." I just spread my hands out and looked at the surrounding countryside and smiled. I think the fans got the message.

Glad we don't have the balloons that pop up over our heads with what we're thinking.

Rundown between 3B & home, runner dives back to 3B, fielder dives too, I'm at a perfect 90 degree angle to see a constant 2-3" of daylight between glove and foot.
DC, absolutely convinced of a tag (in the 1B dugout, so she's watching from 3B line extended), comes out begging me to ask for help (from my partner, also behind the play).

"Coach, I'll ask, but there's nothing he can tell me that'll convince me I didn't see daylight the entire time."

I guess the only bad part was when partner showed up uninvited to the conversation & said "I had no tag either"...