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After the first pitch comment, I would have stated clearly and loudly, 'ALL DAY (night) Long!!!!" Did this at an adult league game, inside rail right above the belly button, "STRIKE", he turned WHAT!!!, I responded "ALL DAY LONG!!!!" next pitch same location, "STRIKE" His entire dugout in unison "ALL DAY LONG!!!" not a word from anybody the rest of the game. Been doing it ever since.

I would also suggest not getting married.

1-2-3 ART. 3 . . . The on-deck circle should be to the side and away from home plate, 37 feet if space allows. Neither team's players shall warm up in the other team's on-deck circle. The on-deck circle does not have to be occupied, but if a player wishes to warm up, he shall do so only in his team's on-deck circle, provided the on-deck circle is located safely away from home plate.

Solar umpires have more power during day games.

well, if the choice is that or get beheaded...

Sorry it was Michael Keaton, not Crystal. Old enough to remember, almost.

Yep. I edited my response and addressed the catch/no catch part.

Not really convoluted...if you look at the right rule in the rule book it's pretty simple. The rules posted above touch on the right ruling, but another rule gets right to the point. Refer to 8-12-L, in the section that tells us some scenarios when the runner is NOT out. In USSSA slow pitch, when a runner is hit with a batted ball while OFF a base, the rules are exactly the same as what we're familiar with in baseball. When a runner is hit while ON a base, now we have a rule difference. Being on the base offers no protection in baseball (other than if an infield fly has been hit). But it does in most forms of softball. The reasoning is actually the same as it is with the infield fly exception in baseball. Since leadoffs aren't allowed in softball, the runners have much less of an option on where to position themselves. They're pretty much restricted to being on the base- same as a tagging runner in baseball would be when an infield fly is hit. So the rules provide an exception, taking into account that a runner on a base is standing precisely where the rules require him to be. Here is the rule: 8-12-L: Baserunners are NOT out...When, while in contact with the base, the base runner is hit with a fair batted ball unless the umpire rules that the ball was intentionally interfered with, or a fielder interfered with, while attempting to field a batted ball. The note at the end of that section tells us that in this case the ball remains live. As for the subsequent "catch/no catch", again the rule here is the same as baseball. Once the ball touches an offensive player it is no longer "in-flight" and can't be caught for an out. Refer to Rule 3 definition of "catch" in teh USSSA rule book.

220, 221... whatever it takes. Anyone?

Jordxn, As umpires we have more things to deal with than just ball/strike, fair/foul, safe/ out, etc.... Those 'things' all fall under "Game Management". Lot's of situations here and you will need a lot of different tools. Knock it off, that's enough, that'll be enough, don't do that, all of these and too many more to list are great tools that myself and others use to deescalate and sometimes serve as warnings. Game management includes knowing where you are and for whom you are working. We have all heard "When in Rome", so work with your local veterans and find out what works best for your area, don't be afraid to try new things to keep everyone in the game. Ignore, acknowledge, respond, warn, eject, is the process to follow. However, sometimes the situation and depending on the league, skipping steps is warranted and expected by your evaluator . MC and an unsportsmanlike display regarding balls and strikes are two that come to mind, NOT wearing jewelry, don't be that guy. Work hard, hustle, be consistent, fill your tool box.

Is that covered during the plate meeting?

I'll try to give a serious answer... Power - Very little. In terms of game administration the big decisions are made by the leagues, conferences, athletic directors and such. Umpires execute their decisions as they relate to administering the rules of the game. While the entire profession of umpiring is based on making decisions and applying them to a given situation; we are not doing it as a matter of power or control, we are doing it in accordance with the prescribed rules and interpretations and actually have very limited scope of what we can do in any given situation. Responsibility - Tremendous. Every time we make (or don't make) a call it has an effect on the game. It is our duty to administer the game to the absolute best of our ability. To do this we must train, practice, prepare and improve at any opportunity we get. Remember the standard we are measured against is perfection. A player makes a throwing or fielding error. No real big deal, it's just another mark on the scoresheet. An umpire makes an error (or even is perceived to have made an error all hell breaks loose). There are hundreds of reasons people get into umpiring; stay involved with the game, pursue a profession, money, and the list goes on and on. And all of those reasons are generally good ones. However, the only truly bad answer is because they want some sort of power. Over the years I have seen new umpires come and go who get into it for power & control and I have not seen one who continues with it too far because it is just not there and to be a successful umpire you need some level of passion for umpiring itself. Umpiring is the most thankless job you could ever imagine. So @Umpre4Future if you are looking to umpire so you can have power and authority. Umpiring will not be for you. If you are looking to umpire to be an integral and tremendously responsible manner within the parameters we are given, then you may want to give it a try.

