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I guess I should also take responsibility for this as well, as this was the precursor to my post above. It went thorough a few design changes while we worked out the kinks, but the current ones are pretty nice.

I worked with an engineer to have this made. Durable, notched for zeroing out, helps a ton when I do younger ages that have run limits per half inning.

That becomes a problem when you learn 3-4 man. PU and U1, U2, U3 is intuitive. U1 at HP and U2 at 1B is not.

Another tangent, since Max made this pop into my head: I am going to do my best to remain with the U1 and U2 nomenclature. It is a reminder that a minimum of TWO umpires is the norm, the expectation, and nobody should be doing or should ever be asked to do anything less.

Bumping

Was Livensparger overthinking the MLBUM interp regarding first touch? Most or all of that ball was over the foul line when it hit. Back when the interp first came out and had our heads spinning most of the consensus was for a close call the umpire should always call fair and let replay do the geometry. This one didn't even seem close.

@Thunderheads you can lock this up! @concertman1971 took care of me!!!

3B Umpire Todd Tichenor ejected Marlins manager Clayton McCullough (Replay Review decision overturning 1B Shane Livensparger's foul ball/runner placement call) in the top of the 7th inning of the #Phillies-#Marlins game. With two out and the bases loaded, Marlins batter Javier Sanoja hit a 0-2 slider from Phillies pitcher Jonathan Bowlan on a line drive down the right field line, ruled foul by 1B Umpire Livensparger and overturned to fair upon Replay Review as the result of a challenge by Marlins manager McCullough. Replays indicate the batted ball landed in fair territory in right field before being fielded by outfielder Bryce Harper, but is inconclusive as to the placement of Marlins baserunner R1 Otto Lopez at third base, the call was irrecusable. At the time of the ejection, the Phillies were leading, 4-3. The Phillies ultimately won the contest, 6-5. This is Todd Tichenor (13)'s 4th ejection of 2026. This is the 94th ejection report of the 2026 MLB regular season.This is the 52nd manager ejection of 2026. Ejection Tally: 52 Managers, 19 Coaches, 23 Players.This is Miami's 4th ejection of 2026, 1st in the NL East (MIA, PHI 4; ATL 3; NYM, WAS 2).This is Clayton McCullough's 3rd ejection of 2026, 1st since May 1 (Mark Wegner; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).This is Todd Tichenor's 4th ejection of 2026, 1st since August 2 (Skip Schumaker; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]). Wrap: Miami Marlins vs Philadelphia Phillies, 8/17/26 | Video as follows: Alternate Link: McCullough ejected after Replay overturns fair/foul, runner placement denies runView the full article

How can I get a set?

when UPS delivers them, @bluetick48 will be the proud owner of these pads. Enjoy them!!!

Unusual, however I believe a case could be made that, in his case, he is not committed to pitch until he moves his left foot which then becomes part of his pitching motion. If, later, he started swinging his arms, then delivered a pitch, I would call a balk because he changed his delivery making the swinging of his arms a part of his delivery motion.

Indeed @concertman1971!

Have been on and off the field the last couple seasons, and have realized that at least in the next few years work will keep me fully off...Time to clear some space in the basement. Prices include shipping and happy to take offers, especially on multiple items. Photos:https://imgur.com/a/umpire-stuff-dGwqrzJ Equipment All-Star MVP5 Helmet, low use -- $165 Cobalt Chest Protector, couple of ball marks but nothing major. Includes the extra shoulder and belly pads which I removed. -- $135 Force3 leg guards with All-Star Delta Flex straps (leg guards VGC; straps well-used) 14.5in -- $85 Shoes Mizuno Pro Wave Mid Plate shoe, used but not abused. Scuff from cleat on one toe. 10.5 -- $95 Mizuno Dominant 4 Turf shoe. Very good condition. 10.5 -- $65 Apparel (Ask for discount with purchase of more expensive stuff) Smitty MLB replica black short sleeve with grey panels, M -- $20 Smitty MLB replica black long sleeve with grey panels, M -- $25 Gerry Davis BFX blue short sleeve with black panels, M -- $25 Mizuno Plate Pants, W30, hemmed to probably 32 with extra fabric to let down -- $30 Mizuno Base Pants, W30, hemmed to probably 32 with extra fabric to let down -- $30 Honigs convertible jacket, black, S -- $30 Goodies (Not worth much but I don't want to throw away. Ask nicely with purchase of other stuff) Wilson Dyna-Lite frame, stripped the vinyl coating with intent to powdercoat but never got to it FM25, dent in one of the vertical wires over the mouth/nose. Also maybe a powdercoating candidate Well-loved All-Star skull cap, maybe good to try to see if skull cap is for you Somewhat well-loved FM25LUC pads. Smitty ball bags (x2) Couple of brushes, indicators, etc. 32in Champro officials belt (If anyone else is local to Rhode Island I also have some ABURI-branded shirts/jackets...)

