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#2 Beerguy55, that's a pretty funny response. But, to answer the OP, I don't answer statements. If it's a question I will answer. I have found the fastest way to end a conversation that involves a rule interpretation is to say, "Coach if you think I'm wrong, play the game under protest. Otherwise, we are playing ball. What do you want to do?"

I'm frankly surprised by that because in my experience the most common response you're going to get from a misinformed coach would be "yes" and then it would spiral into a discussion about whether or not the rule book can be pulled out. I see one of two appropriate responses to the coach who is angry over this scenario: 1. You're free to protest, do you wish to do that? 2. Get on your knees and tongue jiggle my left nut.

I've used this over the years. This tension convention happened when a runner in foul territory was hit by a foul ball. Coach: "The ball hit the runner" Me: "Correct." Coach: "And he was off the base wen he was hit." Me: "Right again." Coach: "The rule says he's out." Me: "Is that right?" I have found this is better than any attempt to silence or treat to eject. Ace Holleran, thousand-gamer in CT

Some background to add context to better answer your question and for future use. Sorry if I am being Captain Obvious in some of this explanation. I am not only an Umpire, I am also the President of a local CR/BR league and have to deal with issues like this one regularly. The way CR/BR is set up using what is known as Sports Engine (online platform) you must designate who the Manger is and all other coaches, bat boys, etc on your roster. This is submitted to CR/BR and eventually used for State, Regional and World series play(Insurance too) and they hold you to it once it is at the State and higher levels. So there is a designated Manager but in the actual 2026 CR/BR rule book (see picture) it defines what the Manager does and can do. No where in the CR/BR rule book does it stipulate that the roster Manager has to be the one at the plate meeting to address the Umpire , they don't address this in game preliminaries and its not mentioned in the Umpire section (9.0). Now comes the twist. CR/BR allows Leagues to have/use Local rules for local play only. Once a team moves to State and higher, they are held strictly to the issued CR/BR rule book. Examples of this that are used in my League address your question, as we have had similar situations. My League has stipulated that the Manger will take the plate meeting and will be the only one allowed to address the Umpire. If the manager is not at the plate meeting ( and this happens a lot due to life), the person/coach taking the plate meeting is the only one who can address the Ump, even if the manager shows up after the plate meeting. Another local rule exception that we allow that CR doesn't, is lead offs in the 10U division. All my league Team managers and Umps know that our league rule set is: Local rules ( same as CR/BR with our local exceptions) , followed by MLB (OBR) and strict CR/BR only for State and higher play. So as you can see, "it depends" on what rules, local or strictly CR, were being used at your tournament. They may have a plate meeting rule similar to what my League uses. In my case, our UIC and the other Umps, self included, all state at the plate meeting that the person /coach taking the meeting is the only one that should approach the Ump during play if they have questions. Since you said this was a tournament and its Fall season and no tourny trail after local play, I am assuming it was Division playoffs/championship? Again, local tourny rules may also be in place, as is done in my League as well. For example, during Division Tourny play we do away with time limits, run rules, etc in certain age divisions that are typically in place during normal season play. So the long way around to answering you question is ask whom ever is running the tourny what rule sets/ground rules they will be playing by and to make your life easier, at the plate meeting tell both people/coaches that they are the only ones you will interact with once play starts. If there is an issue with this, it'll probably make itself known then and you can address it before it gets to what you experienced. Alternatively, as mentioned, you can do a "who are you?" and then follow up with "you weren't at the plate meeting, I will only speak to the person at the plate meeting." Hope this helps you out and answer your question.

SOLD! Lock it up

Wait, were you at my game Sunday? 🤦‍♂️

He was working alone behind the plate so no partner in the field. I totally understand not changing a call due to outside influences, especially fans or an angry coach. My issue was his explanation to me when I questioned why he ruled the runner safe, as if it was simply a matter of the ball getting dislodged. When I said the first baseman stepped on the bag before the runner even arrived and a tag was attempted he said it didn't matter because he stayed in the base path and the runner has a right to that space as well so if the ball becomes dislodged the runner is safe. On a bang bang play I could see that being the case as possession isn't fully attained but the kid took two steps to first base with the ball in his glove and then waited for the runner.

