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For the record I am a coach who's always been very cool with the officials... First 12U scrimmage yesterday to warm up for my first 12U game on Saturday. Open rec ball where teams may have AA level players as well as total beginners. I had some nerves. My foul calls were too quiet. Strike calls were too quiet. Strike zone was too tight but consistent. I didn't have my head in the game on a couple plays. I didn't move around enough to get a good look at plays. I think one of the big challenges is staying engaged and aware after seeing 8 balls in a row. The infielders AND the ump were snoozing at times. I am excited to start umpiring but it is much harder than I thought it would be. I know I have a firm grasp of the NFHS rules but seeing the plays and enforcing everything real time is a whole other story. It's insane for a coach to complain about a couple tough calls over the course of a game with ONE umpire. Tom

Gentlemen, @Rich Ives may have served as an umpire at some point, but what he was known and respected primarily for was Coach. Each of us here (on U-E at least) has our forté, our niche, our role. Rich’s was as Coach. The other side of the argument. Not only was he always presenting the coach’s perspective, but he could frequently – and would – tag you if were MSU or being unduly harsh on fellow coaches (especially when you’d brag in your Ejection stories). Not every coach is/was a rat, despite Rich embracing it as his avatar. Yes, we’ll remember him, but let’s not forget him and his perspective when we interact with coaches in the future.

At least from what I’ve seen, to be fair, they… sidestep plates because: They get pushed to Plate by “veteran” partners who want to dump on the rookie, and use the association-supplied excuse that “rookies need plate time to develop da skillz”. They frequently work solo (JV, Freshman, small-kid league, etc), and really have a yearning to do bases… for once. Their plate gear sucks. Genuinely. Sucks. And that’s frequently because no partner or association member knows how to properly fit gear to/for them, or there are association members who tell them, “This is whatcha need right here!” (Which is my second most-hated piece of gear advice… second to and right behind, “It’s got the MLB logo on it, don’t it? Stop questioning! This is whatcha need!”) We gotta take better care of our rookies. When I’m assigned with one, I will give them a genuine, no-wrong-answer choice – plate or bases. If they want bases, I understand… and I not only guide/coach them thru their base work (between innings or post-game), but I also encourage them to… ahem… watch and analyze the mad maestro work. 😝 If they choose plate, I assure them I’ll take a lot of “the heat” off them. Don’t sweat the small details, don’t worry about (missed) rotations, etc. Sure, we want rotations to be identified, and to happen, but the priorities are Balls & Strikes, Fair / Foul, etc., and if you feel, in the moment, to stay plate and process, then I can adjust accordingly. There are several of us who adopt this approach with rookies (typically Vultures), and these rookies then espouse how *that* game they did with so-and-so was a big building block in their burgeoning career. I just glow about it. If it’s not me they’re talking about, they’ll say who it is, and more-often-than-not, my estimate will be confirmed, “Yup. Vulture. You worked with a Vulture.”

PUT THE BALL BACK IN PLAY after it goes 'dead' every time. It's just good practice, and at the end of the day, it's the proper way/mechanic (at our level). You don't see this every time on the MLB field, but ... that's an MLB field

My perspective is that there is an officiating shortage for a reason and its gotten this way gradually over a long period of time. Its not on individual umpires to "strap the cross to their backs" and be taking on too many games, doing solo varsity games, scrambling all over, and compromising their quality of life at home/with their spouse/with their families etc. This problem has been created by all the players involved (assignors, state associations, leagues, parents, etc.) and its not on us at an individual level to kill ourselves to "help out." Theres going to be crises every day for a very long time. Taking a day or two off a week and enjoying the weather and your time with those you care about is the right approach for most of us.

I just got this mailing too. The “pay to play (umpire)” bullish!t has to end. NASO enrollment, and other similar resources, should be complementary and funded / underwritten by the baseball organizations that need – not “request”, not “could use” – us to officiate their games. NASO admits it right up front! We “don’t get paid enough”… well, it certainly gets exacerbated when we have to pay for NASO representation! And insurance! And training! And resource materials! And uniforms (here’s the rotten, festering source of the navy vs. anything else argument; if you (Ohio, Michigan, etc.) are going to stipulate / require your umpires to wear a particular uniform, then you should provide it. Period!)! Yeah, a substantial number of officials are aging out. Yeah, they’re not being replaced by new recruits. Part of the blame falls on the latest generation’s culture (and aversion to work, ahem), but an equal part falls on the existing officiating structure, and the daunting costs that confront a new official. Perfection only comes through practice; practice is only achieved through participation. We must reduce the price for participation, otherwise it just becomes a prohibitive obstacle.

