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I don't like an abandonment call for this. Sounds like youth ball: if the 1BC is awol, just call time and ask the BR where he's going. No good ever came from allowing a clown rodeo.

Honey, I'm home... I've taken a few years off. Not from umpiring, but from posting online. Lots of life changes over the last few years. I lost my wife of 27 years in 2020 right before covid was sprung on us. I was blessed that we were able to have her memorial before everything shut down. I started dating about a year and a half later and have gotten engaged, moved from my home in Laguna Niguel, rented it out, and moved in with my fiance (Kristin) in Oceanside. We are getting married on July 20th. On the umpiring front, I stopped doing HS last year to focus solely on my college schedule. I work D2, D3, NAIA and JC. It's good to see some familiar "faces" when browsing the site!

Probably won't get a lot of feedback on this, but this is my new favorite baseball photo. My wife took it of me and my son during yesterday's game (no, I didn't ring him up; he doubled during this at-bat). Also, don't ask me what my partner was doing; I have no idea.

I finally found an XL of these and replaced all the rivets (except the arms) with Chicago screws. I added two clips by feeding seatbelt webbing through the opening under the plastic plates. I added strap holders to the CP and put an F3 harness on it that I had lying around here. They’re actually pretty good protection and maybe 1/2” thick. The breadth across the chest is preferred by me as it’s perfect coverage from armpit to armpit. No baseball can get in there unlike other “winged” CP’s. They are a bit warm, but then very few CP’s aren’t. Made in USA!🇺🇸

Watch the players reactions. Especially R1 and F9. They can give you clues. if you’re blocked by 3 + players. ( BR, R1, F3, F9,F4) I’ve got into the habit of moving off the line a little to see the ball drop. (Don’t watch the coach. He’ll point fair if it’s 10 feet foul. )

This is interesting, even though I know Keith is kidding, ... I honestly find the bases very challenging, I mean, if you're going to do it right, not chase the ball, be in the right position for most plays, watching the ball, trying to see ALL touches on every base (to assist my partner '3rd'), etc, etc ... PLUS, ... it's way easier to be surprised on the bases, IMHO. I think it's all a balancing act, ...communicate w/ your partner a day or so before the game, make sure either one of you haven't had "team A" 3 times on the dish already, all the things that have been discussed. Also, sometimes you have a partner who's "coming in hot" from a work meeting, long commute w/ potential traffic issues, etc ... worse thing in the world is to be late and have to get ready super fast for a plate .... for me, I need that relax time ahead. Anyhow .... that's my .02

After much thought, many conversations and exhausting contemplation, the 2024 baseball season will be my umpire swan song. New work responsibilities ( 10-11-12 hours a day sometimes ) .... my own added stress I put on myself to perform and do a good job, the timelines/ deadlines for post-season, the time and grind of the game prep, physically and mentally, the list goes on and on. Do I still love it, ...yes I do, I can't say I don't, but the above takes away from that, and it's become a "chore", and "another job" ... and I'm just tired of feeling that way. I started umpiring in 1990. Took a break after the summer of 1995, and came back to it in 2010, and ... here I am 14 years later (I joined this site in 2009). Not including the canceled season of 2020, that’s 20 years. Yeah ... I'm good. Does it make me sad, ... yes, it does to an extent, but ...at the same time it makes me happy (if that makes sense)! A lot of my burden is self-induced, I know that, but it’s my nature. I’m a people pleaser involved in a job/hobby/craft where it’s IMPOSSIBLE to please everyone, but damnit, I’m going to try **says me shaking my head** 🙄 To everyone I’ve ever umpired with and had umpire conversations with, and to all of those I've learned from on this site ....THANK YOU. What an education this site has been for me over the past 14 years! It’s been a great ride, a great education, and quite a realization as to how much time and effort it takes to be a good official. 20 combined years of doing this and there’s PLENTY more areas where I could improve, but at the end of the day, I know I always gave it my all, and I was always eager to learn and to get better. I was blessed with being able to work a Sate Finals for the MHSAA in 2018, an incredible experience and memory. I was also able to work a showcase double-header last season at Comerica Park with a great partner and friend, Jeff Sandora ( @UmpJeff). To umpire on an MLB field was one of my few ‘umpire bucket list’ items, for sure. I'll still be here on the site, so this will be my avenue to 'remain in the game'! Thanks again to everyone. I’ll never drive by a baseball field again without my heart skipping a beat. Chat soon!

