Pitcher gestures/ body language

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Jul 13, 2020
14
3
Can a ump eject a pitcher for body language /gesture/or facial expression. My daughter is a 12u pitcher. This past weekend she had a ump warn her and threatened to ejected her cause he said she was taunting him over his calls. He even told the coach that he would not call another strike even if they were, till she stopped taunting him. I seen the whole game, one time she did a small hand gesture, she might have smiled. She was frustrated at that point cause she was right down the middle and he still called them balls.
 
Mar 13, 2017
50
18
Can a ump eject a pitcher for body language /gesture/or facial expression. My daughter is a 12u pitcher. This past weekend she had a ump warn her and threatened to ejected her cause he said she was taunting him over his calls. He even told the coach that he would not call another strike even if they were, till she stopped taunting him. I seen the whole game, one time she did a small hand gesture, she might have smiled. She was frustrated at that point cause she was right down the middle and he still called them balls.
Ejections are judgement calls and when you get an ump with a fragile ego dangerous combo. But yes she can be ejected for those reasons.
 
Dec 15, 2018
809
93
CT
Just my opinion on how umpire could / should handle (I'm sure some more experienced will have different opinions):

An occasional wince or smirk is natural... If it was something persistent - say, more than twice in an inning, or twice in a row, or something throughout the game, I would say something. At 12U, probably would address the coach first. 14U and up, address the player. Now, once you say something (give a warning), the next time is it. You're pretty much committed to ejection. (and I wouldn't say "this is a warning". You say, "coach, we're not putting up with that today, that's it", or "Sally, we're not arguing balls and strikes today, no more").

If it was verbal, or overly demonstrative, immediately address it with "warning" to player, and explanation to coach.
 
Jul 13, 2020
14
3
Just my opinion on how umpire could / should handle (I'm sure some more experienced will have different opinions):

An occasional wince or smirk is natural... If it was something persistent - say, more than twice in an inning, or twice in a row, or something throughout the game, I would say something. At 12U, probably would address the coach first. 14U and up, address the player. Now, once you say something (give a warning), the next time is it. You're pretty much committed to ejection. (and I wouldn't say "this is a warning". You say, "coach, we're not putting up with that today, that's it", or "Sally, we're not arguing balls and strikes today, no more").

If it was verbal, or overly demonstrative, immediately address it with "warning" to player, and explanation to coach.
But could you ejected a pitcher for a smile
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
When I was HC for 12U Team ump came over and warned me they would eject the P if they did not settle down. I went out and talked to the P. Liked the ump by the way, did a lot of our games.

Never looked up rule but I am pretty sure ump can throw any player out for some reason or another.

The P will probably see the ump again, not good to get on their bad side.
 
Jun 22, 2008
3,731
113
Did the ump have a reason? No idea, none of us were there to see what your daughter did or didnt do. Not saying the umpire was right or wrong, but pretty much you want those close calls it is best not to antagonize the umpire. The pitcher coach on my daughters team used to tell the pitchers the first rule of pitching was not to show emotion or that they were frustrated. Always told them if they needed to smile or make a face or something of the sort to make sure they had turned away from the umpire before doing it.
 
Jul 13, 2020
14
3
When I was HC for 12U Team ump came over and warned me they would eject the P if they did not settle down. I went out and talked to the P. Liked the ump by the way, did a lot of our games.

Never looked up rule but I am pretty sure ump can throw any player out for some reason or another.

The P will probably see the ump again, not good to get on their bad side.
I tell you all she did was smile. I can understand if she was out there acting a fool. But we been playing travel ball for 5 years. This first time ever to see this ump, not all umps are great.
 
Jul 13, 2020
14
3
Did the ump have a reason? No idea, none of us were there to see what your daughter did or didnt do. Not saying the umpire was right or wrong, but pretty much you want those close calls it is best not to antagonize the umpire. The pitcher coach on my daughters team used to tell the pitchers the first rule of pitching was not to show emotion or that they were frustrated. Always told them if they needed to smile or make a face or something of the sort to make sure they had turned away from the umpire before doing it.
Yes I get it. I understand if she was acting a fool. But no way a ump can eject a player for smiling. Not all umps are great, some are jerks. And this ump let parents get away everything. He was just being a jerk and taken it out on the girls. He wasn't a good ump, after the tournament our girls were walking to dugout to clear it. And he straight up says do you have something to say to me. They didn't say a word to him.
 

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