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Just today I saw a post about the new Force 3 mask....oops, not April's Fools...

Just today I had a new guy ask me if new guys get any post season assignments. I told him no because the new guys are assigned to be the Ball/water boys for the varsity guys during playoffs. He believes me!

Good stuff here. Pause, read and 90+% of the time, U1 goes out. This is almost always a trouble ball. Even if it's a trouble ball it's still U3s ball. U1 shouldn't be going out when the ball is hit anywhere near center or anywhere inside of the right fielder with a runner on first. If it's a trouble ball U3 can bust the line and go out to make the call while U1 can go into the library and read the play for possible tag up or for a possible play into first. This is how we do it in pro ball.

At the beginning of the OP, there is no way you are going to have a force out in this situation under any circumstances. With only 2nd and 3rd occupied, neither of these runners are "forced" to go anywhere. However, this is a good question to raise--and get terminology correct. This is a good reminder for all of us--Rule 2 in NFHS is the definitions. If you understand definitions, it will pay dividends in dissecting a play and knowing what you have in front of you and how to rule on the play.

This happened last week. HS varsity game at Angels Stadium. The umpires are from our local HS Association. A couple of issues here: 1. Was there contact? Clearly, if there was no contact, then there is no call to make (perhaps, "that's nothing" if you feel it's warranted). 2. If there was contact, how you would rule on this play in Fed and OBR? http://vimeo.com/89733134 My "spoiler alert" answer below.

Woke up this morning, got dressed for work only to find my beloved Truck had a flat tire.... Changed clothes, pumped it up and drove to Discount Tire.... 4 new tires were needed at a price of almost $1000. Figured while I was out, might as well stop and get the oil changed and spend some more money. Came home and tried to decide if I should go into work late when I realized that that the MLB Package is FREE this week. Opening day with unlimited baseball all day.... Turned out not to be such a bad day after all!

Ladies and Gentlemen. We have had very momentous day. The Toronto Blue Jays and The New York Yankees have made a monumental trade. They are going to trade cities. NASA has announced that they plan to land on the Sun at night because it's just too hot in the day. Alaska has been annexed by Russia because Vladimir Putin can see it from his house. Sorry, Rulekeep April Fools!!!

I feel sorry for any naïve individual that comes to this forum on April 1st 8)

Dana DeMuth in Baltimore vs. Boston..,.. Long sleeve under a short sleeve...... Well, at least he's not a crew chief...... ...... Oh, wait a minute......:blink: Sorry, I had to, before someone else mentioned it :-) Jeff - via Tapatalk

I don't want it. Just trying to correct the info. I once had a 1.0 replaced with a 2.0 both good HSMs....whomever buys this, I would recommend a throat guard. The 1.0 does not cover the throat.

Shoulda seen us during the World Series

I'm positive that is a Shock FX 1.0. I made my offer.

Stephen, Pretty good. Except where you misspelled "DH" (which I didn't even realize was possible...). JM

9.02( c) reads, in part: "If the umpires consult after a play and change a call that had been made, then they have the authority to take all steps that they may deem necessary, in their discretion, to eliminate the results and consequences of the earlier call that they are reversing, including placing runners where they think those runners would have been after the play, had the ultimate call been made as the initial call, disregarding interference or obstruction that may have occurred on the play; failures of runners to tag up based upon the initial call on the field; runners passing other runners or missing bases; etc., all in the discretion of the umpires."

totally agree ......... I actually think this is FASTER than the argument that would insue ....and ..... it's easing relations between managers and umpires (my .02) I agree....and it keeps the umpires off the front page of Deadspin. Good for all concerned.

I once convinced an eight year old that umpires were specially breeded and kept in a storage truck in Washington, D.C, and then woken up and shipped out whenever somebody needed an umpire.

Hell, don't enter the field without your mask on!!

It may be! So after my phone call this morning I went ahead and sent this to all the umpires in my association: This is for all the RCUA rookies. Playoff will be starting soon. Even though you will not get to Umpire playoff games you will be assigned to a crew and serve as the ball/water boy for the Varsity Umpires. Your assignments will be out shortly. Thanks for all you do.

