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Mine isn't funny but it's something I'll never regret. I called the Police. I umpired his game on a storybook beautiful day. It was Blue sky, sunshine and baseball. I know he was nine or ten years old. My memory of him is not all that clear until he came to bat. I was umpiring a kid game as a favor for my assignor. I saw the pitch that came hard at him, I cringed knowing he was going to be hit and I watched him crumple when the ball hit him square in the body. He went down and the tears flowed..... I bent to help him, and try to comfort him. His coach ran out and we lifted his shirt to see the mark the ball made. And then we saw it, it was already red and angry looking. But when lifting the shirt, I saw the other marks the angry purple bruises that only fists and adult hands can make and way too many to be accidental..... He tugged his shirt down and got up and he said he was fine. He took a moment to dry his tears and kid like ran off to first.The game, of course, was more important than his getting hurt. I was the one who called the police. I'll never regret that. His coach bought the hotdogs after the game, more to delay the departure of the team, while I called the police. I heard later he was taken out of the home and his parental abuser was charged. I heard he moved to live with relatives. I never saw him again. I wonder so much about this boy. How could anyone do that to a child. On TV now there are ads for reporting child abuse....and the reason most don’t is "how can I be sure?". I can tell you that I was, that day, and remain today, 100% totally sure. The evidence of the beatings that boy was taking left me no grey area.... I wonder if baseball was his refuge from the monster. I wonder if he is ok. I wonder if he ever knew how much he has affected my life and my relationship with my son and with the boys I umpire. I wonder if the coach and I will ever be able to meet and not talk about that day......so far its the first thing we mention when we meet after a long off season. I wonder how many others are out there. I wonder if he is happy. Best thing I ever did on a ball field?.....I called the Police.

(This isn't a LL story - sorry - but it's right at the end of the age range, and is something I won't forget.) When I was still in Virginia, in November '17, I had a pair of 13U games between a team from Richmond and a local team. I worked the plate in the second game, as I prefer. Top-3, the leadoff hitter came to the plate. He suddenly got kind of a thousand-yard stare, and started taking these little steps, like the beginning of tipping over. I gave the coaches the get-the-hell-out-here wave, and then got him in my arms and helped him to the ground. At that point, he started to have a seizure. So .... game over, given the trauma. I found out through the grapevine that the seizure was from a brain tumor - one on the surface of the brain only, and still pretty new, but "not optimal," as they say. The following April, I was assigned another pair of 13U games. Same venue, and it turned out to be the same two teams. Less than six months after that game ...... that same kid was back - not only playing ball, but he was the *starting pitcher* for his team. He'd had surgery at Johns Hopkins - *brain* surgery, which I cannot emphasize enough - and was recovered and on the ballfield. I wrote about it on my Facebook feed, and said: "I don't have a lot of Big Conclusions to draw from it, other than to marvel at the times we live in, and the things we can do to help people. Even though I don't know the exact impression it's made on me, I felt like it's something worth describing." But to me, it was nothing short of remarkable.

My best LL story wasn't even on the diamond. In addition to umpiring, I coached LL for 13 years, either regular season, fall ball, or both. Coached my kids from tee-ball to juniors. Had a kid that I coached, Ethan, off and on from tee-ball up until his 11 year old season. He wasn't the most talented player, but was a good kid and played hard. He left baseball after his 11 year old season and focused on soccer, which he became one hell of a player. We kept in touch with him and his family, and still do to this day, he recently graduated from college. When he turned 13, I received an invitation for me and my whole family to attend his bar mitzvah. I had never been to one, and if you've never been, it is an awesome time. I was very honored to be invited. During the reception of probably close to 300 people, there was a continuous slide show of Ethan's life, and there was even a couple of pictures of me and him on the ball-field, which by itself was really cool. But at wasn't the best and most humbling part. As we were leaving near the end of the event, I thanked his mom for inviting us. She said she was very happy that we came, and then said these words that I'll never forget. She told me that I had a "significant impact on Ethan's life." What, me? I mean I just coached him in LL. I never treated him any different than any other player. I always had the mindset when coaching that I would give every kid a fair shake. You could play any position for me, you just had to work hard at it. That was pretty much my philosophy when coaching. I was stunned at those words. Never did I think I'd have that much of an impact on a kid that wasn't my own. I have a lot of fond and memorable stories involving LL, but that one tops the list.