So story from a few weeks ago I was reminded about, so figured i'd share:) OBR rules tourney (with some various modifications that are unimportant). UIC/TDs have no problem with the coaches at the door on the bucket, so we allow it. I've never seen it come into play, every time it hits the bucket, it was going to go into the dugout anyway... until: Weird shaped dugouts, they have only 1 entrance onto the field on the 'home plate' side, and are cut into the field. You can see them here : ) There are now roofs on the dugouts, but the only opening is the home-side. There is also a concrete 'lip' now thanks to the dirt getting lower over time. As I've said, I've never seen the bucket matter before, but did 2x in 1 game: Top of ~2nd inning, VT in the 3rd base dugout, 1st and 2nd. Batter hits a ball to RF, RF sees R2 going around 3rd, and fires home. AND hits the VT's coach's bucket and goes into the dugout. I kill it, and leave the bases loaded. Coach comes out and asks why there are no base awards, I explain that it hit the bucket, so its a dead ball, and I can't give him benefit for his bucket causing the problem. He says 'well, it would have gone in the dugout anyway!', and I said that I don't really judge it that way, the concrete lip and the angle it came in makes that impossible to judge, so I just killed it. He relents, and goes back onto his bucket. BOTTOM of the same inning. R2, grounder to F5 who throws it over the 1B head. R2 is stopping at 3rd, but F3 gets a little excited and fires home.... and bonks right off the same bucket (though was clearly not going into the dugout). I call time, award two bases to everyone. Coach says from the dugout (not really a yell, since its like 15 feet, but loud enough I can hear): "Award because it is my bucket?" Me: "Yep". Him: "Urgh.... *yells* Sorry guys, that one is on me!" and moves his bucket into the dugout with his head held in shame. He came up to me after the game and said he'd never even heard of it happening before, and had discussed it with UIC during the game, and was amazed I 'got it right' despite being such an obscure rule. I responded, "thats why they pay us the little bucks!", and he chuckled, said "see you later, have a good one!" and walked away.

🙄 “This is the type of errant pedantry up with which I will not put.” --Attributed to Winston Churchill Yes, you're right. It's an "indicator", but did you have any question about what he was referring to? (Excuse me... "about the device to which he was referring?") If not, then who cares? If you're going to Pro School, you're absolutely right that it should be called nothing other than an indicator. I call it an ind-clicki-counter, just because I like watching people's heads explode who get up-tight about the silliest things.

Ejectable offenses: Personal Prolonged Profane Personal? No, they were arguing the calls, not you, directly Prolonged? They were getting there. As long as they didn't continue after the warning, that's probably good. Profane? Check - you can't swear at anybody (especially in high school) and expect to stay in the game. Only one quibble... "Shake it off" was right there, and you didn't jump on it???

Success is taking something that's so hard to do very few can do it, and making it look so easy that everyone thinks they can do it.

🤣 I do, ...I have to .... at Comerica Park for a HS Showcase on Saturday .......

"Coach, the game ended before R1 completed his award."

I have to apologize for my assumption on today's partner. He was there when I pulled up 55 minutes before game time, was perfectly competent on the bases, and he did indeed have black. 😁

under control. the mods and admins went crazy this morning shutting it down and Warren came in to stop all new members for a day or so, along with blocking all guests from posting also. Until this calms down .... I think that was a good idea.

He's been an MLB umpire since 1991. He has worked 3 All-Star Games, 12 Division Series, 8 League Championship Series, 2 World Series and 1 World Baseball Classic. He will be 62 this year and has accomplished a great deal as an MLB umpire. If he is in fact retiring, I wish him many good years with his family and continuing all of the great charity work he does. ~Dawg

I've still been advancing with no pro experience or pro school. If your goal is Power 5 or bust, then yeah, you probably won't get there. But you can still work pretty high level college baseball. Also, you can't get there if you don't at least try.