☝️☝️...yep.

I can think of any number of reasons: 1. Things happened so fast that before he could even think, "is that the manager?" he was already knee deep into the conversation and it never entered his mind, or 2. The coach is a familiar face (since he coaches several teams) so he never had a reason to wonder, or 3. Everyone knows he coaches several teams so bouncing around from game to game is a regular occurrence that no one perceives to be a problem (is it?). 4. He checked in with the umpire when you weren't noticing, told him his dilemma about bouncing between games, introduced him to his AC and said, "See you 'bout the third inning, gotta go!"

Was he not willing to listen to his partner or was he trying to ignore the peanut gallery? I suggest avoiding being critical of an umpire who is resistant to information from the crowd, the coaches, the players and anyone else there other than an umpire who is working the game with him. If an umpire kicks a call but then changes his mind because of what anyone says (again, other than his partner) then he is opening a BIG can of worms that will make the rest of the game a ****show. Every close call, every possible miss or bad angle will be subject to everyone else's opinion. It'll be a mess. It is better for the game if you give him grace and move on to the next play.

Know how we fix this? Real simple… Pitch comes in… makes contact with something … “TIME!” wait a moment or two, gather evidence, process, observe, process some more… then, “That got him (on the wrist / hand), first base!” Or, alternatively, same pitch, similar contact… “TIME!” wait a moment or two, gather evidence, observe, and process… then, “That’s off the bat (knob) (first), so it’s a foul ball.” What we don’t do is succumb to the imperative that “we have to jump on it and call it FOUL” RightTheF*€kNow!!! If you instead call “Time!” and give yourself a moment to process everything, and (this is key) stay within the dirt circle, and don’t entertain anyone coming over to plead their case, then the Defensive-Head-Assistant-to-the-Director-Booster-Chair-Coach-Whoever (DHADBCCW(?)) doesn’t have much to needle you over being swayed or flipped by the other Coach imploring you. Adam Academy Director Whoever becomes a non-issue, or non-factor. Add: I’m rifling thru Cal Ripken / Babe Ruth rules online, and while it does distinguish a “Manager” and “Assistant Coaches”, and that a/the Manager should be only one interacting with an/the umpire, I have yet to see anything cited regarding “the guy that attends the plate meeting”. If CR/BR is based off OBR, then the person at the plate meeting is inconsequential.

Seemed that way to me and many parents along the first baseline. I can only assume the umpire did not see the first baseman step on the base with the ball before there was any attempt at a tag and he did not want to hear anything different.

Sounds like he was tagging an already retired batter-runner.

8-9 year old Fall Ball, local Little League with a developmental emphasis. Slow ground ball to first, first baseman fields it and steps on the base before the runner arrives (by a couple of seconds). However, the first baseman remains on the base and also tries to tag the runner but loses the ball when he makes contact with the runner. Umpire called the runner safe at first. Correct or incorrect?

Another good response would be, "What are you doing out here?" And, just answer the coach's question. " I didn't think the pitch hit him, but I changed the call because I could see the batter was in pain." If the coach persists, "Coach I explained my call. If you don't immediately return to the dugout, you'll be ejected for delaying the game." I've always tried to use an ejection as a last resort. But, sometimes, based on the coach's attitude and demeanor, that last resort can come pretty fast.

I literally said that to a coach. He wasn't at the plate meeting and he's yelling at me about a call and I just yelled back, "Who ARE you?!"

Usually, unless Cal Ripken has a rule that allows someone else to be the designated head coach. "Who ARE you? And why are you on the field?"

Curious if anyone has a pair of Tanel 360 Armor plate shoes in 10.5. Thanks.

Usually, unless Cal Ripken has a rule that allows someone else to be the designated head coach.