Please tell us if Umpire's regret is real... you know, you are walking past some clothing store and see the Navy Blue shirt in the window... Will you get pangs of regret for leaving the vocation?

I’m calling a varsity HS school game. Second-tier suburban team hosting an inner-city team. In my area, the inner-city teams are usually awful, but the kids love it and have a good time. It’s unusual for them to play the suburban teams. Before the game even starts, visitor, inner city, coach (Charlie) comes out to me and says, “Sorry Steve, I used up my pitchers this week because of make-up games so my starter has never pitched before”. I die a little inside and we get started. After giving up eight runs in the bottom of the first even with my zone expanded to the size of a hippopotamus, they’re making a pitching change. During the switch, my partner comes up and tells me he doesn’t think the catcher is wearing a cup. We walk over to the visitor coach. By the way he was very nice through this whole encounter, although somewhat bewildered. Steve: Charlie, is your catcher wearing a cup? Charlie: I don’t know. Steve: Charlie, remember when I asked you at the plate meeting about your players being appropriately and legally equipped? This is what I was talking about. Can you ask him? Charlie: I don’t speak Spanish. I give him the “oh come on look.” Charlie: Hey Juan, come over here. Juan comes over. Charlie: Ask Renaldo if he is wearing a cup. Juan asks in Spanish. Renaldo looks over, wide-eyed and slowly shakes his head no. Steve: Can you find one? Charlie: I don’t think any of my players have a cup. I’m sorry, I didn’t know – it’s my first year coaching. Steve: Charlie, I can’t let your player play catcher without a cup. There some chatter and rummaging in the dugout, but nothing but blank stares after. Mike (Home team coach, who was in the 3rd base coaches box): Let me see what I can do. Mike runs over to the dugout, speaks to his players and returns. Mike: I think we got you covered, hold on a minute. Starting pitcher for the home team comes over and tosses a cup to the catcher. Pitcher: Here you go. And you can keep it … (he’s now jogging back to his dugout) Pitcher (over his shoulder but loud enough for all to hear): I needed to get a bigger one anyway!!! -Steve

I feel it's my way of giving back to my community. I have a thick skin and can take it as long as the league backs the ejections. As a kid, I played coach pitch all the way to LL Seniors. I was never good enough to play high school ball. I loved playing and have always loved baseball. As an umpire, I feel that the kids shouldn't have to suffer by having bad umpires because their parents or coaches are acting a fool.

I'm not, nor will I teach umpires to take their masks off prior to a check swing appeal. It's not happening.

Easy, if it's a single game, my partner gets the plate. If it's a DH, then I get the first plate.

I see no hinderance from this angle. Catcher’s throw is well on its way by the time batter crosses the plate. I have no idea how he let BU change his mind

The baseline means nothing. There are two rules at play. One is whether he could be called out for abandonment: ": Any runner after reaching first base who leaves the base path heading for his dugout or his position believing that there is no further play, may be declared out if the umpire judges the act of the runner to be considered abandoning his efforts to run the bases." He did believe there was no further play but did not head for his dugout or position (or is his position in the batter's box?) and in your OP was not called out for abandonment. The other rule requires an immediate return after overrunning which he did not do and was subject to being tagged for an out: "(4)  He is tagged, when the ball is alive, while off his base. EXCEPTION: A batter-runner cannot be tagged out after overrunning or oversliding first base if he returns immediately to the base;" While the baseline means nothing the trajectory of the runner in regard to the baseline or 2B might make us judge that the runner did not immedately return anf if there was a tag off the base we would call him out.