Yes, I always want to get to the 45, OR AFATPA (As Far as The Play Allows). However, my keen baseball knowledge will tell me that a 2 hopper hit to f4 with no one on tells me to use economy of motion. Trail the runner, but understand that sprinting to the 45 adds nothing to the game. IMO, the guy who blindly sprints to spots is telling me that he is inexperienced. That same keen awareness also knows that a slow roller hit to f5 who is charging hard and throwing on the run often pulls f2 off the bag and towards the runner. this means I am not blindly running to a spot, but rather UMPIRING and taking what the play gives me, while reading the actions of the fielders. I may have to stay longer for fair/foul, there may be some action by f3 coming off the bag early as he reads an errant throw. Does BR slide at the last minute? Is there OBS? Plays on the infield are many times the plays where we get paid. Read the play, react to the play, make the call. Just my $0.02

Something like this?

Good ejection. Boone deserves to be ejected every game.

Low character, weakness, I could go on. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

save it for the big leagues if you ever make it that far. and if you don't make it that far blame the scouts. they obviously don't know what they are doing if they missed an obvious phenom like you. why are the adults teaching this. what type of role modeling from the adults is this. is this how it is in real life, work, business and everything else in life. just teaching cheating everywhere or you are a "loser" in life. if you are not cheating you are not trying. blame it on the role model adults in the room, just look in the mirror. well, come on, just admit it. that's really all it is or it wouldn't happen at all. https://www.foxnews.com/outkick-sports/little-league-world-series-sign-stealing-controversy-erupts-second-straight-year?msockid=12ce38a553216a1d006e2f1d52906bf1

These make my head hurt!

Looking for a set of Sky Blue Mask Pads…

In a real life NFHS experience..... On a Senior Night, one game before a championship game and it might have been little Johnny's friends iguinas's birthday too, I threw out a head coach for arguing over a FPSL play and an assitant coach for flying out of the dugout after the HC was tossed. The HC's argument was how could I make that call - well the kid slid through the 2B and hindered the play - and after blowing through the first warning, he got personal and wouldnt stop arguing, blowing through the other warning quickly. His personal statement included, what was I doing as it was Senior Night and the Championship game was a game away (here, an ejection includes a 3 game suspension). He appealed the suspension, of course, and got the three games reduced to one. All I care about was that he earned his in-game suspension, of course. But, to TMIB words, it is up to the coaches and players to act properly no matter what the future holds for them. They act like a fool, they risk participating in the next few games. We only care how they act in the current game. And dont let a coach sway you in a plate meeting by letting you know what is upcoming for them. Forget it as soon as you here that gibberish. It doesnt matter for the current game.

How is this Artificial Intelligence? Artificial Idiocy or Ignorance, more like. You beat me to it. While it’s not something that I do, or use, it is a purposeful option for (or to train to) others, especially those who would otherwise gesture too… wildly?… or would otherwise slouch or look like they’re cowering. Back to the content of the OP- This entire thing reads of some interpreter trying to stay relevant and active in the training space. Granted, we should be striving to improve and “get better”, and sharing “best practices (plural)”, but to declare some absolute, especially in this manner, is really heavy-handed. As a start, the nomenclature of “U1” and “U2” is arcane and indicative of NFHS manuals (is it not?). It would coat this advice as more adaptive and universal if it was to use PU and BU as nomenclature. Furthermore, to say that “49 states would be <this>, while NJ (alone) would be <that>” is an exaggeration, and seems like a soliloquy. Why such (over)scrutiny on how PU assists up the 1BL? The way in which he’s presenting this, he makes it sound as if “Evaluators” are looking for (yet another) detail to ding and demerit guys for. I’d be much more focused on making sure PUs know and discern when to come out from behind F2 and trail up the line comprehensively, because as games progress, there’ll be many more scenarios and plays that will require the PU to be somewhere else (such as POP, or headed towards 3B (foul territory OBR, fair territory NCAA), superseding a pursuit up the 1BL – and that if you are “deep into a game”, the fact that you make that pursuit second nature should be more lauded, not dinged by the exact details of how. Make sense?

Honigs Navy Thermal Jacket with red shoulder inserts. No logos. Like new. Worn twice. Size medium Very warm. $65 plus shipping. Open to negotiate. Paypal, Venmo, Cashapp accepted. PM inquiries. Sale final.

I'm going with illegal and citing: From this position any natural movement associated with his delivery of the ball to the batter commits him to the pitch without interruption or alteration. But then, I am the guy who thinks we let them get away with too many stupid games without awarding stupid prizes.

But at what point did it become a ground rule double? 😁 Edit: Screw it, I'm giving him third base just because that was a cool no human being will ever replicate, even if Henry Winkler is still alive. 🤣