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Please. We are humans and its an amateur game. Go ahead and say hi and acknowledge them.

I cringe if a partner does the “if you have a question about a call” speech during a high school or decent travel game. They should know it. Assume they do. If they don’t, you’ll figure it out at that time. I think it’s demeaning. They don’t give us a sentence or two on how to umpire while at the plate meeting. It also essentially implies that you’ll have a discussion or two that game. Is that typical for this guy? When you need to argue today, here’s how to do it… Yes, even at the varsity level they’ll mess it up, but it takes a few seconds to fix. As they approach me at the plate…nicely I say something like…”Chris made that call, do you want to ask him about it? Yes, go ahead”

Exactly right! Thank you! My wife and kids have been the biggest supporters of my umpire avocation. She comes to nearly every one of my games if she is able to. I would not have the enjoyment of umpiring if not for the support of my wife and kids. Not only is she my biggest supporter, she is my best evaluator, as well. Many of my partners over the years know how good she is at evaluating, and they often ask for her to evaluate them when we're on games, too. I understand there is a time and place for it, and so does she. But when I go to the fence to get a drink of water, I'm happy to say hi to wife, kids, friends that took the time out to see me work. Many of my umpire colleagues wish their spouses would come to their games and get the support that I have been blessed with receiving. How many umpires do you know that their wives show no interest, and often little support for any of their hobbies? Probably plenty, I know I do. You're damn right I'm going to acknowledge her at my games.

I emphatically concur with you, @Thatsnotyou. Exactly. A well-regarded colleague disclosed, “There are two types of coaches, those that know (how to approach an umpire), and those that don’t. Those that do, you just insulted. Those that don’t, they’re not going to listen and change their ways anyway.”

Illinois adopted a 2-hour time limit on all JV and under games. Of course, most schools are still only paying $60 because of that. (Run rule here is 15 after 4, 10 after 5.) My personal best was a full 7-inning varsity game in 1:18. The home team scored 1 quick run in the first inning and NO runner made it to second base after that: double-plays, thrown out stealing, or 3rd out of the inning. Pitchers were not wasting pitches and batters were swinging at the first thing they saw. I never went to C after the first inning. Doubt I will ever see anything like that again.

This. It's a judgment call. Your judgment. Like any judgment call, teams are free to disagree or agree as they see fit. If the HC comes out to talk to you about the call and you aren't certain of what you saw, you could call a crew conference to seek any additional information that might help you in your decision making on your call. Yelling across the field to your partner puts them on the spot for making a call that they should not have to make. Those calls, typically a pulled foot, belong to a base umpire. If the umpire is not sure on the call, see above.

My opinion, #1 is the ONLY acceptable answer. I'm not fully reading your position or angle in the OP, but if you know you got caught at a bad angle/got blocked out/etc., you should never have an issue going to your partner if asked (politely and properly). I vehemently disagree with the use of "discreet signals." People see it and see what is happening. If you don't see your partner's signal or don't go with it, somebody will see it. Why sow the seeds?

There is no such thing as interfering with an umpire. So, no, that can't be called. There is no applicable rule in any code. This is one of those things in youth ball that newer umpires get surprised by. Kids do dumb stuff. We need to be aware of the ODB/scored runner and shoo him away if he gets too close. Umpires who are on a knee for plays at the plate limit what they can do in this regard (one of dozens of reasons not to be on their knees). Ordinarily, I don't lay hands on players (at any level), but this situation is an exception to that.

It’s funny how one poster says, “Launching the bat in the air like that is not only disrespectful but also dangerous...not to mention childish”. Then says, “If I'm ole miss he's getting thrown at tomorrow”.

Consider the situation where PU has dropped back on 1BLX...... Fly ball is beyond 1B when F4, F3, F9 and BR are all either on the line or converging on the line. PU is potentially looking through F2 and all the above to try to determine whether or not the ball has landed fair or foul. Without moving off the extension, it is likely that his view is, at best, compromised, or, more so, blocked completely. The status of the ball is always the first priority. If PU moves up the line to a place where his view of the ball is far better, his credibility and accuracy will both be improved significantly. Our priorities, as I have been taught, are in this order: Fair/foul Catch/No catch Out/safe Everything else The tag at 3B clearly is less important than the status of the ball.

