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I drink, on a regular basis (day to day), about 1/2 gallon of water per day, at least. When I know I'm going to be outside in the heat, I start hydrating more 2 days before the event. Water before, water during, gatorade or other recovery style drinks afterwards (not during). Hydration days will be a gallon of water easily .... I'm talking a sip of water after every full inning, it's just a habit.

Plays at the plate are carved out with the rule with the specific reason that they are to be treated differently than obstruction/interference. In professional baseball, if there is a catcher violation of the home plate collision rule you don't point and call 'obstruction' because it is not obstruction. It is a violation of the home plate collision rule. If the runner violates, it's not interference, it is a violation of the rule. The rule was designed to protect catchers. In order to protect catchers you have to give an incentive to the runner to slide. Collisions are still a legal possibility under the rule. If the catcher violates the rule, the runner is still well within his rights to maintain their path to the plate, and if a collision occurs it is legal. The runner has responsibilities under the rule too, e.g. can't initiate avoidable contact, or change his pathway for the purpose of colliding with the catcher, or it will be a violation on the part of the runner. However, if contact occurs because the catcher is blocking the lane, it is legal. The point of the rule (and it is is doing exactly what it was designed to do) is to minimize those collisions. As a runner, you know that if your pathway is blocked, and you slide, you will be safe. If you don't slide and collide with the catcher, you MIGHT be out (if the catcher holds on to the ball). So, what do you do as a runner? The smart move, and what professional players are taught to do now, is to make a legal slide, let the umpire call the violation, and score the run.

Glad you're ok @834k3r If water itself isn't proving to be enough for you, no matter how much, the adders like LMNT, Propel, Nunn, etc. have worked well for me. I've also found that Sea/Pink salt first thing in the morning gives me something different that none of those do .

I will add this from JEA (it's old, so ignore (or mentally adjust) the parts about being able to feint to bases other than first): 8.05(b) If there is a runner, or runners, it is a balk when the pitcher, while touching his plate, feints a throw to first base and fails to complete the throw. Cross References: 8.0l(a, b), 8.05(i), Appendix 31 Historical Notes: Pitching rules in the late 1800's permitted feints to all bases without penalty. In 1899, however, that policy was changed and all feints to all bases were made illegal. That enforcement principle lasted only one year. In 1900, the rule we use today was adopted. A pitcher may feint to any base from the rubber (except first base) if he steps properly prior to the feint. The 1950 rule which distinguished between the "set" and "wind-up" positions added the stipulation that the pitcher must "step directly toward (the) base before making the throw." This direct step requirement applied to the pitcher’s preliminary motions from both the wind-up and set positions. The prohibition against the "snap throw" preceding the step was added as a casebook note in the early 1950's. Customs and Usage: A pitcher may not feint a throw to 1st base, but he can feint a throw to other bases if he steps legally. The purpose of this rule is to allow a runner to get a practical lead. If feints were allowed, pitchers could hold runners much closer at 1st base, and the offense would be stifled. The main purpose of the Balk Rule is to encourage offense, not to stifle it.

You're referring to the comment/note under rule 6.01(h)(2)? If the catcher is not in possession of the ball, nor in the act of fielding the ball, nor is there a play being made on the runner at the plate and the catcher is blocking the pathway of the runner scoring, then yes there would be obstruction. You'd hardly need to call it though. You'd have other issues.

Sure, but the angle taken by most runners coming into home with a throw from the outfield leaves plenty of room at the back of the plate along their line of approach. If the catcher is set up in front of the plate in fair territory, a runner approaching from well into foul territory can reach the plate without issue.

Of course it has always been a primary duty of any baseball rules committee to try to keep a balance between offense and defense. And I would say that if more offense was their objective then they accomplished their goal in 1899 when they made it a balk to feint a throw to first base. According to the book The Official Rules of Baseball Illustrated by David Nemec, the National League teams combined to steal nearly 600 more bases in 1899 than they had the previous season (thanks to the new balk rule).

You didn't ask me, but the issue is competitive balance: it was too easy to keep runners at 1B from stealing when F1 could feint to that base.

Mr. Velho, In 1893 the current distance of 60 feet six inches from the pitcher’s plate to home plate was established. There were only three infractions listed as being a balk then so from 1893 to 1898 a pitcher could do almost anything his devious little mind could dream up to get runners out. Then in 1898 and 1899 the first of the balk rules we know today entered the rule book. 1898 rule 32 A Balk shall be:… When the pitcher feigns to throw the ball to a base he must resume the above position and pause momentarily before delivering the ball to the bat. If the pitcher fails to comply with the requirements of this rule the umpire must call “A balk.” Sec. 6. The making of any motion the pitcher habitually makes in his method of delivery, without his immediately delivering the ball to the bat. Sec. 7. If the pitcher feigns to throw the ball to a base and does not resume his legal position and pause momentarily before delivering the ball to the bat. 1899 Rule 32 A Balk shall be: Section 1. Any motion made by the pitcher to deliver the ball to the bat or to first base without delivering it. Sec. 2. The throwing of the ball by the pitcher to any base to catch the base-runner without first stepping directly towards said base immediately before throwing the ball.

Other possible examples not provided: Throws made by players wearing an odd number on their jersey AND it is an odd-numbered Tuesday on the calendar When the catcher starts in fair territory, but Jupiter is waning from the House of Aquarius If the runner had a citrus fruit AND a carbonated beverage as part of his pre-game meal When seat 36 in Section 203 is occupied by a buxom blonde If the giveaway for that day's game was provided by a non-profit instead of a corporation In games when the National Anthem is played instrumentally On days when more than 40% of paid attendance successfully figured out the Wordle If the fielder and the catcher are wearing numbers that match up to last nights Pick 3 lottery numbers Did you check the stove before you left the house?

Catcher violation can't be called if the runner doesn't slide. Also, a throw coming from a drawn in infield is just one example of a play that is carved out as an exception because the catcher doesn't have time to move into position. Other examples given in the rule are double steal plays, throw coming from a pitcher, quick developing play after a passed ball/wild pitch.

3/8

Yes, I took one off of my collarbone back in April and I thought it was broken.

I can confirm that he was wearing pants.

From the Nobody Asked Me file... OP, if you have a GOOD working, professional relationship with the TD? I would encourage you to encourage them to develop a formalized darkness plan for tournament play. I wouldn't dare to suggest what the details of that look like. But by having a formalized darkness plan already in place and hopefully publicized and shared with all coaches and parents prior to the start of the next tournament? You have that policy in place and then the umpire crews (or the TD or other person as designated in the policy...) can simply refer to that policy and execute it. Much like an inclement weather policy, for instance. If you do NOT have a GOOD working, professional relationship with the TD? Continue past GO and collect your proverbial $200... Good management, to include youth sports, requires preparedness for the anticipated and the unanticipated. Not really an umpire's role in the game of baseball but, sometimes the game helps itself along...and sometimes it needs help, even if from unconventional sources. ~Dawg