Hint: there is none! Rule 3 Substituting- Coaching- Bench and Field Conduct - Charged Conferences SECTION 3 BENCH AND FIELD CONDUCT ART. 1 . . . A coach, player, substitute, attendant or other bench personnel shall not: i. be outside the designated dugout (bench) or bullpen area if not a batter, runner, on-deck batter, in the coach 's box or one of the nine players on defense; Plus , also under Rule 3, ART. 3 ... Players loosening up to bat shall remain in the area of their team's on-deck circle while the pitcher is warming up. (1-2-3) PENALTY: The umpire shall issue a team warning to the coach of the team involved. The next offender on that team shall be ejected. Seems like there is enough there to get this under control. I didn't rad through it all but we've been here before

In my third year now. I was asked this the other day and I summed it up like this: I think plate is harder to be good at but bases are more difficult to be really great at. I just feel the movement and positioning and weird plays that seemingly come out of nowhere are more challenging. The plate is a bit more predictable in a sense. However, plate is more important for game management and has the higher probability of causing a ruckus if not executed competently. Perhaps my perspective will change after a couple more years, idk.

So you and I have worked with some of the same people.

If you are at all slightly handy I would suggest "the way of the wolf" If not offer to trade it to him for something else wait 2 months he will retrofit it himself then ask him to trade back. 😄

Sigh… do I really need to develop the Davis Salvage Denim Indigo Umpire Jeans.

Son, if you can't see the ball, you've got the wrong uniform on. Let me get you a navy polo and some grey pants.

I see no problem with it. If F1 wants a new ball, we let him have it. If we're about safety as we say, the new baseball that's whiter and more easily seen theoretically is safer. I think you did the right thing.

Maybe a nit pick…. I’ve never been taught, nor have I ever taken my mask off prior to asking for an appeal on a check swing. 🤷‍♂️

🥱 Oh yeah? If you ever top that by calling three… let us know.

At the risk of offending.... @MadMax, you ignorant slut

Won’t make it out of committee. … … … and according to that same committee, God “shall” wear navy.

And the ball remains live: the defense may play on other runners. This call is so rare, I recommend making it big. In 2-umpire mechanics, it belongs to PU (responsible for the retouch): he should point at R3 with his left hand, signal the out with his right, and verbalize, "He's out! He's out for running start! He's out!" Probably nobody will pay any attention, and they'll keep playing on R3; but at that point we've done what we can to communicate the call.

We had a similar issue in my neck of the woods but the coaches just wanted to know if they could get the game in. i suggested that we tell them to dress a trainer and have them faint after we pointed play. I think they folded anyway.