The coach for my son's 10yo Mustang team had an upper year player, who had no hits and no catches during the year, pitch to the final two batters in his last game ever. Struck them both out in three pitches apiece. I think it was the first and only time we saw him excited and smiling during a game.

Best thing I ever saw, was SWMBO and another coach save a woman's life. It was a 2nd chance (district only) tournament for the players that did make the State or International teams. A player hit a home run. I was on the bases. The ball was thrown back in and I put it in my pocket until the half inning was over. I walked over to their side of the field, asking for who the mother was, and I handed her the ball. She had no intention of even being at the game that night, as she hadn't been feeling well. A batter or two into the next half inning, I hear a woman screaming for help. I'm in A and see another woman lying on the ground behind her teams dugout (1B side). Call it command presence if you want, but the Marine came out in me when I called time. Everyone heard it. I yelled for SWMBO (who is a nurse) and pointed behind the dugout with emphasis, as if awarding a base. I cleared the field and had the 3rd base dugout blocked by the coaches and a couple of board members that were at the game. Fortunately, they were all block dugouts, so her team couldn't see. SWMBO called for the AED and a bystander retrieved it (it was the last game of the season and the FIRST year we had AEDs at the fields). Parents gathered around to help in blocking the scene from the players. Fortunately, she was revived and we visited her in the hospital the next day. It was the mom who I had given the homerun ball to. She hadn't been feeling well due to an irregular heartbeat (arythmia I think?), but the AED kick started her and she has had a normal rhythm since.

Yes, OBS. Fielders in general are required to stay out runners' way. The only time they always have the right of way is on a batted ball. This play is not a batted ball, so OBS. Same ruling all codes. I will add that I would wait to judge the OBS: contact alone is nothing. We're looking for hindrance, and the defense gaining an advantage from the contact.

My own lil Glory story, 12U I was a decent player I could hit and pitch well and was a good 3rd baseman I typically hit line drives into the outfield and was good for singles and doubles and the occasional triple or better if the fielders botched the cutoffs well I get up this one time it was against someone I knew in school and he was not a hard thrower and had issues with control. I So desperately wanted to smack one out of the park on this kid. He tossed one way outside ball one one just barely outside I swung hard 1-1 . next pitch was over my head but over the plate. I smacked the crap outta that thing I hear my coach as Im barreling towards 1st No Gabe don't swing at stuf... Oh well Never mind as it sailed 10 feet over the fence .. I still got a lecture for it when I got into the dugout. Something I saw last year I saw 2 kids hit 4 homeruns in a district all star game back to back then 2 innings later back to back again. both kids were monsters started as P1 and P2 I was joking with a guy who was obviously a father of one of them I think the catcher. I mentioned so what shaving cream does the pitcher like? He said Oh I dunno but you should have seen the car he drove here in its a real nice one. mind you this is 12U LOL

Has anyone used the Cobalt Skull Cap in enough games to comment on how the finish holds up with use? Just pulled it out of the box and tested with mask and it just doesn't look like the finish is going to last. Thanks in advance.

Well, Mr. noumpere, I have to compliment you on your consistency. This is the third time you have posted your support of the so-called circle play. You were also equally consistent in that you have only presented your opinion and no evidence to support it. And, of course, I disagree with your stated opinion in all three cases. Here are your previous posts-- From 10/29/20 While OBS is a possible ruling, it's not likely in the usual "circle play" where F6 is just moving from (near) second back to (near) his normal position and happens to pass in front of R2 while doing so, even if F1 times his pickoff move to begin at exactly the time F6 is in front of R2. If F6 stops in front of R2, and / or moves back and forth to sty in front of R2 -- sure, get the OBS. But, I didn't read that as part of the current play being discussed. From 7/8/19 It's a common play. If this is true, then it's OBS -- but that's not what you described in the first paragraph. As long as F6 keeps moving back to his position (and not "jockeying in front of R2 to keep blocking the view") then this is legal -- and a good example of a timing play. From the 2017 Jaksa/Roder rules interpretation manual (chapter 15, p. 127): However, it is not obstruction if…a fielder intentionally impedes the vision of a batter or runner during a pitch, or while a pitcher is in-contact. Although such intentional actions are not obstruction, they are prohibited. Specifically…A fielder may not intentionally block a runner’s view of an in-contact pitcher. A fielder committing such actions is warned to stop, and is ejected if he continues his intentional actions after the warning. Here’s an official interpretation for the NCAA found in the 2016 BRD (section 376, p. 252): Official Interpretation: Fetchiet: The first baseman stations himself between the runner and the pitcher, moving back and forth to obstruct the runner’s view: Legal, unless the pitcher makes a play at the moment of obstruction. PENALTY: The ball is dead, R1 receives second, and the umpire issues a team warning. (Website, 3/12/01)

