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I had a similar problem in a game (didn't walk down the line, but gave a 5 digit number that took AGES for the batter to figure out) that was getting worse as the game went on last spring. I managed it most of the game by telling the batter to get into the box if it took more than a few seconds, and they listened. Coach gave up on the numbers for most of the game. He started back up at the end of the game, and I told the coach that I'd have to start calling strikes if his players didn't get in the box. He 'dared' me to do it. Unfortunately I was a green-Blue at the time (hah!) and wasn't confident enough in my knowledge of the exceptions in NFHS 7-3-1 to call it, so I didn't for the next 1/2 inning, after which we ended the game due to darkness. I've since made myself VERY familiar with that rule, and hope I end up getting that coach again this spring.

I'm far from the most experienced but seems to me it's playing the percentages. MLB 2022, 75% on non HR hits were singles, 23% doubles and 2% triples. U1 staying on 1B ensures complete focus on touch, backpick, or backend of rundown between 2B-1B. U3 coming in has BR in front of them the whole way and can give full focus on 2B. PU rolls up for focus on 3B and U1, having nothing to do once BR goes to 2B, has plenty of time to roll home if needed. I wouldn't use 2 ump system as the baseline. It's compromised from the start and making the best with limited resources.

I tried not to let the catcher influence what I saw -- but I'm not dumb enough to think it didn't happen.

Interesting. Some might remember before Honig's went downhill and eventually sold they used to do this too. They posted pics a long time ago of them assembling the MLB boxes for each umpire of shirts, jackets, caps, etc. They would also get like the blank plate coats and put on the numbers and MLB patches from Hardwick. Interesting too because UA came out recently and mentioned how they were contacted to field test the Smitty poly spandex pants with a few MLB crews. Good stuff. Thanks.

i like the ' "PU has all fly balls" mentality ' . The PU always has the left field line so may as well take the right field line *all the time* as we do with runners on anyway . i view a ' trouble ball ' as a catch/nocatch situation rather than fair/foul . its difficult to judge a running catch near the line as fair/foul when you're out .

i dont think that much ; if it crosses the plate in the strike zone - its a strike .

Agree with Kevin_K. Depends on the level and how the catcher receives the pitch. Younger kids, I'm trying to grab every strike I can, but even then, there are limits. Unless that pitch is right over the plate and the ball drops right in front of the catcher, It's hard to call a strike on a pitch that a catcher butchers. If that ball rolls a few feet away with the catchers glove moving out of the zone while he's trying to grab it, that's not a pitch that you can usually call for a strike. Almost every time I've balled a borderline pitch that the catcher butchers at the HS level, if I hear anything at all, it's usually from the coach telling his catcher something along the lines of "you cost your pitcher a strike" or "you got to hang on to those." At the higher levels, it's almost expected to ball a pitch the catcher doesn't handle properly. There are times that you can call it for strike, and times you shouldn't. Experience and the level you're doing can help guide the decision.

So yeah at 10-12 year old meh it happens but not that often I will call a pitch thru any part of the strikezone a strike I dont care if the catcher caught it or not. Its not the catch by the catcher that makes it a strike its where the pitch goes over ( or not) the plate as to the relevant parts of the batter In LL armpits and top of knees, If the batter takes his stance whatever is over the plate between those two over whatever piece of the plate it goes thru... Strike! 8-10 Catcher actually catching the pitch is a miracle in itself I call anything there too but catchers making the catch HA! yeah ok..

Pretty sure they do a lot of the MLB stuff too. I was in there last year and remember seeing the Memorial Day Camo hats, and was in there about a week and a half ago now and they were in the process of putting numbers on the therma jackets. At the very least they attach all extra patches and numbers.

There is no video linked… that I can see. There is no violation until a pitch is made.

If I think he, in a continuous motion, picked to 3rd for the purposes of the play (he's going!!!!!!), then most likely nothing, barring the start/stop reasoning @maven discusses above. People make too much out of the throwing to an unoccupied base provision and want a balk when the defense makes a thrown due to some action by the offensive team: actual steal or attempted steal which made the defensive team think there was going to be a play at the next base. The only time you are really going to the unoccupied base balk is something like R1 only and the pitcher while engaged with the rubber throws to 3rd, or even 2nd but with the R1 standing on first and not doing anything to provoke the throw.

When the runner slid through the base did he make contact with the fielder on the other side of the bag? Or did he make contact with the fielder while the fielder was on the bag?

"Foot still engaged with rubber and throwing to an unoccupied base" except for the purpose of making a play; Legal, no balk. 6.02(a)(4) The pitcher, while touching his plate, throws, or feints a throw to an unoccupied base, except for the purpose of making a play;