Back in Wisconsin, you couldn’t escape “this guy”, even if you willingly took – and were already geared up for – plate! The anecdote is that “plate guy chooses shirt”, right? Nope, not with “this guy”. In one infamous example, I was standing there, fully geared up, ready to finish the ensemble with an umpire shirt (of which, at the time, I had at least 12 different colors/styles) when my BU partner rolled in, parked next to me, got out, made his greeting, “Hrrmph”, and when asked, “Which color ya want me to throw on, Bob?”, replied with, by pulling the faded, salt-encrusted navy shirt out of his trunk, “Navy’s all ya need!”… and started heading to the field!!! This is a direct correlation to the “UIC = PU = god” deification “rule” that NFHS has codified into (their) The Rules. They’ll take PU because they love the power trip they embark on. “My game, my field, growl snarl growl…” They can’t cite or apply a single substantive rule, save the one that enshrines that “UIC’s rulings are final” [paraphrased]. Early in my career, I would be paired with these guys, and it forced me to investigate every positional responsibility, on every play & situation, and be flexible so as to “cover or defer” (explain later). Later in my career, I was purposely paired with these guys, and put on as a BU, expressly to counter-balance their deficiencies. These particular pairings have gotten fewer and rarer… but they do still happen once in a… (oh man, the pun!)… blue moon. 🌙 Ever think this might by design or intention? 🤔 #BlueConspiracies #DogTraining (sorry, couldn’t help it) Here in Arizona, amongst us Vultures (and Friends-of-Vultures), it’s entirely “by feel”. “How ya feelin’ today?” brings an honest answer and assessment. We all know and trust each others’ game management and abilities, almost implicitly. That being said, assigners know this, and will often pair Vultures with either rookies / newbies or “known qualities”, so as to either evaluate & train, or counter-balance said “qualities”. One of my fellow Vultures is known to carry a notebook, recording each time he works with a partner, and what the roles were. He holds guys to it! But, of course, he puts the book away for fellow Vultures. We do have “desert / tournament / tournament-in-the-desert mechanics”, wherein some guys will willingly take plate – either in a one-game “hell stab” or on a 2- to 3- game plate-siege – with the understanding that he won’t be moving much outside of the plate dirt circle. Of course, these aren’t used on sanctioned NFHS, College, or pro games, but I’d be lying if I said we don’t (both U’s) utilize this arrangement on amateur games… when it’s 93° and ↑, or if one umpire has an injury. We get it (down here)… we all need the 💰. Unless my boss has a fixed, specific role assignment, or it’s “my turn”, I usually favor this: If it’s a guy I don’t know, I’ll take Plate because I know and can control the pace of how this game will unfold. If it’s a guy I do know, I’ll take Bases because I really get a chance to “stretch my legs” and move. If doing a multi-game day, I heavily prefer the last game(s) of the day on plate. I can usually “mask” (ha!) the exhaustion, and just focus on the corridor of space between mound & plate circle. I won’t ignore or abort a rotation, but they sure do happen less often than moving about on base, in that context. When partnered with a rookie / newbie, I always dangle the question, “No wrong answer here, which role would you like to do?”, and without fail, the rookie / newbie will light up and reply, “You mean I can work bases??! Oh wow! _X_ number of games, and I haven’t worked bases yet!” … and I know why that is. ‘Cuz all my colleagues see “rookie”, claim seniority, or claim that they’ve been doing nothing but plates, too, and stick the new guy at plate so they can have a “day off” on the bases. 🤨

Very good points here too. In order to be good officials, we have to be prepared and listen. It's the difference between hearing everything that's going on and being said - versus simply having "rabbit ears" and then acting on it when it should have been ignored. A good official knows the difference between being aware and then knowing when it is the right time to address what he/she has overheard. We're not deaf & dumb, but there are times when our best course of action is to say or do nothing. Sometimes saying or doing anything is the wrong option and we learn that by experience, training and feedback. While getting burned is painful, it is an excellent teacher because we remember it a long time. We don't avoid all stoves (or coaches) from that point forward, but we're more careful around them so that we don't get burnt again! Officiating is like this sometimes in that we learn how to better handle situations and people in order to be better game managers. A good game manager will learn how to avoid those difficult times when we did not handle things as professionally as we had planned due to rising emotions. If we plan ahead and discuss what might happen with our partner before the game, then we will be in a better situation to respond during the game IF something comes up. We don't hope that anything goes south, but if it does, then we're prepared to handle it appropriately. In my experience, the most difficult game situations/ejections that I've had were the ones that got out of hand due to me not being prepared for them. You live and learn as you go for many of us. This is one of the reasons I am seeking out more training so that I can become a better umpire on many levels. If it were only as simple as people want to believe, where calling B&S and outs is all that an umpire does. The longer I do this, the more I realize the biggest difference between a good umpire and a great umpire is their ability to always be prepared and ready for any situation that comes their way.

100% this. Full disclosure, I used to be a plate shirker. Now, however, I prefer first plate for a few reasons: I'm not inheriting grumpy coaches because of the previous PU's bad zone, it gets me mentally into the game earlier, I can control the pace of the game, and coaches usually throw their better pitchers first.