THIS IS THE REASON UMPIRES ARE HATED, .... RIGHT HERE! MISAPPLICATION OF RULES! UN REAL!!!!!!!! Home run ... NOT a live ball ....NOT AN OUT .... see @noumpere's photo/insert.

Here, try this link.

Working with a partner. No partner? No Kevin_K.

"It was a $60 call coach. $60 puts another pair of eyes and a second opinion on the field when I am out of position." There is NO reason for a coach to touch an umpire. There is no reason in this day and age for anybody to be touching a stranger. Tangent rant, but I feel that goes back to this "first name basis" thing. NO. I am not there to be your friend or your buddy. I am your adjudicator for the day, and you are my client. I like the new guy!

He brought it out and handed it to the batter who took a bite of it... in the celebration. That is a celebratory prop. We've been hammered on this all year. The NCAA sent out a memo week 3 or 4 as a blanket warning so teams didn't get a "free one". They know that they can't bring ANYTHING out of the dugout and use it in the celebration. The players have to be smarter than what they showed. They know that they can't do that. They know that the umpire's supervisors are in attendance and watching everything during the tournament.

The memes are out of control.

First, I check my physical condition. Dehydrated? Sore, in pain, discomfort? I address that first. Then, I check for mental distractions and try to focus. If something required my urgent attention, I wouldn't be umpiring. So I try to set whatever it is aside, knowing that it will wait. Finally, and in every case, I slow down. Take a deep breath, go back to basics (read the pitch out of F1's hand, track it to the mitt, judge it mentally, then call it). There's no such thing as a "bad day behind the plate." There's only, "I can do better."

Game 1 of the high school post season regionals, I was PU in a 3-man crew. This was the #2 seed (home) versus the #31 seed, so we knew it was not going to be close. I worked the plate as hard as I always do (my level of effort is the same whether it is a JV game or a college game), and tried to be as consistent as possible with my zone. After 4 innings, the home team was up 16-0, which ended the game on a run rule. The visiting team catcher, who had just gotten schwacked, told me, "Blue, you're the best umpire I've had all year!" It felt good to have my level of effort appreciated, especially when it would have been understandable for him to be in a foul mood.

@mac266 I know you don't like youth ball, but.... I had an 8U player come up to me this weekend while he was waiting for his catcher (he walked from the mound to me behind the play) and thanked me for being a great umpire. My heart dropped. I told him thanks for being a GREAT player.

Just remember that most likely there are 15 cameras on you at all times... every parent, grandparent, recruiter/scout at a 12U game... whatever. Trust me... I made it to the front page of the 'Umpire Hate' Instagram page with a safe/out call at home taken from outside the fence, down the 1st base line... cannot even see the plate in the video and was amazed A) by the number of my friends who called/texted me literally 2 minutes after it posted, B) the number of people who, without even being able to see where the plate is decided I blew the call and conversely how many people without being able to see the plate agreed with my call, etc, etc... What really blew my mind was how many umpires subscribe to a page named 'Umpire Hate'. Felt like watching rattle snakes commit suicide. Moral of this tale: call what you see and don't make up calls. No one is going to know when you are getting internet love that you did not ask for, that the game was 20-0. All they are going to see is you making a call which after being dissected frame by frame in slow-mo is obviously incorrect, or in their mind is obviously incorrect.

Thanks. Others that I know of were Larry, and John who also had a major hand in this too ..... @LMSANS, ... @johnnyg08

Fresh off my college season concluding this past weekend, I strolled out for my 1st HS game of the year. I knew the pace would be much slower. As an "experiment" I brought my timer out on the bases with me, curious to see how many potential violations of the 20-second protocol from the OP we would have. In one 7-inning game, we had 16 violations that would have met college standards, most of which were going over the 20-second time limit. At the same time, only 1 batter would have been dinged for a violation not being alert at the 10-second mark. I notated all violations with a tally on my visits/conferences card (Yes, I keep one in HS ball, too). Pace of play is a major issue now at the HS level - something needs to be done. I think I will continue to do this a few more games and cross-check data.

