Situations that require a little extra emphasis

[grayhawk]

Was thinking about this situation that happened in a game a couple of years ago:

 

R1, no outs.  I'm BU.  Pitch comes in low, and skips in the dirt right before the batter hits a fly ball that is caught by F6 (think Vladimir Guerrero).  As you can imagine, this could be a confusing situation for the players and coaches because they may not be sure if it was a fly ball or a high chopper.  When F6 caught it, I came up with a loud, "That's a catch!  The batter is out! He's out!"  I wanted to be sure that everyone (especially R1, and the infielders) knew the status of the ball.  Coaches were a little confused at first, but quickly accepted my ruling when I explained it to them.

 

This begs the question, what other situations require a little "extra" from us, whether it be verbally or mechanically, to ensure a level playing field?  A couple of others I can think of:

 

- Declared IFF is dropped, or is allowed to drop untouched ("Batter's out!  He's still out!")

- Check swing on a 3-2 pitch with R1, R1 & R2 or bases loaded (go immediately to our partner)

- Verbal on a non-obvious U3K 

 

Others?

[bam]

CI

[ALStripes17]

HBP that grazes a batter (non obvious)

[renegadewolf]

RLI, scoring a run(s) on a time play, any kind of bang bang play, foul balls that aren't perfectly obvious they are foul, such as skipping to just the outside of the bag

[FleasOf1000Camels]

Pulled foot on a force play.

[Richvee]

"That's nothing" on tangle/untangle in front of the plate

 

"catch/no catch" on shoestring attempts

 

Out call for out of the basepath, especially with other runners on. 

[Jocko]

On the transfer

possible pulled foot when you have him on the bag

"YESSIR! HE HELD THE BAG!!!!! (pointing before banging the out)

[Specks]

More than 1 runner on a base and fielder tagging both. "You, OUT!" pointing to the other "You SAFE!"

[Thunderheads]

my absolute favorite .............

when a guy takes a slightly inside pitch and leans his elbow-guard into it .........

 

"TIME, TIME!! .........RIGHT HERE (point emphatically at the batters box) ....YOU STAY RIGHT HERE... ....   ball 2" ....

 

Not a peep .........and a smirk from the batter!

[zoops]

Dropped 3rd strike with 1st base occupied w/less than 2 outs.  I point at the batter and yell "he's out."  Usually stops them from running to first and also gives the catcher the message, although he should know.  Not sure if it's the "right" thing to do by the book but it seems like the right thing to do in amateur baseball.

[Majordave]

In re: D3K with <2 outs/1B occupied. "BATTER'S OUT!" X 3. With a hammer fist held high in air.

This is no doubt stating the obvious but.....Any whacker/close play demands an emphatically called and signaled "OUT!" or "SAFE!"

Outs I get to "punch the midget" as it was taught to me.

Safe calls get either two or three safe mechanics or a long and exaggerated arms held outstretched and a lean back. Depending upon how froggy I'm feeling.