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Hey everyone, Figured it was finally time to stop lurking and make an account. I’ve been reading Umpire-Empire since around 2016 when I started umpiring at 13 years old, and I’ve learned a lot from the discussions here over the years. I’m from southeast Michigan and currently umpire both baseball and softball, from 8U all the way through high school. I’m always looking to improve and enjoy working games at every level. Umpiring definitely runs in my blood. My dad has been an umpire for over 40 years and has served as a USSSA UIC/assigner in southeast Michigan for more than 20 years. I grew up around ballfields and have been fortunate to learn a lot from him. Looking forward to learning even more, contributing where I can, and getting to know everyone here! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Crappy for the batter for sure, but that's on the coach. If the coach wants to come and argue about it, it will be a short one and a long walk to the parking lot.

Seeing it more and more across both MLB and MiLB. You'll notice that only those with good flow and tight haircuts do it. That would exclude me (though my haircut is as tight as you can get ) Maybe @tpatience can chime in on whether they run the harness tighter than normal or something more.

Grabbing two strikes here is the crappy end of the stick, I think. Batter stepped out because his coached called for time. I'm all for not granting time, calling a strike on the pitch and warning the coach if he pulls that again he's going to be restricted.

I watched him the other night. He takes it on and off like a one piece catcher's mask. Has he combined the two or has he just got very proficient at pulling the two off together with one hand?

May have missed this on the Forum but I caught the Red Sox-White Sox game a couple of days ago and noticed Charlie Ramos using the Mirage and GD pads...couldn't find a good photo online but did see this from earlier in the season: www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/umpire-charlie-ramos-works-a-game-between-the-st-louis-news-photo/2274572492?adppopup=true first sighting at the MLB level?

Quick bump

Correct and thank you for the correction. The rule text is below. [I forgot this rule because I've never heard of it actually being called and, arguably, it's not the OP but you are right to bring it up]

Pitcher can turn either way to 2B. It must be continuous and there must be a step more toward 2B.

Runner on first base Pitcher on rubber Runner on first fakes a steal Pitcher on rubber turn to throw to second Pitcher does not throw the ball Since pitcher was on the rubber and made turn in direction of first Is this considered a balk? Pitcher never stepped off rubber to make the throw. Since pitcher was turning in the direction of first base while runner was on would that be deception and shouldn't pitcher have to throw the ball. Many people are saying this is legal that pitcher can turn and attempt put out at Second. My main question While on the rubber with man on first any attempt of pitcher's movement toward first is a balk?

I'm travelling so I can't get the specific rule and language, but, in FED, the batter stepping out of the box is a penalty strike. Batter steps out (penalty strike), ball stays live, pitch is a strike. You have two strikes added to the count.

There is no rule to support for a second strike or anyone being out (and good on the plate for grabbing the strike) Resume or not, this calls for a warning, dugout restriction, or immediate ejection.

High School ball tournament NFHS rules. Runners on first and third. Count and outs don't really matter, but it was 1-0 with no outs. The third base coach gave signals to his runners and batter. Then, he must have realized he gave the wrong signals because he made a sudden racket, saying whoa, whoa, whoa, timeout, as the pitcher was in motion to come home to the plate and the ball might even have already been released. As the coach is calling timeout, he actually walks out onto the field and all the play ceased. The batter stepped out of the box, the fielders all relaxed, and the runners all returned to their bases. The pitch came across the plate and the umpire called it a strike. Then, the umpire called timeout and then told the coach that the coach's timeout request had not been granted. The umpire called coach's interference and ruled a second strike, making the count 1-2. The question is, if there's coach's interference, isn't the batter or runner supposed to be called out? And which runner, the one on second or the one on first? I figured it should be the lead runner. Someone else in the stands said it should have been the batter who was ruled out. Not that this matters but I believe the third base coach is a former professional minor league player, because he seemed to carry some gravitas with both teams and someone said he is always pulling stunts like this.

HP Umpire Alan Porter ejected Phillies DH Kyle Schwarber (check swing strike three call by 3B Umpire Roberto Ortiz) in the top of the 6th inning of the #Phillies-#Royals game. With one out and one on, Phillies batter Schwarber attempted to check his swing on a 1-2 cutter from Royals pitcher Steven Cruz, ruled a ball by HP Umpire Porter and called a swinging strike on appeal by 3B Umpire Roberto Ortiz. At the time of the ejection, the Royals were leading, 10-1. The Royals ultimately won the contest, 15-1. This is Alan Porter (64)'s 4th ejection of 2026. This is the 64th ejection report of the 2026 MLB regular season.This is the 20th player ejection of 2026. Ejection Tally: 34 Managers, 10 Coaches, 20 Players.This is Philadelphia's 2nd ejection of 2026, 2nd in the NL East (MIA 3; NYM, PHI 2; ATL, WAS 1). This Kyle Schwarber's 1st ejection since April 24, 2022 (Angel Hernandez; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).This is Alan Porter's 4th ejection of 2026, 1st since May 23 (Don Kelly; QOC = Y [ABS Challenge]). Wrap: Philadelphia Phillies vs Kansas City Royals, 7/6/26 | Video as follows: Alternate Link: Porter ejects Schwarber for shoo-fly'ing Ortiz with wave-off after check swing strikeoutView the full article