Jim Evans taught us to carry a small notebook and pencil in our pocket. In between innings, write down what you did well and what you want to post-game. It might be a judgement call, it might be a rule application, it might even be how you dealt with an asshat coach or player (or in some cases did not deal with them properly). Anyway, the point here is to write it down so you can make sure to post-game it with your partner and more importantly, FLUSH it and move on. I have found that writing it down allows me the freedom to let it go because I can address it post-game.

It is crucial we don't give the verbal, nor do we consider that signal "putting the ball in play". Yes, the hand signal is an imperative, so as to give our partner / the clock operator the indication that the clock is to start. But, if we say "Play" on a ball that is already Live, you'll get a shrewd coach who will think and/or say, "Wait wait... why is the ball dead?!" Between batters, the ball is still Live; so pickoffs may occur, the HBT may still occur, the F1 is still under the auspices of (potentially) defacing the ball, or engaging and then stepping improperly, thus incurring a Balk, etc. With a new batter, the Action Clock is "on pause", but the ball is still Live. PU's point(ing) is to start the Action Clock. Now, off of a Dead Ball, we give signal (point) and verbal ("Play"), that hasn't changed. Although now, it's even more important, and I do like having it be "more important", because that means reminding, prompting, or forcing some lazy PU slugs to start actually doing it. Anyone – a-n-y-o-n-e – who is not a Professional (as in MLBU) umpire, and tells you "you don't have to signal" is a PU slug, and needs to adapt. Even with the bases empty, coming out of a Dead Ball, I still point the ball Live. Every. Time.

I would be able to ump school ball this season if it wasn’t for the department of education dragging their feet. I should be on for next year though. I try to know the rules as best as possible as I know it’s my the best defense in this profession. I appreciate the encouragement and don’t worry. A couple of coaches being jerks isn’t going to stop me. I love this craft and expanding on my knowledge through a school or camp is on my radar. I just don’t have a way to finance it currently.

I worked with a guy a few weeks ago who has been umpiring minor leagues down for 50 years. Like...that's longer than I have been alive, man. I have never seen this mechanic before and have been considering adding it to my own. On ANY close putout, he calls it loudly and definitively, "He's out!" with a punch out mechanic that could cut an onion and then he adds in a slightly lower volume, "No question!" This one I have added...when it's a tag play, I will move to a spot close to where I saw the tag and then point to the area in space where I saw the tag. It could be up on his head or it could be his shoelaces, etc...and after pointing say, "Tag! Tag! He's out!" and then giving a punch out mechanic. I have had fewer coaches come out on me when I do this. We are telling everyone at the ballpark why the runner is out and where we saw the tag. That doesn't necessarily mean we get every call correct but, you are significantly reducing the room for negotiation. @ArchAngel72, you know you missed an ejection there when you allowed him to come down like that. Just cut him off. Come to the edge of the dirt circle and hold up your hand and say, "Coach, please return to the coach's box or the dugout. The runner is out and we are not discussing this." If he does not return to the box or dugout, "Coach, if you continue, you will be ejected." And again, followed by an ejection if he doesn't return to the box or the dugout. When it's a rule interpretation or an application of the rules, we give them a bit more leash. When it's judgement...no leash. And of course, the key is to remain calm while he has a meltdown...easier said than done. Please do not pursue a career in the restaurant industry. We need umpires and you're a good one. ~Dawg

This statement reflects a correct grasp of the rule. F1 must proceed with his windup and pitch to the batter without interruption, once he is committed to pitching (starts the windup, say, with a rocker step). But some opposing coaches see a leg stop, for example, without noticing that something else (such as the hands) continue to move. As long as something is moving, F1's delivery is legal. And, yes, this is a judgment call. Given the severity of the penalty with R3, I'd be looking for an obvious "freeze" of F1's entire body for a substantial time, not a momentary pause of the leg. All of this is irrelevant. If F1 throws 100 pitches in a game, they can all be made with different motions without violating the balk provisions. And deceiving the runner is not illegal in and of itself. The purpose of (legal) feints, suddenly disengaging, varying time to delivery, etc. is to deceive the runner. A balk is illegal deception, as defined in the balk rule.