I am confident that is intended to be a lightly used accent color. But hey if enough people have interest in looking like the Savannah Bananas I'll see what I can influence. @ousafe that is already planned in the general design parameters. Our higher end shirts currently us a neck lining with our FNX fabric which lowers ambient temperature and wicks moisture faster then our polyester fabric. These shirts will have a similar neck/collar lining and sweatband. Something similar may be found under the arms as well.

This may be why I'm in Category #2. I only do LL and have only worked solo twice in 10 years. I do like different looks but I don't have the patience for being a clothes horse. I've significantly downsized what I lug around. Out of respect for the game, I bring multiple jerseys (and my plate gear) to every game no matter what we've agreed to in the pre-24hr+ sync up. I don't leave everything in my car 24/7 for multiple reasons so it's a hassle. Heck, I'm annoyed at how many dang hats I have and most of them were free from the leagues.

Thank you for letting us know you are fallible champ.

Your gut told you to go with INT with the live action view you had. You saw everything you needed to see, you were positioned where you needed to be, and you made the call. If you didn't have (much) protesting or complaining, I'd say you made the right call. I'm my own worst enemy in situations like yours. I'll replay a scenario over and over in my head, wondering if I made the right call. But I've come to realize that my memory of a certain play isn't as good as the live action. If it helps, based on your description, I would've call INT as well.

Yes, order of occurrence. BTW, I don't usually verbalize (much less point) "ball's on the ground." I generally don't need to do that: my safe call in such plays is so slow, usually by the time I signal safe, everyone already knows about the ball.

Disclosure: I have a close family member who has lived most of their adult life in a wheelchair following a spinal injury. They have limited use of their hands and no use of their legs. They do not umpire and I would like to offer the following responses: 1) How do you know? Have you seen him work? And we have all seen partners who work games who don't get up the line as they should... 2) How do you know? Have you seen him work? Angle over distance, right? Maybe he doesn't get the ideal distance moving from the plate to get FPSR but, I promise you he gets the angle. 3) How do you know? Have you seen him work? 4) How do you know? Have you seen him work? I promise you...if YOU have thought of all of this, someone in a wheelchair has too. Maybe he doesn't wedge it up as he should. Like all of us, he is doing the best he can and I'm sure like all of us, his first priority is knowing his capabilities and getting himself to where he needs to be and minimize the risk of injury to himself or those on the field. 5) So maybe he doesn't work wet fields. Over the course of a baseball season, I'm sure there are lots of opportunities for him to work under his ideal conditions. 6) Conjecture and speculation...we don't know. Again, maybe he doesn't work turf fields. The bottom line is...people may have questions. People may not understand. People may want to pass judgement. I see a man in a mask, wearing our jacket, and grabbing strikes umpiring a baseball game. As far as I am concerned, that's our brother and I'd take the field with him anytime and I hope all of you feel the same way. ~Dawg

... and a number of cases in LL for that ball being fair - and everyone standing around for a long time as PU blows out their elbow silently pointing fair over and over. 😂

I think this is a perfect example of why big field games--regardless of ruleset, but especially FED--should be two-man crews. BU in C would have heard the trash talk between F6 and R2 and told them to knock it off--and I've done that very thing. On the other hand, I thank you for posting this @Mudisfun--it's good to see how things can go south and how others have handled the situation.