Not sure, but I do require all game participants to address me as "All Being, Master of Time, Space, and Dimension." For Steve Martin fans out there.

Not to be critical, but I'm pretty sure this wouldn't fly in most of my games. I'm thinking a well directed "Knock it off!" might be better. Just saying...

http://m.mlb.com/video/v6458903/atlfla-cox-is-ejected-for-arguing-with-the-umpire Everyone likes to watch this video because the viewer can hear basically everything that is said between the umpire, Jim Wolfe, and the manager, Bobby Cox. I post it here for another reason: watch how Jim refuses to re-start the game until Bobby leaves. He just remains calm and says, "you gotta go, Bobby". He just won't start the game again until Bobby leaves. In your case, since the ejected party was a player, all you need to do is say "coach, he's gotta go." You don't need to do anything further other than calmly say, "we're not going to restart until he leaves." Then say nothing more. Just keep your calm and stand there and refuse to start the game until the EJ'd party is out of sight and sound. I've never had this not work; it works every time. If, however, the player fails to leave and the coach is doing nothing about it, then calmly say, "if he doesn't leave the game is going to be suspended and this will be reported to the league to deal with." Say it calmly and non-threateningly. Do NOT give the player (or team) a time period in which the player has to leave. (Such as 60 seconds). Just use good judgment.

My treatise - uploaded many times: A tie DOES go to the runner at first base and for force plays. The only possible umpiring issue is whether or not a tie is possible. Trying to redefine the meaning of “before” sometimes enters the discussion too. 6.05 A batter is out when— (j) After a third strike or after he hits a fair ball, he or first base is tagged before he touches first base; Same here: 7.08 Any runner is out when— (e) He or the next base is tagged before he touches the next base, after he has been forced to advance by reason of the batter becoming a runner. So if it's a tie, he or the base was not tagged before he touched the base so he's safe. As you can see, a tie DOES go to the runner BY RULE! People are so locked into their perception that the phrase is a myth that they can’t accept what is in black and white in the rule book.

I get where you're coming from, Rich. I frequent several umpire discussion boards and have seen this same question at least a dozen different times this year. And it's the same every year. Which kind of baffles me, because it seems to suggest that this is a common play that happens a lot. I'm creeping up on the twenty year mark as an umpire, somewhere in the neighborhood of 1200+ games under my belt, and have NEVER seen this happen in one of my games. But it must be happening out there somewhere because this question sure gets asked a lot!

Tom Hallion paid tribute to longtime NL umpire Dutch Rennert via a strike one call early in the Braves-Marlins game Saturday night. Rennert was at the ballpark and gave an interview to FOX Sports Miami during the 5th inning, commenting on colorful umpiring and the modern trend towards the robotic,... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] View the full article

That's as clear a balk as we'll ever see in MLB - some guy driving past the stadium could have called that and the manager needs an explanation?

Kettle, meet pot ....pot, meet kettle

Well, I would...but I'm afraid if I explained something you already know, you'd accuse me of insulting your intelligence and being condescending. I'd rather not risk the public humiliation.

@Rulekeep, I found @Richvee 's response to be pretty informative and quite polite, not at all the condescending or confrontational one that you seemed to read. Was Rich supposed to magically know all the additional information about your family and your coursework? Of course not...he responded on the very skimpy information you offered. I don't think your confrontational response was warranted.

Bad news, Tom is that the Coach isn't going to believe you.....

How does F1 know who said TIME. He might have thought that you called TIME. I'd always give F1 the benefit of the doubt and not balk this.