This is the only part of the first story I don't like. Don't contact anyone. If someone persists in confronting you, take out your phone and dial 9-1-1, but don't send the call. Hold up the phone and tell the person to leave you alone or the police will be involved. Call the assignor when you're secure. Check your league rules, but generally the home book is official. If they disagree, go with home book and recommend that the scorekeepers sort it out. It's not our job to adjudicate these disagreements. Good. Not so good. Do not respond, or, at most, "Thanks coach," and be on your way. He's entitled to his opinion, and your response set up what happened next. The hardest thing is to ignore all these comments thrown our way, especially from ignorant, angry fans. The sooner you learn to do it, the better. Ugh. Some of those leagues are the worst: a bunch of has-beens and never-were's, taking it out on officials. Gross. Don't let them get away with anything.

… Seriously, though, I use a ShockDoctor (the silicone & carbon fiber one). It replaced a Nutty Buddy which was separating shell from gasket, and after bringing that to the attention of the then-founder and owner of the company… chose to never buy a Nutty Buddy again. I’d give the Diamond MMA one a try. Plate work does feel like a cage match at times.

Signal? As in, use hands and/or gesture? Never. Call Balls and/or location? All the time (except the backstop/mascot-impacting runaway pitches, or the cricket bowls). I’ve actually gotten substantial and repeated feedback from players and coaches – professional and amateur alike – who favor and appreciate how I do this so transparently. I also verbally define (to the batter and catcher) the bottom, top, inner edge, and outer edge of the zone, as well as the sporadic “that one hooked the corner”. Because I’m consistently, quietly calling in this way, I rarely, if ever, have to answer the “Where’d that miss, Max (or Six)?”; the F2 often pre-empts me in answering. By denoting the boundaries of the zone, batters are less incredulous and confrontational, too. Catchers tend to “fish and drag” less. As soon as I vocalize “AIKE!… that’s the bottom,” I’ve noticed less catchers try to fish – bounce the mitt and bring it back up – much less, or try to drag the pitch back over the plate. Once I call the edge, they realize they’re going to have better results if they stick the mitt placement instead of trying to pull back to within the zone.

Really? It's been right there after rule 4 for some time now. 😉

Plate Dodging, the why as I see it: I'll tell you why many new guys may want to dodge a plate - new guys hear a lot of chirping back there. "Where was that at F2?" "Oooooh, looked good" "LIVE there!" etc. from fans and coaches. They seem to be like sharks and smell blood in the water with new guys. I think we need to do a better job of teaching the new guys how much is enough and when to shut it down... or here's an idea - help them out and stop it before he decides this is not his calling and walks. I was probably in year three before I was comfortable enough and good enough to ignore about anything and realized many things being said weren't really questioning my calls as much as trying to encourage their pitcher (and same is true for batting team coaches - "that's not you" wasn't directed at my bad call, but he needs to swing at a good pitch and not that one). There's far more potential for things to blow up on you when behind the plate than out in the field. Kick a call on the bases, you may hear it for a minute or two but then they move on - but the plate guy gets to hear the fans and coaches discuss it for awhile longer. Yes, I know we don't have rabbit ears and respond to the fence and/or possibly what we may overhear from coaches, but I do have ears and CAN hear - and some would say SHOULD be listening so that if something starts to get out of hand, then you can shut it down quickly. One other possible explanation I just thought of - gear costs. Maybe the new guy doesn't have comfortable plate gear, so he doesn't like doing the plate. A too-heavy mask or uncomfortable shins or CP may make a difficult job worse in you're new. But in the end, I must agree with your point. I think the games are far more interesting and quick when I am squatting there behind F2. As I continue to grow and learn, the games get better too. My zone gets more consistent, the questionable calls to F2 from the dugout died out years ago and now I can chuckle when a hear a coach give out an "oooh, nice pitch Johnny" or a "live there, all day" and may even ask F2 (if he's a good one) if he thought that they should live there and we share a laugh. As my main Assignor says, "I thought guys got into umpiring because they wanted to be the guy behind the plate!" He's right, we live for it, it is THE job.

First, and you already realized the issue, get the parents out of the field of play. However, in your situation, I would kill the ball and award 2 bases, treating it as a ground rule double.