Wow - I opened a can of worms I had no intention of opening. My apologies if I was clumsy enough to be mis-understood. I coached for 10 years at a high level. My son is in his 14th year in the Major Leagues. I umpire in NYC, now in my 16th year. I send a "Rule of the Day" to about 700 umpires mostly in my two associations in NYC but I have people on my email list from 3 foreign countries and about 10 different states. Whenever I write about a call that involves a lot of judgement, I remind us all that we: 1 - get paid to see, then report. If we don't see, we can't let people know what we saw. 2 - there will be times where one umpire's judgement will differ from another's. 3 - we need to judge dispassionately and fairly. For those reasons I often say - Dispense justice as you see fit... Which is what an arbiter does in any sport and in the law. I come to this site a lot to find issues that my umpires need to know about and have nothing but respect for your rules knowledge and the time you put in. Several times in the past, when I could not find an answer to a question asked of me on my own, I've asked it here and have always gotten useful insight which I have passed along citing whichever of you gave me the key to unlocking the problem. No snark intended, and again, I am sorry if it came across that way.

Nope. 60 feet is enough for coaches to get out of the way. They "used to play" you know.

I actually was a BU to a first year PU two weeks ago that had a lodged ball near his bicep. The catcher started looking for it and two to three beats later, the PU lifted his arm and caught the ball in his hand. So I had to call it a lodged ball. I just hope that no one heard me saying 'drop it, drop it, drop it' under my breath during the time it was lodged.

Drill out the rivet and put a new piece of webbing in with a Chicago screw.

You might have a backup with the BU on the tag. He can't help you on foul. You need to get the best look at fair/foul.

I’ll clarify this is poorly written sarcasm and this would be equal to burning money for us 🫠

… because you told a coach “No”, and want the gravitas to substantiate it? Your “morning fiber”? 🥣

Remember this: You are there to umpire a ballgame, not socialize with your family. I would recommend you give your wife and daughter a quick goodbye kiss just before you leave for the field and leave it at that.

That's a bangin' shirt for Saturday night at the Copacabana but, a little too busy for me working a baseball game. Unless of course the baseball game is Saturday night at the park ACROSS THE STREET...from the Copacabana. ~Dawg

+1 I may be limited in what I can wear for FED games, but when I work solo (LL), I like to rock something different.

Last night had one of those "SMH" moments. 2-man, I'm BU. R3, 1 out. Pitcher throws a 58-foot breaking ball that gets by the catcher. R3 breaks for home, F1 scrambles to cover. R3 crosses the plate standing up at the same time F1 sticks his glove out to catch the ball from F2, but doesn't catch it because R3's leg hits F1's glove. PU calls R3 safe. DHC asks for time and asks, "isn't he required to slide?" My partner (a new umpire this year) stuck to his guns. I didn't hear the conversation, but afterwards PU gave another safe sign and we played on.

I like the look of the latest MLB shirts. The contrast under the collar and in the button area are great. I think it would work very well if you were to use that template, but use some different graphics in those areas. (Camo, pink, stars & stripes, etc) The issue with some of those types of shirts that others are putting out is that it’s too much of those things, and they end up looking too gaudy. But just a splash in those 2 areas would be great, along with a more breathable and flexible material than what Smitty is using.

As someone who always loved Ralph McQuarrie's concept art as much as Star Wars . . . I am intrigued by the concepts!

I can say this much... we offered a lot of very different and creative options and the most conservative option was chosen. Heck we even went nuts and lost the polo collar on one of them. It wasn't personally my favorite either, but that's why we really want to get some community input to try and make something folks want to wear.

I'd be interested in seeing new designs, and here are some ideas for colors/designs I'd like to see I'm not a fan of "novelty" shirts, but if navy is going to remain a standard, it needs to be updated (as do the old softball powder blues). @MadMax, break out that image of the navy with red side panels, please! I still would like to see a black with blue side panels. (On a "related, but you didn't ask for my opinion" note: Not a fan of the new LL designs.)

I know we don't expect precious professional prima donna pitchers to do much, but at the level I work, YES, I expect the pitcher to make that play. I have IFF all day and twice on double-header days. I disagree that F4 sliding in to make that play is indicative that NO fielder could have made that catch with ordinary effort . . . it was just indicative that THAT fielder needed extraordinary effort.

. . . and that is why I am conflicted. Every ounce of humanity in me screams, "That is awesome! This dude is a role model!" Every ounce of umpire in me screams, "This is not good. Somebody is going to get hurt." Heck, if it works, it works. It's strange . . .