Cal Ripken U12 tournament, no restrictions. PU working solo. A batter was hit on the wrist by a pitch. The umpire initially called it a foul ball, then changed the call to HBP. Said he realized he could see the batter was in pain. Umpire said he realized he never heard the ball hit the bat. DC comes out of the dugout to question call, said the umpire changed the call just because the OC asked him to. Umpire stuck to the call. DC gets heated, umpire does not toss him despite some what I would call were slightly personal attacks on umpire. DC says he could umpire better. Umpire said to go ask the director of the tournament, maybe they would let him. Eventually the game moved on. Here's the question with some extra detail: This coach who argued the call was not on the field during the plate meeting. Apparently, he runs four or five teams at different age levels and goes around a tournament coaching each one intermittently as the games progress. He might be a former professional. I'm pretty sure he played some minor league ball. But since he wasn't on the field during the plate meeting or when the game started, why did the umpire allow him to even come on the field to question the call? Isn't it supposed to only be the coaches who were at the plate meeting or on the field during the plate meeting who can talk to the umpire?

Great information, thanks MadMax 🫡

I have close ties to both CPs, and yes… I have… bias to one in particular. Where they’re the same: They both use High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) for their carapace plates. They represent 2 of the only 3 CPs on the market to use this material (the 3rd being the All-Star Cobalt), which is integral to how shape-conforming they can be. HDPE is thinner, but just as strong as ABS, and is much less resistant to “shape creep”… meaning it won’t lose its shape and flatten out. They both have advanced foam laminate systems for their padding protection. While they behave differently, the crucial characteristic they share is they do not retain heat and moisture… which open-cell foams (such as on Wilson, Douglas, and Diamond CPs) do, weighing you down and fatiguing you. Now, where they critically differ: The DX Enduro’s pad components are all removable, attaching to the plates with hook-&-loop tabs (ie. Velcro). In what must be a cost-shaving method, the Cobra rivets the pad parts to the plates. This is a challenge for thorough cleaning, sizing, and the lack of connecting splines (holding the plates together) occasionally hinders achieving and maintaining a good fit. The DX units all use anodized aluminum G-hooks for the all-so-important fastener. Don’t break, don’t corrode, don’t damage your shirts on impacts. The Cobra uses plastic side-release buckles (SRBs), which, of course, are prone to breaking… and are a PITA to replace. The harness on the DX units is a really secure operator, and got the endorsement of the UmpLife harness’ creator. The Cobra is actually using an imitating knock-off of the UmpLife. Lastly, the big one – the DX Enduro uses the latest and best rendition of D3O’s award-winning foam. It’s mesomorphic, meaning that it changes its structural composition when impacted by an energy, and absorbs and dissipates it. This allows the Enduro to be a mere 5/8ths of an inch thick! By contrast, the Cobra is using a “structural pyramid”, which means that it redirects impacting energy on angles away from the main vector. While it’s far better than the bulky open-cell foam of other CPs, it still works off compression alone.

The DX Enduro is no more protective than its siblings (DX Kuta and DX Mk2); it’s simply (a bit) different in the padding vest, and how that padding behaves in high heat & humidity (especially on a daily/frequent basis). The employment of D3O on the Enduro ensures mesomorphic energy absorption (instead of mere compression, which is why open-cell monsters such as the WestVest Gold are so bulky) as well as moisture-shedding. The Kuta and Mk2 employ Corvalta, which behaves similarly to D3O, but without the brand-engineered pedigree. Would I use a Kuta or Mk2 in a pro-level or high-college game? Sure will, I’ve done it before! But if that same game is going to be in 85°+, with high humidity, and it’s a full-9, or the second of a doubleheader, or I’m doing both of a doubleheader, and I’ve got the choice of an Enduro… I’m taking that moisture-shedding characteristic of D3O every time.

For your needs, i think the Mk2 is the perfect fit. The Enduro is going to be overkill here, unless you want that. I'd recommend the Mk2 or the Kuta (if/when) available for those levels of play.

I have had the MK2 since March, and it's amazing. Wouldn't use it past HS, though.