I always put it back in play. Maybe not always verbal. On a foul ball, no one on, probably just a point. Just good practice.

This is it right here. Source Zero. If you were to pry into why that DTAssC is screaming “He’s out! He took his helmet off!”, 99 times out of 100 the reason will be – “It was called on me/us (in a game / season prior)”. Viral umpiring. - the single-most damaging aspect of our profession. Make s#!t up because ya don’t know the rule. @SH0102, I read your entire post, and while I appreciate what you’re saying, I cannot endorse the tone. Learning or not, we can’t coddle guys who make s#!t up when the Rules are readily available to us. It’s like someone plopping down a brown brick in front of us, and declaring, “I made chocolate cake, aren’t I awesome?!”, and we come to find out they used pancake mix, 4 eggs (instead of just 2), “some” oil, baking spray instead of soda, threw some chocolate chips and Hershey’s syrup in, and then baked it until it “looked good”… 💩 The response they want to hear is, “Oh wow, thank you! Mmmm… <hrk cough cough hrk>”. The response we give too often is “Well, hey, at least you were trying. Good effort!” The response we really need to give is, “Didja read the f*€king recipe?!?!” What truly upsets me is the “Umpires (got) together… “ part. So not one of them calls it “in the moment”, when it happens (which would have been bad enough), but then they get together and discuss it?!?! And all they can arrive at is a collaborative s#!t sandwich of made-up falseness?!?! Viral umpiring. 2 (or more) umpires now believe they got the “ruling” right, and they go off to their next games, and tell their partners “Oh hey, in a game I did last week, we had to call a kid out for tapping his helmet with his coach after a home run”. Then, too, coaches and players and parents now (falsely) believe that an act – even similar to it – constitutes an out. Or, worse, that by just whining and “bringing it to the attention of an umpire”, some “justice” will be meted out. And now, there’s an infection afflicting baseball in that locale going forward until somebody corrects it, and corrects it big. Sad. I’m disgusted for you. What state, please? If it’s Arizona, I’m making phone calls.

Nobody asked me but... If you haven't already, I would absolutely speak with your UIC and the league president about the coach's conduct. Someone needs to take that hump out behind the woodshed and explain to him how not to get ejected from a LL game AND what to do and not do when you are ejected. Presumably, you and your partner have to present an ejection report. I wouldn't make any recommendations there in writing but, I would emphasize and make clear that when ejected AND asked to remove himself...he had difficulty executing those directions. ~Dawg

#1, 3, and 4 are inter-related. My experience has been that by using names there is a more personal connection between head coaches and umpires. Treating each other as human beings tends to dampen the desire to act like a jackass toward another person. That doesn't mean all coaches and all umpires are approachable, sentient, analytical, and/or self aware when they are addressed by their name rather than their position. Kids should always respect the officials and terms like sir and Mr. Umpire are far more appropriate than a first name. As players age and use razors on a more regular basis, first names become more appropriate. YMMV

I struggle balancing everything off the field - traveling, scrambling to maintain the house, errands, getting out of work to make a 4:30/5:00 HS game (I have flexibility and it’s still hard.). Love being on the field but everything else can be a burnout. Find some balance and give yourself some time off as needed. Everyone is different.

I do. It sits right there, in my left hand, on a wrist leash. I use this in NAIA, JuCo, and AZ HS, since our state was the first (only?) state to volunteer and enforce the 20-sec. pitch clock. Now, we're more... liberal with our enforcements of such things as resets (we take any play attempt which forces the runner back to the bag as a valid Reset, and there is no limit to resets, unlike NCAA), mound "talks" (catchers can call time and talk without limit; coaches still under a NFHS limit), and Batters are under a 10-second "reminder / warning" (example: "Hey, get in the box and be ready; if you persist in not getting in the box, I will call a Strike on you.") I teach others in the (effective) use of a stopwatch. I always go hands-on-knees set, at either B or C, in sync to the pitcher engaging the rubber. If he's not engaged, then I'm not HOK. If he's engaged, I'm HOK set. Every. Time. My PU partners can rely on it like, huh... pun... clockwork. So when it feels like it's getting close, it's not much effort to roll my left hand over and glance down at the display. Being a former catcher, goalie, and basketball player helps, because you have an innate sense of time/timing (basketball = shot clock). Sure, the RefTimer is a good tool, but there's no way anyone is going to compel me to use one unless they can prove that the stopwatch method doesn't work.