Your reasoning is correct, no INT, as the runner-fielder contact did not involve the protected fielder. The other option on a batted ball is OBS, which is what this was. Of course, if the BR is retired or the ball is foul, then the OBS is moot. In that case, he returns to the dugout or the plate, as appropriate. As in another recent play where the penalty for OBS lapsed, it's still worth calling it here, not least to communicate to the fielder that he was in the wrong. If the contact was MC, then that's on the player who initiated the contact—someone ran over someone, and we need to know which. In that case, penalize the offender. Because we need to know which, we need to have eyes on it. BU is not primary on this call, though ideally you'd want to see both the runner-fielder contact and the play made by F2. And of course BU has to see the BR touch 1B, which is likely where the contact occurred. So, watch the ball, glance at runners. If contact is imminent, the glance should be extended a bit.

Smart move: While pointing fair, verbalize "That's a fair ball," just loud enough for the catcher and batter to hear you. Works every time.

I had Michael and his partners retrofit my Wilson CP, and I love it. The materials used are superb compared to the original Wilson padding and protection offered is awesome! I’ve taken hits in upper level HS games and College games and have felt nothing except a very weak sounding thud. I’m thrilled with my “new” protector.

What level.. If this is below HS Make the call, call time and then get together with your partner and ask him what he had. If they are 100% sure reverse your call and move on. I personally would rather be wrong but fix the call and get it right than not at that level. HS and above if the DC does not ask it is what it was called and leave it at that. Unless he requests it but then you have every right to say Nope I got it. my 2 cents

Agree with Velho. Few of us dump on posters who ask questions in order to improve. Anyone with an ounce of empathy can recognize someone who's in the painful process of learning from their mistakes. "Dispensing justice" is generally reserved for know-alls, blowhards, and trolls.

NFHS. R3, 1 out. Pitch is delivered, ticks off the top of the catcher's glove, and lodges got stuck because of my obvious interference between my elbow and my CP. I called time and the F2 asked where the ball was. I grabbed the ball with my other hand from my elbow and told F2 "right here" as I handed him the ball. I only wish R3 would've tried to advance, so I could've sent him back to 3rd.

I think it’s an instruction to pro umpires to speed up the game. Manager indicates lefty or righty and BU jogs out to signal lefty or righty. The lefty or righty is in the game upon the managers signal. A fill in manager used the wrong arm and had to live with that pitcher.

“Without hesitation or alteration.” it’s in all three codes. If kicking you free leg up, then back down, then wrapping your free leg around your pivot leg, faking a motion to pitch, kicking you leg back up, and then delivering a pitch isn’t both hesitation and/or alteration, I don’t know what is. I’m calling this an illegal pitch in every single level I umpire…. From low teen travel stuff through college.

Depends, which side of the street is the winery on?

I understood that reference

Just like electricity and gas powered cars, this is here to stay

Nothing beats...Adiossssssssss! Pelotaaaaaaaaaaaa! Jon Miller is 2nd on my list to only Vin Scully. He gives you that feeling like you're at the ballpark with a favorite uncle. He is so experienced, so talented, so knowledgeable and so prepared. His command of verbs especially is all-world. The best of them know the season is 162 games and the English language offers lots of great choices and use them. I am not a Giants fan nor am I a Dodgers fan but, great broadcasting is part of the game's heritage and tradition. When Scully was on, when Miller is on...you tune into those guys. They can make some random game on a Tuesday night sound like the greatest thing ever. Their enthusiasm is palpable and infectious! If you have XM radio, they frequently carry the SFG radio broadcasts with Miller although he does break up the game, hand over the mic to a backup and go and work regional TV for a few innings. This is my go to listen after working a game... ~Dawg

What order did it happen in? That's the order to go in.

Actually, you may just have an oversized brain… as in, the distance between your brain 🧠 tissue and the inner surface of your skull 💀 might be less than typical human. Fractions of inches matter. We’re glad you identified the risk, and opted off of plate. No one – assigner, coordinator, supervisor, evaluator, or partner – should ever coerce you into doing plate if and when you’re experiencing after-effects.