Thank you for covering the gap, and I hope you've enjoyed the last three years! 1) As a guy who sweats easily, I appreciate the heat-based upvote for the Smittys. Fall ball here in Vermont shouldn't be too bad temperature-wise, but this summer has been particularly muggy, so these will come in handy. 2) It sounds like the Enduro is the way to go. I think I will have to buy the bullet and get a CP that a) affords great protection; b) is bound to last long. 3) Same thing for the Force 3. Tons of folks recommend these, so I will have to join the Force 3 club. Derek, thank you for the detailed breakdown (and straight from GDS, no less!). This has made my pants-purchasing task much easier. I have a tab with the Enduro and Force 3 ready to go. I completely agree about pants-buying: an actual store would be nice. Good to know about the sticking point. Always great to hear from the undisputed gear guru! I'm really excited about GDS's future products, and I think I will celebrate by getting myself that Enduro. All, this has been super helpful, and it feels incredibly great to be back, SJD!

I did miss the "State adoption part. If I could delete, I would. But it does raise another point. Skylands Stadium. Here in Sussex County, now has the pizza boxes for the Frontier League. We just had a PBR tournament there and used them. High schools routinely use Skylands for in season games.. Usually special events like a senior night, or just a chance to play in a nice little stadium. I don't know how the bases are anchored in the turf, but I don't see Skylands accomading high schools with a double 1B. Will NJ allow teams to play there with the pizza boxes?

Is it, though? The 18” pizza box bases are an optional alternative. Instead, from the read, NJ is going all-in for compliance to the double base rule. My experienced estimate is that this (the inclusion of optional 18” bases) is a bone tossed to the schools / programs / venues / states that support a multitude of baseball levels conjunctively. Arizona high schools, especially those in Phoenix and Tucson, frequently play on fields that are part of or adjacent to OBR (Pro, et. al.) Baseball, which have largely eliminated the standard bases from their supplies. In fact, 3 of our 5 NAIA schools play on MLB/MiLB facilities, and are unable to support the double-first-base. Then back here in Wisconsin, there’s a complex near-&-dear to me that has 5 60-90 ball fields (1 Inde-pro stadium, 4 in a quad), with no less than 5 nearby school districts using their fields for Varsity baseball games. This complex also serves dozens of OBR and NFHS -based tournaments and leagues, as well as Adult Amateur. But again, it’s not only a physical facilities issue, but also a Human Resources / personnel issue. As we’ve discussed before, the kids that are playing OBR on the weekends are the very same kids playing for their high schools on Tuesdays and Fridays… with the same umpires in both environments!! This isn’t an excuse or “free-pass” to remain ignorant, unaware, or uneducated of rules (by umpires), but if a state weighs these costs against the benefits, and finds that the enlarged bases are the best optional compromise, then they should be able to adopt that. … and, finally, it appears NFHS is building that into it; certainly more obvious than the “it shall be navy” clause.

So glad they made this "rule" change to stop this play

Whats the cost of modifying the anchors for one base (double base) to modifying the anchors for three bases (18" bases)? Rhetorical question of course.

and NJ enters the realm of “ignoring new FED rules we don’t particularly like” See note under the memo 1

But the committee is not consistent. We (as a group) can’t learn the live balk rule, but the committee is certain all those “sub varsity lifers” are all going to know the double first base rule like the back of their hands.

That’s where the evidence comes from. The rare esoteric sit gets kicked. Even in MLB. We had a WP was killed. It didn’t help that the players also reacted as it was dead. I’ve had a clinic trained NCAA umpire tell me it was coach choice.

Yes. (even if there's an exception, this is a good way to think about it) Depends on the rules code. Always delayed in FED; sometimes delayed in OBR and NCAA In general this is correct, but the specifics depend on the rules code. For example, in FED, there's a minimum one base award form the location of the OBS. So, if the OBS was actually before second, (e.g., if F6 was standing on second and R1 had to slow down to approach) then the minimum award is second. In OBR, there's only a minimum award if the runner is being played on (and he's not in this scenario. And, the umpire should think of OBS as a *distance* (e.g., one or two strides) and must consider post-OBS play to determine the ruling. For example if F9 bobbles the ball and R1 now tries for home -- if he's out by only a stride or two, the umpire can award home; if he's out by "a lot" then the out stands.

what is a "turn towards third"? is it like an "attempt" like when you attempt to go to 2nd on an overthrow, and you only make a flinch motion with you shoulder etc. what exactly is a turn, and therein would lie the judgement point of any turn made, and therefor to be argued one way or the other and create a possible ejection situation due to the argument that ensues.