It's U3's only if U1 doesn't go out. U1 is the boss, U3 reads U1. U1's first job is to read the ball/fielders. Why would U1 be going out on a ball hit to right center? Even if it's a trouble ball U3 would have the coverage on that if it's within the "V". At least that's how we run the pro mechanic. Is this April Fool's too? The pro coverage is the same as the NCAA coverage, except the criteria for going out is different. Like I said, in the pro version, U1 would automatically go out since the ball is hit in his coverage area (F8 straight in/back or toward RF line) and only one runner is on. So, U1 has the catch/no catch and U3 has R1 back into first or any plays at second. The only (outfield) catch PU has is a trouble ball with F7 moving towards the line. U1 has all trouble balls from F8 straight in or back to the RF line,. U3 has all other trouble balls and all 'routine' catches in the V. At least that's the college mechanic. Dunno the pro mechanic. FED probably has 2 umpires going out. You did actually read my post, right? I quoted it. Ok I give up. Help me out - what did I miss? Check the time stamp on his post and the date related to that time.

This is unnecessary, takes away the flow of the game, and looks bad. Once play has relaxed, simply angle towards the 45 foot point on the first or third base lines (depending on which side of the infield you are on) while keeping your head on a swivel. I've done at least 200 solo games and never once had a play happen behind me. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

What will it retail for? If it costs 99 bucks to fix, the purchase price has to be astronomical.

Look out ...  Jason on the equipment board w/ some insight!!

I know you don't Rolando, now go tuck in your jacket!!! No

Classic Dana. He wore the same during the Division Series, no? Those mid-sleeve rings are fashionable, after all.

Love the story. Nice write up. 5 years to the show (as a fill in)…very solid.

If any umpire called "out" and a runner gave up based on that instruction, fix it and place them. Otherwise, whatever played out, played out. Don't give up on the play, do your best. And put your shields up, because the Hurricane Katrina of sh%#storms is about to make landfall.

10.2.3 Situation G. Even though the umpires failed to call the infield fly, both teams are responsible for knowing when it's in effect. Based on this case play, I would score R3 and keep R2 at third. The batter should be called out.

@Rulekeep is gonna be PISSED!

Tell them to read the definition of a force out. Once that batter runner is out there can no longer be a force out. Very simple.

OHUMP, Your judgment IS what you saw. JM

Is that like strenuously objecting?

I have one thought to add to what others have posted. Apart from the rightness and wrongness of the calls, there's politics. For some, this is a dirty word: call the game the right way, and if folks don't like it, they can go pound salt. Others are at the other extreme: there is no right or wrong independent of what your bosses/clients want. As usual, the truth is probably in the middle. The tricky part about your situation is, supposing you're 100% right about the rules and their application, how can you work in an association that doesn't make those calls? If you insist on calling them, you might get frozen out of games, get a reputation of being "hard to work with" or a "know-it-all" or a "book umpire." These pejoratives are sometimes applied by people who have more power than knowledge. Of course, some people who claim to know better are full of hot air. Association politics are more difficult to navigate than the rule book (and that's saying something). A thousand different variables come into play. If the powers that be confronted me about a call, I'd do what you did: show them applicable rules and cases. If they still say, "yeah, but we don't call that," I'd just nod and thank them for the information. Then volunteer to help train new umpires for your association, so that they can learn it the right way. Changing the culture of an association takes years or decades. That's been true from MLB on down.

I'm not sure what's more tiresome, .... people asking questions that have been talked to death, even after the 'search first' post, ...or.... @gnhbua93 commenting on it as above

I bought it two years ago. I don't remember what I paid for it, but it would have been worth it if I paid 3x what I did.

^^^^ This and maybe a simple change in mindset would help... just think "this pitch is a strike until it convinces me otherwise"

Some of us are AR and want our stuff to match whenever possible. If you are reading and following this topic thread you may be afflicted as well. It is an affliction for which there is probably no cure. I like to match my logos whenever possible. You should see my UnderArmour outfits. From Head to toe (or in this case, bottom to top)...shoes, socks, undies, shorts, pants, shirt, jacket, hat. I feel out of sync when I mix in Nike or Majestic or New Era logos. Go ahead, laugh! It is a sickness. @JoHart10 I feel your pain. Hahaha. It really is a crazy sickness.

Ahhhh, one thing I've been looking forward to! @Thunderheads posting the MLB videos again! Thanks Jeff!

I think a better question is, why not?

That's an awesome price for a 1st. quality product.

We'll tell you the real answer if you become a member

Umpire with confidence and manage and control the game. Nothing happens without you.

Those first year pitchers in 9/10 games can be very dangerous because they are so oblivious to what's going on around them. I have seen them pitch not just without an umpire behind the plate, but also occasionally without a batter anywhere near the batter's box. In addition to watching out for yourself, you need to watch out for the batter. It's not unusual for some of the younger, less experienced kids to be a bit spacey at the plate, so I try to keep an eye out for when they're not paying attention and the pitcher is getting ready to pitch. At higher levels, I'd let generally let it go since they know enough to ask for time, but some of the 9 year olds are so worried about imitating their favorite MLB player's pre-pitch ritual that they risk getting drilled without even knowing a pitch is coming. With all youth leagues, but especially these players doing kid pitch for the first time, safety needs to be a top concern.