Best experience for me was this past June, visiting team destroying home team, 9-0. It's my 2nd plate of the day and getting late so I was tired and the zone was getting wide. Bottom of the 6th, and they pull a rally outta nowhere. And 15 minutes later, I'm walking off the field with a 10-9 victory. Little League can be amazing sometimes.

Here’s something else for you to consider, Mr. DCM. The “asshattery” by the shortstop is probably a coach-called play that is designed to block the runner’s view of the pitcher and the ball. All they need to get is a split-second advantage and it increases the likelihood of a successful pickoff—it is also illegal. Both OBR and NCAA codes have rules against this kind of asshattery. I originally posted the following in July 2019— From the 2018 Minor League Baseball Umpire Manual (section 6.17, p. 98): Play 12: With a runner on first base, the first baseman—rather than holding the runner in the traditional manner—jockeys back and forth in front of the runner, several feet to the second base side of the bag. In the umpire’s judgment the first baseman is doing this intentionally to block the runner’s view of the pitcher. Ruling 12: While Official Baseball Rule 5.02(c) allows a fielder to position himself anywhere in fair territory, if the umpire deems the fielder’s actions are a deliberate effort to block the runner’s view of the pitcher, it is illegal and clearly not within the spirit of the rules. The first baseman should be warned to stop, and if he persists, he is subject to ejection. 2019 NCAA rule 8-3f. Visual obstruction by a defensive player may be called if a fielder interferes intentionally with a base runner’s opportunity to see the ball on a defensive play. PENALTY for f.—The umpire shall point and call “That’s obstruction.” The umpire shall let the play continue until all play has ceased, call time and award any bases that are justified in Rule 2. If a runner(s) advances beyond what the umpire would have granted and is put out, the runner(s) is out. The offender’s team shall be warned, and a second offense by that team shall result in the ejection of the offending player because of an unsportsmanlike act.

I bought a FM25 from ebay a few years back on all the great recommendations from on here. It turned out to be the solid steel version. I now have a hollow steel as a super back up (hey it was $10 in great condition from PIAS). The weight difference was quite noticeable.

Here’s how the 2018 Minor League Baseball Umpire Manual explains OBR rule 5.10(d) Comment— Under the Casebook Comment to Official Baseball Rule 5.10(d), a pitcher may change to a defensive position other than pitcher only once an inning. In other words, a pitcher may change to another defensive position and then return to the mound during the same inning, but after so doing he may not leave the mound again in that inning (unless, of course, he is removed from the game). If such pitcher returns to the mound during the same inning, he is allowed the usual eight (or as many or few complying with the inning break or pitching change time limits set forth in the Pace of Game Regulations) warm-up pitches… Similarly, a player who plays a position(s) other than pitcher in an inning may substitute for a pitcher once, and then play any position other than pitcher afterwards in the same inning—in this case, the fielder would not be allowed to return as the pitcher for the remainder of that inning. Finally, keep in mind that Rule 5.10(g) applies to such pitching changes, such that if the pitcher is replaced, the substitute pitcher must pitch to the batter then at bat until an out is recorded or the batter reaches base safely, unless the substitute pitcher incurs an incapacitating injury.