In my HS association, If you're paired up with a veteran partner, you know, the one with Navy shirts and faded heather gray pants that can't move a lick? He'll always take the plate because he's the "Senior guy" in the association. Then he'll proceed to camp out at home, use sub-standard mechanics, and act like the game is a campaign stop as if he's running for mayor. If you're lucky enough to be paired with a good partner, the we usually discuss it. Depends on who wants it, who has done more plates recently, the schools playing (read this as which coach is an ass clown), etc. We amicably work it out. I try to do about 50/50 on plates and bases throughout the season. Too many people only like to work plates, and when they get assigned a base, for instance in playoffs, you can really tell. And I don't mean for the better.

I’ll take a stab at it. [credit: Jill Bearup] As always, context is key. The Abandonment rule is a rule seeking an out; conjunctively, it is an out seeking a rule. Its origins lie in “old time” professional baseball, where 9 guys squared off against 9 guys, wherein there weren’t time limits (other than darkness sans lights), gloves were left (generally) in position, and no commercial breaks. Dugouts and bullpens were just “areas”, with loose definitions, and little to no consistency from ballfield to ballpark. Cameramen – press photos and “motion pictures” – were right there on the field. After being retired (ie. an Out), a player would either head back to the bench (dugout), or might go become a base coach (remember, this was the age of player-managers), or might go talk with a reporter on the perimeter. Batters didn’t wear helmets, or any of the elaborate protective equipment, let alone batting gloves. On the third out, the Batter, and any Runners, would simply head to their (next) defensive position, picking up or being brought a glove along the way. Of course, 1919 and Kennesaw Mountain Landis changed all that, but that’s the foundation. So when an Out occurred, it’d be attributed to something. Was the fly ball / liner caught? Yup. Out. Did the ball (and in possession of the Fielder) beat the Runner to the base? Yup. Out. Was he tagged (with the ball)? Yup. Out. Pretty simple! Then it got a little more complex… Did he commit interference? Yes. I judge that he did. Out. Was there a play attempt upon him, and in trying to elude that play/tag, did he exceed the “limits” of a/the basepath? Yes. I judge that he did. Out. The reason for this rule is to alleviate the defense from having to chase a runner throughout the ballpark provided that they had the ball and were in reasonable proximity to attempt a play on him. This is where the Abandonment rule stems from. Its direct sibling is the “Struck Out Batter leaves the plate/dirt circle rule”. On a U3K, and the Batter makes no effort to run to 1B, and concedes that he’s out by leaving the dirt circle so as to return to(wards) the dugout, then it alleviates the defense from having to chase him down, tag him, or throw it to 1B. See how this works? So if a Runner touches his base (BR is 1B), or the base he is forced to, and then leaves that base…. well… what is he? … I mean, he can’t be Out, because he legally touched – and achieved – that base. He’s obviously not Safe, because he's not there… come to think of it… where is he?? Oh there he is! He’s in the dugout / bullpen / over there talking with a reporter / he’s scooped up a glove and is headed to the outfield. Ah! It appears he’s abandoned his base, and concedes he’s Out. The defense doesn’t have to go over and tag him; and, in the case of a DBT dugout or pen, they can’t So… Boom. “Why’s he out?” He abandoned. Here’s the thing – conceding, or concession, is a conscious choice to do so. An adult (pro) is expected to live with the consequences of that choice, whether valid or mistaken. Youth (ie. amateurs) don’t have those expectations placed so heavily upon them! Youth make these choices, often absent any awareness! Granted, as these youth players increase in age and experience, they should be more aware of these choices. However, we’re frequently talking about < 14 year olds, and we (as umpires) jump all over “Abandonment!” far, far too easily and quickly, often lacking any of those criteria so as to call it, and ignorant of context. It smacks of overzealous desire to “get an out”. “I’m calling you out, kid, because… I can! (And I wanna go home, and we need outs!)” To the OP situation, in that context, I really favor @maven’s and @UMP45’s tact on handling this. Did the BR legally touch & achieve 1B? Yes. Did he attempt to go to 2B? No. Are there other Runners present (whose status would be affected by calling Time)? No. “Time! Hey kid… where ya goin’?” “Oh! It wasn’t a foul ball?” “Nope. You hit a real good one. Head back to 1st. Nice job.” Oh, and you can forget it about that crap regarding “Max! He had to return directly and quickly back to 1B!” Hogwash. There’s been plenty of times where a BR had beaten the throw, legally touched and achieved the base, and injured himself at or after the base… and we (umpires) call Time prior to him returning. Don’t give me that grief. Author’s Note: I realize, this is one of my longest posts ever. I had nothing much else to do than dictate and edit while I’m driving up and thru Missouri and Illinois today. Whew! 😤 Life on the Road!

