Airborne

26 yrs and never had this happen, R1 on 2nd, 2 and 2 count on B1, strike three in the dirt that batter swings at. I hammer the strike and then give the safe signal. Batter thinks it's strike 2 because the board had a 3-1 count. Ball is blocked by catcher and shoots up first base line. Catcher gets the ball and proceeded toward the batter and I thought he would tag him,but last minute turns and throws it back to the pitcher. The runner on second stayed there. The batter returned to the box and the catcher squatted behind him. I was still up the line about 6 feet with my mask tucked under my left arm. The boys were ready to resume play but I have a live ball and strike three. What would you do at this point? If you call time to explain the situation to either coach, then you can't let the batter run. This may be the only time that I've used the old umpire makes decision on play not addressed.

Need a rule clarified Runner on 1st no outs, batter swings and misses 3rd strike, catcher bobbles ball, batter takes off for first gets catcher to throw to first, runner on 1st takes off for second, ball is over thrown to first, runner ends up on third, batter is out , coach argues that the batter made the catcher throw to first even though he is out, wants the runner to either advance 1 base or go back to first, explained that runner advances at own risk to be put out and batter is automatically out and the catcher did not have to throw to first, what is the rule and was the call right

Was looking back at old films of different umpiring schools and then watching some great baseball in Florida on vacation, noticed that umpiring has changed a lot in some of the mechanics. When I went to school they drilled in us the positioning of the hammer, the called strike, how to pivot on the turns. indicator timing, when the other ump goes out to observe a tough catch, and the punch out. Noticed that the new kids do not do the hammer to the side, but now do it in front like punching some one, they no longer carry indicators on the field to help their partners, and some home plate umps don't carry any indicator at all. Called strikes have no hammer motion and you no longer give a strike sound with a ugh, or ahh but say strike and point. No more scissors or one knee in the box. The home plate umpire has all catches, fair and fouls and his partner never leaves the dirt even on a trap ball call. Has made all umps look like robots and the crowd notices that the umps have no emotion. Maybe I am just old fashion but umpiring is suppose to also be fun for the players and for the umps, when you look like robots it does not look like fun.

On the base line outside the foul line yes, that was the first time inside the lines, how about the protest must it be before the next pitch?

Situation, bottom of the 7th the opposing team is winning by one run. I am observing two of my younger umpires in this game. As they get ready to take the field the coach calls a huddle along side his base line with all his players. The team takes the field and does their warm ups, as the catcher throws the ball to second the coach walks to the diamond pulls his team into a huddle including the outfield. As he walks off the field the umpire informs the coach he is charged a visit, which I agree with, coach says it is not a visit. He gets to the side line and argues with my ump, says they might protest the game, but never says he wants to protest. Was this a visit, on a protest must it be protested before the next pitch. I remember this in a major league game and they called it a visit.

Great site one of the best I have found in over my 40 years of umpiring. Mind still wants to but body is slowly saying time to slow down.

DAV old Airborne back in the 70's