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And this and these people are prime examples of The Establishment, a minority conclave that is one of the greatest challenges to us as umpires (and other sports officials). The games – whether they be baseball, football, basketball, hockey, softball, volleyball, quidditch, or competitive basket weaving – change. They evolve. The correlating rules are not static, but instead dynamic. We often confuse “absolute” for “static”, and “relative” for “dynamic”. The Rules are to be referenced and applied absolutely, but they themselves grow, evolve, and adapt in relation to the game they govern dynamically. The way in which these adaptations are made through a duly designated (or elected) governing body are done through a particular process (sometimes, we’re not privy to), and when they are implemented, they are done for the benefit of Rules across the the breadth and range of their applications. Now, can a state adopt these Rules wholesale, or piecemeal? Yes, certainly, they are empowered to do so. Can individual organizations (such as USA Baseball, or Triple Crown) use these Rules, and selectively countermand or negate specific sections (such as catcher’s two-piece masks, or Mercy Rules, or defensive conferences)? Yes, certainly, they have done so for years. If these organizations countermand, or selectively apply these Rules codecies, they are often doing so for the benefit of their own organization, most often in terms of efficiency and efficacy. Here’s what is concerning – if the State of Pennsylvania is ignoring or refusing to apply this Rule, is there a reason for efficacy or efficiency for them doing so? Better yet, did they poll their constituency – the umpires within their association – as to if the Rule should be applied or negated? Sounds like they didn’t, and it just became “someone not liking it”.

And he's either stepping towards home of first base. Hence the 45° point. Watch out guys. I've had a chromebook for 4 years and this is the first time I've been able to figure out how to insert a degree symbol.

As far as a batter can move and still get hit intentionally.

So, ... at camp over the weekend doing field drills in a field house. The instructor putting the ball in play throws the ball down the first base line and it hits one of the basketball nets that has been raised up out of the way. He says, sorry, do over, but the instructor that's with the umpires in line to work the field says " ok guys, let's say that batted ball hits a bird " fair our foul? I step up right away and say "HANG ON .......the ball hits a bird, ....doesn't it have to be FOWL??!!" LMAO I know, boo hiss, boo hiss !!!

Stop man. You're killing me.

Thanks. Just didn't want to be too dumbfounded when I see it this year at a game.

No. Intentionally getting hit is always a strike. Freezing when the pitch is clearly within the batters box is not considered moving into the pitch. See above post.

I'm well aware. My point is that some were saying that they didn't want the rule to change...wanted it to remain a 2 base award in FED...which is obnoxious. I understand that it was the rule...but it was obnoxious.

According to the book The Official Rules of Baseball Illustrated by David Nemec, the rule requiring a pitcher to step toward a base before throwing was instituted in 1899. “Prior to then pitchers had been free to do just about as they wished in trying to hold runners close to their base, including suddenly snapping a throw to a base while looking elsewhere.” It’s not an unwritten rule in FED either—it’s covered in case book play 6.2.4 Situation B: With R1 on first, F1 attempts a pickoff while stepping at an angle but to the home plate side. RULING: Balk. To comply with the requirement to “step directly toward,” F1 must step to the first-base side of a 45-degree angle between center of pitcher’s plate and between home and first base. (6-2-4b) For OBR the point is not covered in the rules but there is the following from Jim Evans-- OBR: Authoritative Opinion: Evans: “For practical enforcement purposes, stepping directly means stepping within 45° of a direct, straight line to the base. In other words, the pitcher is not stepping more toward a different base than the one to which he is throwing.” (JEA/8:32)

NCAA only. If the pitch was in the box freezing would be allowed but that did not happen. The "or if the batter moves to intentionally get hit" happened and was confirmed by video review.

I think the "or" phrase applied here: "a) If the ball is in the strike zone when it touches the batter, or if the batter moves to intentionally get hit or freezes to allow a pitch that is not within the batter's box to hit him, the ball is dead, it shall be called a strike and the batter is not awarded first base."

Don't see any controversy with this call at all. Batter clearly hit the ball with his elbow/arm.

He's big......AND ORANGE

I feel like you would just get a lot of references to this...

You’re that starved for baseball talk?? Your example is woefully diminutive. I’ve worked 3 of the 4 you listed (finals, at that!), and I do not consider them to be a Mount Rushmore. Perhaps a gift-shop scale model paperweight version of the real thing. If you’re speaking in strictly amateur terms, then @JSam21‘s answer is probably closer to mark. In lieu of the Olympics (which is only carried sporadically by the Summer Games), I might suggest one of the Independent Pro Leagues – such as the Cape Cod Baseball League or the NorthWoods League – or perhaps the American Legion World Series in Shelby, NC. @noumpere is on the right track – just do the best with what games you are in, and put yourself in a good spot for the next one.

I’m guessing you mean at the amateur level? NCAA D1 World Series NCAA D2 World Series Olympics NAIA World Series

I did NOT know that!

There was an old man from Nantucket.......... There was this one coach with a bucket..........