I like it, been there before - and I think I rang mine up. LOL My only regret, no photo for me. For you, too bad she didn't get one from the other side too with your faces!

Thank you, ...but I'll still be on the site

Wow Jeff, that time will come for all of us, but I'm glad you are hanging it up on your own terms. I thought 2018 might have been my last, and not even close to on my own terms, but I know it's coming at some point. Congratulations on your retirement and for being an umpire's umpire. Forever in the brotherhood...

Rich, I’m going to use your post to comment on, but there are several others in this entire topic upon which I can overturn my bucket 🪣 and step onto… We, as PUs, must get past this urge and compulsion to watch what goes on at 2B (or at any other base being thrown to by F2). It’s likely from working with weak BU partners – or, worse, no partners at all – but we tend to overlook or miss what goes on “right in front of our mask”. None of us here will work a MLB game (at least not yet… YKWYA), so the threshold for us (as PUs) is much, much lower. So, if you’ve got a Batter who hinders, impedes, affects the catcher’s throw upon a Runner, zero in on it! What happens at that base is absolutely secondary (or even tertiary!) to what occurred in front of you. Remember… it is Batter Interference, not Batter-Runner Interference. On a 4th Ball, the Batter becomes a Runner. On a 3rd Strike, he becomes either a Runner… or… a Retired Batter. So just leaning over the plate, and stuttering his feet because he thought it was Ball 4 (instead of K3)? At the amateur level? I don’t see that as Batter Interference. 3-1 count, R1 stealing, and Batter thinks this is Ball 4, and steps across plate, and PU calls K? Oh yeah, that’s BI. Now, on the OP video clip – specifically – I’m in agreement with you. It was a 3-2 count, and… it’s a ~suspect~ outside strike. Nearly all of the (Retired) Batter’s movements are in the batter’s box, or at least on the 3B side of the plate. The F2’s throwing corridor is exclusively on the 1B side of the plate. No contact is made between RB and F2, so we can’t label that as the culprit. Instead, this is a case of a PU losing focus, and letting a HC (who has a “right” to ask, granted) strong-arm the PU into “going for help”. A good PU will defeat a HC’s question (I cringe at the phrase “shut him down”) before it’s even asked in its entirety, and a lot of that is body posture/language, “plate” demeanor, and “approachability”/rapport. Should the call have been overturned? No. By the same token, though, could the PU have called INT, in/@ the moment? Yes. It’s ultimately judgement, and while I’ve presented the factors that comprise it, I’ll concede that we can’t tell a PU to “get it (every time)” (like I’ve heard some college guys direct (dictate)). What erodes that judgement, though, is letting a HC “talk you into questioning your own judgement”.

Can ya blame him? That’s 1977-edition genuine AstroTurf! Outdoor! Which was equivalent to a Brillo scratch pad, laid over concrete. That stuff hurts! Nettles didn’t want the rug rash! Sports?! Hell, I love the old school umpires! Why? Because here they are, in a LCS, doing things that would get their a$$ chewed at school / clinic / camp!! Maroon blazers (Demerit! Black is the only color!), outside positioning at 2B (yes, I know Jim Wolf brought it back in vogue, but there are still PTB that will chew your a$$ to even suggest it), and flyaway-bird-safe mechanic by U1 – while moving!!! 😬 Where’s the evaluator climbing down his collar to give him grief over it??? “I’m Chevy Chase, and you’re not.”

