Adios, Jones!

Second game of a 12U doubleheader, top of the 4th inning, a 3-3 score. Leadoff batter rips a line drive that splits the outfielders and skips to the wall in left centerfield. On his way to second base, the batter/runner steps over first base. No reaction from me as I carry the runner to an apparent stand-up double. All four defensive coaches realize the runner missed the bag, defensive players acknowledge such and, while the ball is still in play, toss said ball to the first baseman. “He’s out!” Offensive team then becomes offensive.

That, ladies and gentleman, is how, after 100+ games, I ejected my first manager.

A few points for coaches to consider here. First, an umpire doesn’t want to make that call. The player did a good job of hitting and no one wants to see him penalized. He won the battle with the pitcher and to take him off the field for such a silly mistake is uncomfortable.

Second, umpires know to look for runners touching bases. In fact, a leadoff double is one of the easiest situations in which to recognize a missed base. Ball hit to the gap, umpire runs toward infield and, as he pivots, he watches for the runner to touch first base -- and check for possible obstruction. That’s textbook. It’s actually unusual for a runner to miss a base but it’s even more uncommon for the defense to realize it. In youth baseball they never notice. Not only did the opposing team see it, the home plate umpire got it as well.

Anyway, first base coach jumps up and down, points to a corner of the bag and screams that his guy touched it. “Sorry coach, he didn’t” is my reply. I head back to my “A” position and the manager, coaching third base, is now screaming. “Horrrrible call! That’s horrrrible! I cannot believe you made that call! What are you thinking?!”

“Coach, that’s enough!” This manager had to be spoken to during the previous game for his staff’s behavior and apologized to me before the start of this game.

Well, the manager continued his ranting.  I walked over to his side of the field to calm the situation but it didn’t take him long to get himself ejected. The game was quiet after that and the visiting team ended up winning comfortably. Manager missed a good effort.

As I’ve told numerous coaches and parents, these kids will play many, many games and they are going to forget individual opponents and even entire games -- and tournaments. Get ejected or tossed from a park? The player will most certainly remember THAT one.