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Welcome! If you are teachable and like to read more than write you will learn much here! Enjoy! Oh yea... don't ask about bicep protection!

I don't care who you are that's funny right there.

You're right. Guy on the left is way too skinny.

Absolutely not my intention to post a screenshot to "make a case that the PU missed a call". For me it's a debate about if there was INT or not. Some here think there's no INT. I'm posting something that to me shows maybe there is a case for INT. It has nothing to do with what the PU called, or should have called, or whatever else. It's strictly a debate and an occasion to watch a rare play we don't see very often on the field. The hope being maybe this can help me react when I do see such a play. My only intention in rehashing a play like this and breaking it down is to perhaps be more prepared to make a well thought out, intelligent call in a game.....I had 2 straight steals of home this summer, and both took me by surprise. Both were with 2 outs, and one was with 2 strikes on the batter! So yes, I know how difficult it is to process everything that's going on in the few seconds of such a play. So, as far as I'm concerned, looking at plays like this and picking them apart frame by frame is for no other reason than to maybe give me a little better ability to be ready for, and be able to notice and process the multitude of things that are happening next time I have a steal of home.

1st things I saw was a guy with blue sneakers and 3 untucked shirts.

Here's the bottom line on pants color: 99% of baseball folks don't care. Hell, most don't notice if your shirts don't match. Mix GD, heather and charcoal out there, and very few notice, much less care. Ask any fan or coach. They couldn't care less if the base guy is wearing a plaid shirt. But, the ones that do notice are the ones who decide what games you might be doing down the road, thus, the trouble. As a LL UIC, I didn't care what you wore, and long is it looked sharp. Ironed, tucked in, and black socks were my concern. But I did council the guys who wanted a shot at Division or Region on how to dress for the next level. With so many vying for so few spots, the tipping point may come down to the shade of pants you're wearing. Yeah, it's that silly. Upper level stuff, you've better be wearing polywools, here in SoCal. It's just a sign of commitment to your craft. The GD's are the standard in some areas, and the charcoal Smitty pants can fool most of the Honig's crowd. Just know what's expected of you wherever you work. Oh, and don't trust the word of just one guy, as he might be the last "heather, with Western pockets" guy left in his association.

Attempting to interfere is not ina and of itself interference. Assuming the catcher was still able to catch the throw, then that part of the play is not interference (said with the caveat that I didn't watch the play). And, to MidAmUmp's point -- in the recent Referee magazine, one of the umpires involved in Reggie Jackson's play in the world series says something like, "xx years later; we're still talking about it and we still don't know." That's the same knd of thing about this play -- everyone can (and should) have an opinion, and know why s/he has that opinion, but sometimes the constant verbal mastication on these threads (or in meetings, at camps, etc.) gets to be a bit much.

Good call.

Note that my comments are in general terms and not about this play specifically...even though I'm using parts of this play as examples of my rant about breaking down video frame by frame. My general position is I don't get involved in specific rules discussions due to various rule differences at each level of play. It would be easy for someone to say "well, this guy who runs that camp says it's this..." when I am not completely familiar with each set of rules for each level of play. That said, if I was able to recognize that the pitcher disengaged (or got information after the fact from my partner) I would call interference on the batter.

The batter attempted to bunt the throw from a fielder. That's where I have blatant INT. Am I missing something here?

I think so too. I have always wondered why we wear gray slacks, especially dark gray that shows so much dust and dirt instead of khakis which are much easier to buy and match and don't show dirt. I managed a league once, 13-15 year olds and used a lot of 18 year olds from my Legion team as umpires for those games. It was barely above pickup/sandlot ability wise games so I had the umpires wear khaki pants and I provided the navy blue shirts (which MLB and high school and college were all wearing at the time) and the protective plate gear for them and they looked pretty good out there. A couple of those kid/young men umpires moved into real umpiring I am proud to say. Yeah and Khaki is a Chief's Favorite Color

Wrong. If this was the case, PBUC wouldn't have a mechanic on how to do the appeal after a throw to 2B. Edit: This post is what happens when you read the thread and don't respond for three days after.

Who wants to start baking the crow for tonight's midnight snack?

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I agree that as PU I would have not likely thought about the pitcher stepping off, but I would expect my partner to be giving me something on the play. He should see the pitcher step off, recognize the play is not a pitch, and know the play at the plate could be significantly impacted as the throw is not a pitch. I would expect him to be letting me know he has something for me, in whatever manner we discussed in our pre-game discussion. If I was the BU I would likely be giving the "Hey! I got something for you!!" look in a place I normally would not be.

I agree! The single stripe pro shirts are my favorite. Comfortable and they look great. It'll be nice not to have to buy a bunch of new shirts for a couple years!

Serious question: If you're going to use bicep protection, why not get full body pads that cover forearms/thighs, etc like a hockey goalie? The long sleeve shirt while working the plate is my favorite uniform item. I think they look good.

It's evident to me that none of the posts in this thread were intended as criticism of the umpire at the game.

If you rule that, you prohibit F1 from throwing home to retire R3. An infielder throwing to F2 is not as such simulating a pitch. For one thing, with the runner already going, there wouldn't be any advantage to pretending to pitch at that point. That end of the stick couldn't be dirtier. maven So your saying it couldn't happen. Or that you just wouldn't call it. Seems to me it's another good example of umpiring with the rules. The reason simulating a pitching motion while not engaged is illegal is so a pitcher can't start a windup from off the rubber to trick the runner into thinking he has committed to the plate. Certainly not the case here.

oh mY GOD YOU GUYS. http://youtu.be/nx9A0qTeJ-8

I don't have a current MLBUM or PBUC. Anybody know if they pulled that particular play which does have the appeal after the throw down. PBUC 9.8 play 2.

The GD pants are a unique color and texture. Remember when The Official's Choice had a crack at pants? Same thing. I will grant you that the term "matching" is a judgment call, though. I can spot those drawers from two fields away, while others can't tell right next to each other. And, some organizations don't care, and others do. As always, YMMV. The GD pants are tough, well constructed, and take a machine washing like a champ. IMO, they're not that good looking, in comparison to the p/w, but again that's a judgment call. In the pic below, some may see one color, but I see 50 shades of gray.

Bigger biceps.

Way to much going on here. Talk as little as possible. "Coach, do you care to repeat that?" You're r baiting the coach. Whether it sounds like it or not. Also I've never been bumped but if it happens the first time will be the last. Never forfeit a game. Suspend it and let the higher ups deal with it.

All I can say is I'll be damned if I'm spending almost $40 plus S & H on a solid black polo shirt. I'll start to do my umpire shopping at Wal-Mart or Target.