Do game officials have too much atonomy?
For one of his team's most important games of the season, California
High School baseball coach Tony Nieto will not be at the Condors' game
against El Rancho today (Friday).
And it's not because he's disinterested in the outcome.
Nieto engaged in a discussion with the plate umpire late in Wednesday's
Del Rio League encounter with El Rancho, and ultimately was ejected from
the game.
There can be some assumptions offered as to why Nieto was thrown out,
and while not all of the conversation was audible to
onlookers/listeners, it did not appear Nieto's tone was threatening nor
imtimidating.
In fact, he was given the heave-ho while he was returning to his team's
dugout, apparently for something he said after the umpire felt the
discussion had been terminated.
In any case, the penalty for a player or coach being ejected is that the
person must sit out the team's next game, whether it be regular season
or post-season playoff.
In Nieto's situation, it did not appear the umpire had an ax to grind,
or any personal agenda.
That is not always the case.
And therein lies the point to all this.
Game officials rarely are held accountable for their actions. Game over,
they often are seen sprinting to their lockerroom or cars.
Coaches are not supposed to question their authority, their competence
or their performance.
If they do, it most often is considered the sourgrapes of a poor loser
and bad sportsmanship. If the evaluation is made more publicly than just
personally, the coach often receives an official reprimand.
In Nieto's case, there seemed to be justification for at least
questioning at some level a pair of the umpire's decisions late in the
game. Nieto didn't appear to be belligerent in his approach nor animated
in his delivery.
At some point, perhaps a warning would have been in order, but ejection,
at that time in the game, at that point in the season, seems more over
reaction than functional.
Especially when Nieto was walking away.
It would have been more prudent had the umpire merely turned and walked
away, also.
Coach Tony Nieto was wrong and anybody that says otherwise doesn't know him like I do. He has always been a show boat and complains way too much, from his years at Schurr, USC, and Billings Montana. That is why he didn't succeed in any level, because he has a bad temper and often got him in trouble.
The ls coach who else .............
Coach Nieto is a very passionate and intense coach who will fight for his players. a good coach will go out there and let the umpire know how he feels about calls. i was in the stands and could hear the conversation and i can assure you that there were no profanities by either nieto or the umpire. nieto simply told the ump to get it together becuase there was a lot on the line with that game. too many parents on cal's side that constantly complain.
ps. i have no ties to cal high or any other local high school...just a local resident who loves to watch some good high school ball
Im sory, im not sure I know which area coach you are talking about? Can you be more specific?
GROW UP... COACH NIETO IS A VERY GOOD COACH JUST LIKE HIS BROTHER ANDY AT BISHOP BOTH ARE GREAT COACHES UNLIKE OTHER AREA COACHES THAT ARE FULL OF THEMSELVES AND WE ALL KNOW WHO THAT IS AND CAL WILL GET INTO CIF AGAIN SO DEAL WITH IT SO CAL HATERS GROW UP.... PARENTS GET A LIFE LET THE KIDS PLAY BALL KUDOS TO YOU ROGER .........
Thats what nieto gets he cries on every call, every other inning he is out there arguing something. This might be a ploy to distract the opposing pitcher by slowing the game down, but whatever the intent he deserves what he gets.
Nieto was arguing balls and strikes, you can't do that in high school, college, or the pros. Everyone knows that!!!!
THANKS "300" FOR GETTING THE OFFICIALS BACK! I OFFICIATE BASKETBALL AND FOOTBALL AT THE DIVISION III/NAIA LEVEL, AS WELL AS JC AND HS. OFFICIALS PUT IN 40-80 HRS OF TRAINING PER YEAR, AS WELL AS, ATTENDING SUMMER CAMPS AND TRAININGS TO IMPROVE THEIR SKILLS. THE COST OF THESE CAMPS DIFFER BY SPORT, BUT RANGE FROM $100 TO $1000. THE AVERAGE OFFICIAL MAKES $600 A SEASON, NOW TAKE AWAY GAS, UNIFORM AND EQUIPMENT, AND FOOD, YOUR LOOKING AT A NEGATIVE PROFIT! SO ALL OF US OFFICIATE FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME IN WHICH WE OFFICIATE. I CHALLENGE ANYONE WHO QUESTIONS AN OFFICIALS CALL, TO FOLLOW "300'S" COMMENTS AND COME OFFICIATE THE SPORT OF YOUR CHOICE.....LETS SEE IF ITS AS EASY FOR YOU IN THE GAME , THAN IN THE STANDS....
My guess: F-bomb walking away, or some oether remark that crossed over the line. Coach Nieto is a quiet and nice guy, but he's intense and is always in the umpires' heads. He could get under an ump's skin, for sure. Hey, that's baseball tradition- Coach Nieto is not alone, and given the losing streak they've been on, I'm sure he was frustrated.
With Cal tied with Whittier at 7-6 and their series left next week, will the Condors be able to pull it together and stop the surging Cards and maintain a CIF berth? Should be a great series, along with La Serna-El Rancho.
Coaches are given comment/rating cards for each game. They can also appeal ejections - but obviously only for the upcoming contest. The accountability is not at the same level as you see in the NFL, NBA, etc - but you still see mistakes at that level. The NFL officials are graded, those grades are what determine playoff positions. What type of accountability are you hoping for? Would it be better if the officials stayed around after the game to 'talk' to the completely reasonable, emotionally controlled, objective fans? They do not have aUtonomy, they are part of a team of officials. Remember, anyone can be an official! Just go to the CIF SS website and apply - they are in need of personnel. Looking forward to the new stripes...