Not sure about the HS ruling (not too familiar with FED) but the Pro ruling requires you to keep the ball alive after the INT until you determine whether the ball is fair or foul. If the ball becomes foul (or if caught in foul territory) the batter goes back to bat because the IFF doesn't apply. The runner is still out. Nothing after the INT matters however, except whether the ball becomes fair or foul

Key words, if F3 just gets up and happens to step on the bag while getting up without the purpose of making an appeal the BU should not call the BR out

By getting a Douglas

You made someone extremely happy by buying that mask on eBay

I respectfully disagree with point #1. Rule 5.02 OBR "While the ball is dead no player may be put out, no bases may be run and no runs may be scored" In order for 7.09(h) regarding coaches interference to be applied, interference must be called... Interference, by its definition, results in an out. To be an out, there must be a live ball. I don't think any type of dead ball interference is possible then. It's a four base award on a home run. I agree with Greyhawk. You can declare a runner out because of the interference. And runs can score on a dead ball. A HR is a dead ball once it goes over the fence and the run scores. For the sake of discussion, what differentiates the two: a pat on the butt as the batter-runner rounds third and this prevention of the runner touching? Both involve the 3BC "physically assisting" the runner. And I'd say, just based on what 5.02 says that the runs technically "score" as soon as the ball lands in DBT for a home run... They can then "un-score" upon proper appeal anywhere. 7.09 It is interference by a batter or a runner when—(h) In the judgement of the umpire, the base coach at third base, or first base, by touching or holding the runner, physically assists him in returning to or leaving third base or first base. the base coach can "touch" the runner, physical assistance must be an intentional act by the base coach to prevent a runner from advancing, or aiding the runner in advancing. Therefore, the base coach could even have physical contact with the runner that forces the runner to return and it not be physical assistance. A base coach could have his hands up to stop the runner, and the runner could run into those hands extending out to stop the runner and it not be physical assistance if in YOUR judgement it wasn't an intentional act to physically assist the runner in any way. Understood. I only used that to relate the at-topic discussion with a common rule myth. A better comparison would be to my most recent. Coach physically pushes his runner toward home, or even picks him up and carries him to home... I don't see a difference other than the percieved impact on the defense. yeah sorry was replying when you posted that. any type of intentional physical assistance, whether play is alive or dead, needs to be called. If the ball is dead you would just point at the infraction and say "that's physical assistance, he's out" In the case of the coach carrying his runner home... if it is a dead ball award you may have a substitute runner finish the award for an injured player who cannot run the bases so that situation really shouldn't happen

I respectfully disagree with point #1. Rule 5.02 OBR "While the ball is dead no player may be put out, no bases may be run and no runs may be scored" In order for 7.09(h) regarding coaches interference to be applied, interference must be called... Interference, by its definition, results in an out. To be an out, there must be a live ball. I don't think any type of dead ball interference is possible then. It's a four base award on a home run. I agree with Greyhawk. You can declare a runner out because of the interference. And runs can score on a dead ball. A HR is a dead ball once it goes over the fence and the run scores. For the sake of discussion, what differentiates the two: a pat on the butt as the batter-runner rounds third and this prevention of the runner touching? Both involve the 3BC "physically assisting" the runner. And I'd say, just based on what 5.02 says that the runs technically "score" as soon as the ball lands in DBT for a home run... They can then "un-score" upon proper appeal anywhere. 7.09 It is interference by a batter or a runner when—(h) In the judgement of the umpire, the base coach at third base, or first base, by touching or holding the runner, physically assists him in returning to or leaving third base or first base. the base coach can "touch" the runner, physical assistance must be an intentional act by the base coach to prevent a runner from advancing, or aiding the runner in advancing. Therefore, the base coach could even have physical contact with the runner that forces the runner to return and it not be physical assistance. A base coach could have his hands up to stop the runner, and the runner could run into those hands extending out to stop the runner and it not be physical assistance if in YOUR judgement it wasn't an intentional act to physically assist the runner in any way.

Doesn't even deserve the B... :wave:

I would just like to take a moment before I leave to try to fulfill my dream at umpire school to thank all of the people on this site that have helped me since I joined in May. I am confident in saying I have become a much better umpire from learning from you guys. Now I am excited to be able to take my umpiring to the next level by attending Wendelstedt. So Thank You to everyone who has helped me get ready for umpire school whether it was in threads, in the chat, or in PMs!