2019 NFHS rule 3-1 ART. 2 . . . If a pitcher is replaced while his team is on defense, the substitute pitcher shall pitch to the batter then at bat, or any substitute for that batter, until such batter is put out or reaches first base, or until a third out has been made. To ensure that the requirements of this article be fulfilled, the umpire will deny any coach-defensive player conference that will violate the rule. If a pitcher is incapacitated or guilty of flagrant unsportsmanlike conduct, this rule is ignored. A player may be removed as pitcher and returned as pitcher only once per inning, provided the return as pitcher does not violate either the pitching, substitution or charged conference rule. If the pitcher, because of an injury or being incapacitated, is replaced as pitcher and the above rule is not satisfied, or if his replacement requires more warm-up throws than permitted in 6-2-2 exception, he cannot return to the game as a pitcher. 2002 NFHS Baseball Rule Interpretations SITUATION 17: May a pitcher be removed and return to pitch in the same inning? RULING: If a pitcher is removed from the game, his re-entry is governed by the substitution rule. A player may be removed as pitcher and return as pitcher once per inning, provided the return as pitcher does not violate either the pitching, substitution or charged-conference rule. If the starting pitcher and the first baseman switch defensive positions, the starting pitcher may return to pitch in the same inning provided the batter the first baseman faced is put out or reaches first base and also provided the first baseman did not require more than eight warm-up pitches. The original starting pitcher could then face the next batter until that batter is out or reaches first base and then again trade places with the first baseman. At that point, the starting pitcher could not return to pitch again until the next inning. If the first baseman were removed as a pitcher the second time in the inning, he could not return to pitch until the next inning as well. (3-1-1, 3-1-2, 3-1-2 note) Also see current case book plays 3.1.2 Situation B and C.

Wow do any other states besides Texas have umpires in the Southwest region?

I was doing a 9u or 10u rec game a couple years ago to help out and one of the coaches asked if I could talk to one of the boys (not his son) and his mom at home plate after the game with them facing the backstop. He wanted me to make something up "to give the boy some advice in front of his mom". I the field behind them, he had the rest of the boys line up with individual signs "Will You Marry Me".

To add to what the others have said, a common misconception by many coaches, many who I've seen actually try to teach this to their players (let alone argue with umps about it), is that once OBS is in play the runner has carte blanche to do what they want...they may as well just run all the way home because they can't be put out...this could not be further from the truth. The umpire will only award what would have happened if OBS had not occurred (and in some cases, one more base)...anything beyond that the runner does at his own peril. I would also be careful about "taking advantage of the asshattery"...if your baserunner were to "accidentally on purpose" run into F6 an umpire could very well rule that there's no OBS at all.

He's protected to the base he would have reached absent the OBS. In the play presented, that's likely third. If this was FED, or Type B in OBR, and the ball was thrown away, it mignt be home. Note that in your revised play, the runner is EITHER protected to (and awarded) home, OR the out stands. The runner will never be returned back to third in this play.

No. He's only protected to the next base. In this situation, that'd be 3rd

agree w/ Arik here ....... you just need to be sure that what you found is INDEED an "ext" .... The hollow steel FM25 is, for all intents and purposes, a light mask! (Pads and all = 21oz)

Not green book legal, but whatever... I was the daddy-umpire for my younger son's LL minors team, while my older son (4 years older) had a majors game on the adjacent field. Older kid's coach asks if my younger son could fill in since the majors team only had 8 players show. And he knew my younger son because he'd included him in some practices. Sure, but I still had to ump the bases for the minors game... Cut to a mid-inning break and I look over at the other field and catch my younger kid on third and my older son at bat! Sure enough he knocks his brother home with a rocket to right center. Great moment for me. I turn around, and hear the catcher say "balls in!" and we continue our game. Probably the only time those two boys will play on the same team. Both are freshmen now - one college, one HS.

It's a good mask. But I would search for the hollow steel over solid steel. The weight difference is actually pretty noticeable.

I don't read the OP as an immediate play, I read it as a subsequent play. Were it immediate, F1 would have thrown to F6, not F5. There could be type 1 OBS on a play like the OP, but I'd hate to say that it has to be type 1. And I'm sympathetic to the desire to punish F6's asshattery with an automatic 1-base award for R2, but we shouldn't bend the rules to conform to what we antecedently deem as the right or fair outcome. Type 2 OBS does not morph into type 1 if the runner is subsequently played on. As I envision the play, I would rule it type 2. You might envision it differently (and I might have a different picture than the OP meant to describe). If there's a close play at 3B, that's a significant time lag between the OBS and the play on R2.

FIFY. I agree with noumpere. The mechanics for this are to point at the infraction (either or both umpires may do so) but leave the ball live. After the play at the plate, kill it, award R1 HP, and resume play. R1 will still need to touch HP if he hadn't already in order to complete his award, or be liable to be out on appeal (either dead-ball in FED or live-ball in either).

Yes. Note that if BR continued past third and was thrown out, the out stands.