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therefump

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Everything posted by therefump

  1. Even if working a 2 man crew, if you turn your back to the field (and proper cleaning is to show your butt to the fielders, not the fans), you MUST call time even if no runners on base. I see no other way. Worse, if you're only one working, you must call time if you turn your back on the fielders. It kinda looks stupid walking backwards to the plate. Case in point, I had the old "hidden ball" trick tried on me with some 12 yr olds. I had called TIME and turned to put the ball back in play and they tried to pull it. The locals went nuts but the HC understood once I explained to him about Time/Play.:(
  2. therefump

    Jewelry rule

    Oh gosh, just what we need. Don't pass this on to the HS boards. Someone will come up with it. American Legion is the only league I know where it's mandatory that "unless you're born with it you can't wear it during the game".
  3. I've absoutely seen this with catchers at the lower levels (14-15yr) and it takes a lot of adjusting to get comfortable enough to call strikes. I've also seen where batters lean over the plate when I'm in the slot. Actually, I tossed a high school coach last year for whining/complaining too much about the other team leaning over the plate. :violin:I'm old school and believe that if a batter is stupid enough to put his body in the strike zone then he's stupid enough to get HBP and get it called a strike. The coaches pitcher was AFRAID to throw inside. I heard him say it to the coach.
  4. Good replies so far. I should've mentioned that I did talk to him the next day before our run-in. He didn't want to hear it. That's why I decided to not work with him after he blew up at me on the field. I talked with our assignor and we both agreed that he's carrying his problems on the field. He had a long chat with him. That's how I found out about the coach's comments about me in that Legion game. Coach said I handled the entire situation professionally. I may start working with him shortly. He's been calling and talking about his games with me.
  5. Ok, Let's make sure we understand that we're talking about 15-16 yr old thru the over 30 leagues. They're all travel teams so they have been playing baseball for sometime. Situation, nobody on base (or R1....doesn't matter), and Batter hits a single to F7 or F8 for arguments sake. Ball is thrown to F6 who has come out to retrieve the ball. As he begins running to the infield he calls for TIME. As a BU I feel it is unnecessary and typically will tell him there is no reason to call time. If he complains I tell him this is not LL any more and just throw the ball to the pitcher. The question is really from the PU (multiple guys) complaining to me in between innings telling me to give it to him since all play has completed. WHY, I ask? They tell me I'm just busting the defense's balls so to speak or "it's only fair". Thoughts?
  6. I'm doing a Connie Mac (15-16 yr) game a few weeks ago and the home team is getting pounded. Of course, I'm behind the plate begging for the 10 run rule to take effect. Coach changes pitchers twice to no avail in same inning. It's a walk fest even with a liberal strike zone (against my grain). Finally, new pitcher comes in and throws 2 warm ups. First pitch ends up bouncing 20 feet in front of the plate. He screams at the HC "I can't pitch with this hole on the mound". Visiting 3rd base coach comes running up to me and says "He's gotta pitch to at least one batter". HUH? I tell him quietly he's a) winning by at least 12 runs we're playing OBR so he's wrong. He tries to argue but I send him back to 3rd. I later find out that he's applying CYO (Catholic Youth Org) rules for whatever reason. I had to roar when I heard that. What's he doing up at that level is beyond me.
  7. Hey y'all, Do you act like this guy? I have a fellow I work a lot of games (probably 100 a year). We do everything from Connie Mac (14+ yr) through Perky League (16 yrs to ???? (it's semipro). He's very knowledgeable about rules. He loves the game. HOWEVER, here’s the problem. The guy is going through some very very serious personal problems right now. It’s affecting his game, severely. Last week, while doing a very competitive American Legion game his strike zone was all over the place. He’s not like that, normally. Both pitchers complained letting me hear them curse at him when in the B or C position. Quietly, I told each first base coach that I did not want to show up the pitchers but that in no certain terms was I going to allow it to continue. They concurred and it stopped for the most part…..the cursing under their breath that is. Still, the game was competitive. During the 6th inning with the score tied and the home team with runners on 2nd and 3rd with 2 outs, my partner calls a batter out on a called 3rd strike. Batter is furious. As I’m walking to get water I hear a bat and helmet thrown. It’s the batter going to his dugout. The visiting HC immediately complains to the PU. I hear the yelling and turn to see what’s going on. The PU is getting into a shouting match with the visiting HC. He’s complaining that the player needs to be ejected for throwing equipment. He goes further saying it’s not the spirit of Legion baseball (meaning, the code of conduct read before every game). My partner immediately chases after him bating him saying “what did you say, what did you say”. He went from 0 to 60 mph in no time. My partner acts like an irate coach getting in the coaches face. Worse, he slightly bumps the coach who immediately turns to me and complains. I politely pull my partner away and tell the HC I didn’t see the thrown bat but I’ll watch for it. It was ugly. I can’t throw my partner. In the next inning the visiting HC asks me to put my name and my partners name in his scorebook. I comply and w/o looking up I tell him that I understood his argument and would be vigilant for the rest of the game. He tries to pursue the argument but I tell him to “let it go” and walk away. Finally, we go extra innings and the home team wins it by 1 in the bottom of the 9th. Here we go again. My partner starts chirping at the HC and an argument breaks out. I have to drag him off the field. It was embarrassing. Fortunately, the HC complains to my assignor about the situation but says I “acted very professionally given the situation”. Well, 2 days later while we did a Connie Mac game, they started with 9 players and one left sick. We agree that they can play with 8 but when the kid’s position who left comes up it’s an automatic out. Other team gets the Commissioner on the phone and he wants the game killed. I try and stop the game (I’m BU) but my partner starts shouting with me to get back into position. I ALMOST walked off the field. We did stop the game at the end of the inning. I have refused to work with him since. What would you do?