Textbook example of a play that review can help the crew get right.

Because this isn’t a courtroom, it’s a baseball game. And on a baseball field, be it wrong or right, reputations matter.

I have no comment on whether it was or wasn't...what I would like to talk about is the "handling" of this call... So, we have R1 going on the pitch and a throw down to 2B from F2. U1 is taking the play into 2B. PU makes no indication of batter's interference on the play. The coach comes out and the umpires get together and the call is overturned and the batter is ruled out for interfering with the catcher. What exactly happened or was said in that umpire conversation? Or what do we THINK happened in that conversation? U1 is taking that play into 2B. He is about 100+ feet from the plate and his back is turned when the throw is released. Is U1 really going into that conversation with the "information" for PU that the batter interfered with the catcher? Is this really the kind of play umpires should get together on? ~Dawg

You have to specify a play by an infielder in FED and any fielder in OBR/NCAA. I think FED rules as those codes rule with a through or by batted ball. FED doesn't rule as OBR/NCAA with a batted ball that passes not near infielders. OBR/NCAA have a runner hit by a batted ball always out unless the ball went through or by an infielder and no other fielder had a play. In FED with fielders playing in a runner hit by a batted ball behind drawn in infielders, neither of whom had a play, the runner is not called for INT. Thus, I think the string?

Oh, Aaron certainly earned that EJ... His actions over the past several years has earned him a poor reputation and therefore he has lost the benefit of the doubt. You see actions and antics do have consequences. Ever hear of the boy that cried wolf? In Hunter's defense, he said that Boonie is the manager and thus responsible for the bench. In his mind, whether Boone or his bench made the comments, it's Boonie that gets the EJ there. I realize a fan said it, but we can't expect Hunter to know that during the game when he is focused on umpiring. Short version is this.... don't want to get ejected? Then, start being reasonable and workable with the umpires. Once they see you're being reasonable, you can start getting the benefit of the doubt again. But the old "act like a fool, get treated like a fool" applies here.

On a more serious note, this is in Definitions in OBR: TOUCH. To touch a player or umpire is to touch any part of his body, or any uniform or equipment worn by him (but not any jewelry (e.g., necklaces, bracelets, etc.) worn by a player). (Touch) Comment: Equipment shall be considered worn by a player or umpire if it is in contact with its intended place on his person. So if the helmet is not in contact with its intended place (his head) on his person, then HE is not touching the bag. This is not like a fielder touching a bag with his glove while the ball is in his other hand. In that case, the glove is in contact with its intended place (his hand) on his person. That's my story and I'm sticking with it (until proven wrong, anyway).

I assure both you and @The Man in Blue he is not wearing high tops--we dressed while pre-gaming. His pants are noticeably faded, though--so that probably makes it look like jeans.

Hey there! Yes, I have been away for...well, for a long time. It's great to see many of the same names here! I'm thinking of retrofitting my All Star S7 with new, thinner padding and also replacing a bunch of rusting rivets. I figure if I'm going to do it right, there's no better place than UE to get some tips. Now I need to find the right size Chicago screws, or purchase a riveting tool.

Me too. It's a last gasp effort and you hope for 3rd out on next pitch. Assuming you don't have lights (unlike OP) this is almost always a sign we need to call the game. One of those "yellow flags are red flags" situations.

Looks good to me.

Agree...I think the review could involve concrete aspects of judgement. "Did the ball hit the hand?" Okay...that impacts the decision that I originally made. We have interference.

I have never turned my back on F2 throwing to 2B when I am in B or C. It seems as though this is also the case with BU in this scenario. Turning away from where the ball is would be the first step in having a throw planted in your temple. Keep your chest to the ball and have your head on a swivel. While BU may have some information that may help, PU needs to own this call.

Must...not...respond... must...resist...with the...respond-age... not...going...to...respond... ~Dawg