In my view it's all about how strong your LL board of directors is. If they are afraid of their coaches...look out! The coaches will run roughshod over everyone, including the volunteer umpires. Most of the strongest personalities gravitate toward coaching. And sometimes BOD's feel like they need these guys because they "know baseball". Our league has slowly grown its volunteer umpire corps over the last 5 years by going heavily into hands-on training and mentorship. Yes it takes a lot of volunteer time and effort...and a BOD focus on the mission of "teaching life lessons through the great game of baseball" instead of "just win baby". We have had some coaches get out of line, and they are no longer coaching. Shoot one monkey and all of that...

HS varsity game, 3 man mechanics. R1/R2, less than 2 outs. F6 walks the ball back to F1 who is a couple feet from the mound/circle. Watching, I notice that when F6 hands F1 the ball, there is no ball in his hand. I also notice that his mitt is swollen like it may be cradling something... 🤯 Trying not to to tip anyone off, instead of turning chest to ball and staring at the fielder, I just opened up and watched... quick head turn to the right I notice F1/F2 a few feet from the mound talking (so no balk potential there). I look back and F6 is chatting with R2 (who happens to be one his BFF's I later learn) when R2 decides that stepping off the base is a good thing. 6 inches from the bag F6 applies the tag which I immediately call as an out. 1/2 the stands are cheering, the other 1/2 is stunned. VTHC asks for time, granted and comes running out to me. No way, no way! Time was out! OK... if time was out, why did you ask for time to come out here? Coach, I didn't call time, BUT since I was watching what I should have ben watching, maybe one of my partners called time and I missed it. If that's the case, no harm. Go back to the dugout and we are going to chat. U1, did you call time? Nope... I know I didn't call time since I recognized what play was on... PU guy? Umm... well F2 and the batter asked me before the tag play happened if we had time and I said yes, I think we have time. Ok... so you told both the offense and defensive player(s) you had time, so here's the deal: You get to go tell the HTHC, who is about to lose his mind why we're taking the out away. U1, you are going to be ready to play rodeo clown if this gets out of hand. I am going to signal the runner safe. Couple of minutes of fun, no ejections and my PU let the coach have his say since he recognized he spoke out of turn. Got the game moving again and finally ended in a walk off in the 7th. Moral of the story? A) always know the location and status of the ball. B) If you are going to call time, make sure you at least do the mechanic so people can see what you are doing. Makes selling that you called time a lot easier than double secret probation, err, secret timeouts. C) don't call time unless there is a reason to actually call time. Anyhow, my little slice of odd stuff from the ballfield.

I gave back a state semi last year. Albeit for a different reason. We have 4 groups so there’s 8 semis across the state. I live 15 minutes from NY/ Pa in the NW corner of NJ. They gave me a game 15 minutes outside Delaware…. 3 hours away. Literally the opposite corner of the state. They claimed the parings are random and cannot be changed for any reason. Oh well.. then I guess you’ll have to find someone else. Thanks but no thanks.

It's so funny that this subject is stemming from this post, but it's interesting because it's been talked about with some of my partners this year, and actually, just last night. I rotated plate and base this week which I prefer, and yesterday was a base for me and after the game my partner and I were chatting (post-gaming) and talking about plate vs. bases. We both agreed that we each focus almost as much while on the bases as on the plate. YOU HAVE TO in an effort to NOT be surprised. Within the first 2 innings I was met w/ at least 3 whackers! As we get older (we=me) ... we get slower, and these 18 year olds can move! Our game last night was on turf also, so ...things were moving! Another thing we discussed was how we both prefer the plate and that we both feel somewhat awkward on the bases. There's specific footwork that 'should' be happening, but sometimes the plays moves too fast for that. We concluded that an umpire must be proficient in both. Not necessarily great in both, but able to do a 'good job' plate and base. We also concluded that the bases are NOT easy (no easy paycheck) ... it's work and concentration to ensure you're where you should be at any moment, and like I said above, NOT be surprised. My .02, ymmv