In Game Management Principles Six we discuss ejection for arguing balls and strikes, close plays on the bases, calling a hitter on strikes and coaches bringing up old calls.
EJECTION: ARGUING BALLS AND STRIKES:
- Few things are as calculated to make a coach take control of his players than warning him when you don’t know who the culprit is.
- Another option is find the culprit and make an example out of him
- If you hear “where was it” from the dugout, a couple of times is one too many. depending on who is asking
- If a coach is reasonable and not a jerk, it doesn’t hurt to acknowledge it was in or out or high etc.
- Never acknowledge players. They will all start and join in
- If it persists take down numbers and tell them you are giving them a warning
- Make sure everyone knows that a warning has been given
- If it still persists, ejection is in order. Everyone has been warned and knows it
- Again, not a Hollywood production, just say #22 has been ejected from the game. Then hopefully they won’t charge out off the bench
- If you don’t know who is jabbering, direct your message to the coach. If you do talk directly to them, “#22 I’ve heard enough”
- Never allow a pitcher to come off the mound raising his arms and letting everyone know of his displeasure of your calls
- Don’t run out toward the pitcher. He is the aggressor not you. Warn him quickly or eject him
- If not too flagrant, tell the catcher to talk to the pitcher and calm him down
- Don’t allow a catcher to frame or hold a called ball as to show you up. Tell him to get the ball back to the pitcher. Don’t allow the catcher to jerk pitches back into the strike zone. Talk to the catcher. If it persists, eject him. Dust off the plate and look him in the eye and tell him to knock it off. Take care of this without anyone knowing it. Let the manager or coach know in between innings that he is liable to be ejected.
EJECTION: CLOSE PLAYS ON THE BASES:
- If the runner or fielder is upset with your call way too much
- Never stand around like your proud of your call. Walk or jog away so the fielder or base runner comes after you
- Then they look like the aggressor. Sometimes they won’t pursue the issue
- Make sure they don’t become adamant. Tell them to stop, calm down and then you can talk
- If they are heated, look them straight in the eye and wait 20 seconds before saying anything.
- If it is a coach, let him run out of gas. When they calm down, ask them “now do you want to listen to me”. You usually will be able to have a conversation
EJECTION: CALLING A HITTER OUT ON STRIKES:
- If you call a hitter out on strikes and he has to walk to the first base dugout, take a step toward the third base dugout or vice versa
- If he comes after you, he looks like the aggressor and you look like you are trying to avoid a problem
- If the batter makes a comment about a third called strike under his breath, ignore it at first. If he persists and is in your face, run him
- If he comments twice tell him you heard him the first time and that’s enough
- If he persists, eject him. Everyone knows he got himself ejected
EJECTION: COACHES BRINGING UP OLD CALLS:
- What if a coach brings up a call that happened the game before
- Stop him in his tracks
- Let him know you are not going to talk about a call from the past
- This is another game and that game and play are over. If he wants to talk about a play in the present game – fine
- Otherwise the conversation is over
- If he persists just walk away
- If he continues give him a warning
- If that doesn’t work, eject him from the game
EJECTION: PARTNER NEEDS TO INTERVENE:
- If two players, coaches, etc. are arguing with your partner, intervene. You take one, he takes the other
- Partner needs to get the offender off the field
- The ejecting umpire clears the scene
- You must think in the heat of the moment, it is not easy
- You need to get in between and ease the offender away