  8. Larry, I'm suprised. I've not posted much this year due to time constraints but this seems a little harsh for you given your past posts. I have a partner who threw a Legion coach for "balk" abuses about 3 weeks ago. He would not leave the bench. He promptly killed the game after giving him several "outs" to leave the field. Who got punished? The kids. In this case, the coach punished both teams for not leaving the field. In your case, I believe, you punished both teams. No winners there. Thoughts? Roy
  9. I gotta believe that unless you're playing Pro rules (no modifications other than something like American Legion's slide rule, then the runner has got to give up or avoid the fielder. Why was the BU not watching the play to the conclusion? How many times has it been said ALWAYS stay with the baseball. :jerkit:
  10. I wholeheartedly agree with the above. The Catcher is your friend unless he is stupid. It's a symbiotic relationship. We need each other. Great comment.
  11. I agree with the above quote but insist to the point of yelling to the players to "give him room, fellas" works. That gets their attention. Almost happened twice in my career. Caught me by suprise both times but I averted it, thankfully.
  12. Hey guys, Sorry I haven't been posting. Great to see all the usual suspects posting correctly (well, most of the time). Anyway, I agree with the No call.
  13. I happen to agree with the B position esp. at higher levels. However, you'll get screeching if there's a play at 3rd (pickoff, etc.). Happened to me last year but I still got it right.
  14. Hokie-ump BINGO. I could not verbalize it any better.
  15. Very cool. If I could afford it I'd fly out. Enjoy it!
  16. Complain to Al Gore..............
  17. Guys, All GREAT comments. Thanks. I'm suprised this board is not buzzing about the other series as well. I really think that the ratings need to come from the crew chiefs and percolate upward. This crap of rotation, etc. sucks as we've seen. On the other hand, it's amazing the number of blown calls! You'd think the MLB Umpires would have more pride in their work. I agree that you do NOT need 6 umpires. I've read comments from them that it really goofs up their routine. I have worked 3/4 man games and it puts me out of sorts because I want to do toooooo much. It's like taking Ryan Howard (HR swinger) and telling him to hit opposite field (aka slow it down). Anyway, we're in this together (MLB and US). Hopefully, they'll turn out a better product for the NL/AL Championship series. Roy
  18. Warren, I've been in your position and gave coaches way to much rope. You correctly pointed out that it's fall ball and cut him some slack. I've actually heard that statement "You gotta do..." but you can't toss on that alone. You drew the line in the sand and he ultimately crossed it. A footnote here: nothing personal but since I joined in the spring I've noticed that a lot of comments focus on "throwing 'em". I pointed this out during summer ball. Around here, if I ejected as much as recommended I would be blackballed from a lot of leagues. Question: what's your percentage of ejections/# of games?
  19. Anyone notice the number of "misques" the crew working the Phillies/Rockies games. For example, Game 1: 3 bad calls (2 for phillies 1 for rockies) Game 3: 2 bad calls on bases and 1 missed balk by Madson (PHL) Game 4: missed call at first base allowing PHL runner to stay I don't like to criticize the Pros but for the playoffs this is a bit much. Also, the union changed to rules for who gets to do playoffs. I am not 100% sure but I believe it's not as much on merit vs. seniority. Maybe this is the issue. Full disclosure, I am a diehard Phillies fan but I try and be objective. Thoughts?
  20. The Archdiocese of Philadelphia and PIAA (PA Schools) mandated that we get 3 clearances: 1) PA State Police 2) PA Dept of Public Welfare and 3) FBI Federal Criminal History Record. The total comes to $90.00 not $100 as I originally posted. USAA Hockey did it for us in the past (up through 2002). What really bugs me is that you don't have to pay if you've been grandfathered into the program. So, if I was some kind of perve and I've been doing this for 3+ years then I sneak right through. I don't understand it. Further, the cost is way overblown.
  21. Good points. However, I have been in a few games in my 28 years where I've called games based on the kids screwing around. IMHO when the kids on one side have decided it's over and are making the kids on the other side look like idiots (intentional or not) then it's time to end the game. Yea, I'll finish the game under protest on another day of the loosing coach wants to go through that pain but unless both sides are trying to play I'm going to kill it. We're talking HS, Legion, over 30, Sr. Connie Mac, etc. Not little league. Roy
  22. I'm almost ready to toss in the towel on the expense side. I could care less about HS Baseball in PA because of this. The only reason I may go through with things is because I do CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) because I went through the program. I just think it's one more expense we don't need. If Pennsylvania wants a background check then do it. Don't pass it on to us. Roy
  23. Question for all of you..... PIAA is forcing us to go through background checks. STOP, and finish reading before replying. Those of us who were certified before 2007 are exempt. Those of us who lapsed (myself included) for 2 yrs are required to pay approx. $100 for FBI, State, etc. background checks. Personally, I've had to go through this with USAA Hockey waaaaaayyyyy back in 1999. No big deal. They paid for it. For PIAA and Catholic School baseball............why should we incur the expense? I am all for background checks. I just think that given the expense, the league(s) could get a better discount. We're already burdened enough with our expenses, why should we foot the additional $$$$. Thoughts? Roy
  24. There is a rule if you read up (I'm not going to quote it but it's after section 9) that you can call a game based on "making a Travesty of the game". I've heard some techno-umpires claim that it's gotta be something like running the bases backwards, etc. HOWEVER, if you've got a blowout and the team is joking around (who's winning) being stupid then you've got an enforcement of the rule. Remember, it's a judgement call. Have at it Brian................. :yippie:
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