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High school varsity game played on an all dirt infield. Runners on 1st and 2nd, 0 outs. Popup about 20 feet from home plate, up the 3rd base line, in foul ground but not by a ton. To be safe, I call "infield fly if fair". Catcher is under the popup but whiffs on it. It lands about 8 feet foul, but has spin/wind taking it back towards fair territory. Coach from dugout yells at his defense to let the ball roll fair. It does, and they pick it up in fair territory. Runners have not moved. I called batter out on an infield fly, and there was a huge reaction from the offensive team. Did I do anything wrong here? I knew for sure the ball was going to land foul, but called the infield fly because I knew if it did land it could possibly roll fair. I think its just a heads up play by the defense to allow the ball to roll fair, knowing that they had the out on the IFF.

You got it right

Did you do this (and just omit it in the report 👆 above)? If you forgot to do this, it's the only thing you had lacking from the play. Otherwise, dead-on right!

I don't know what pants the base guys are wearing, but I like them much better that the 1970's "Larry Lounge Lizard" slacks we're forced to wear. Those light gray pants look much more athletic. Also, I 'm a huge fan of Hokas. Very comfortable shoe.

FYI, When the outside protector was used by American League umpires, each major league umpire room did have one short and one long umpire protector available. That saved umpires from having their protectors transported from city to city.

If there was ever a picture of throwing raw meat into a pond full of piranhas, stating that the frames are going on sale would be it around here.

Coach: Can I appeal that? Option one: "Coach, you aren't that appealing. No." Option two: "After review, the call on the field stands. Coach has no more remaining challenges." Building on @wolfe_man and @beerguy55's comments . . . If you are the correct umpire for them to go to, make them explain WHY they want you to go to your partner. Step 1: Coach, what did you see? Step 2: What elements do you think I missed? Step 3: Why do you think I missed it? These are viable questions that can have reasonable answers. We all know it is difficult to see a pulled foot from C (particularly on softball or small fields where you work outside). Since we all know that one, there is no reason to shut a coach down on that one, but we still need to make them vocalize it. Coach could say, "I saw the tag miss the runner. Given your position, I think you were straight-lined and it looked like a missed tag when it wasn't. Could you ask for another set of eyes on that?" If there is no reason to grant the request, be clear in your answer. "Coach, I had a good angle and was right on top of it. My partner was all the way over there, so I'm keeping this one." Unless the coach is a total D, I have started leaving those conversations with "That's one I'd like to see on replay, too. I'm pretty sure I got it, but I'd like to know." This opens that door to let them know we WANT to get it and we aren't just being stubbornly argumentative. Yes, you have to be careful with that. Don't use it with a coach you don't know or one who is just looking for ways to get under your skin.

First - "ground rule double" is a misnomer. It's a two-base award for a fair batted ball that goes out of play in a certain set of situations...basically, anything but going over the fence in flight. Second, nobody cares if you think it was a single or a triple...that's a scorekeeping consideration and has no bearing on the play. Third, it does not matter if the ball went over, under or through the fence. The same rule applies for batted balls in how the runners are awarded their bases. It doesn't matter if the fielder made an error - it's still a batted ball...and a batted ball that goes out of play has the runners awarded based on time of pitch (ie. when the pitcher starts his motion). The fielder error would only matter if A) he picked it up and threw it out of play or B) he kicked/deflected the ball out of play where the impetus of the ball's motion was not the bat (ie. the batted ball was (almost) stopped when knocked out of play) - so, even if this scenario, if the ball had touched the fielder's glove before rolling all the way under the fence it's still a "batted ball". On a throw/deflection, the runners are awarded two bases at the time the ball last touched the fielder...NOT when it goes out of play. So, yes, if your batter has not yet reached first, and the outfield throws the ball wildly, and your batter manages to not only pass first, but also second base, by the time the ball goes out of play, he still only gets second base. Too bad so sad. Measuring runner awards from when the ball goes out of play is very rare - basically, it would be in a situation where the fielder carried the ball out of play. Otherwise, it's measured from when the ball was hit, pitched, thrown, kicked.

Some sort of big duffel bag or other way to store the equipment in your vehicle is also worth exploring, you could just leave all of it laying around loose in the trunk but it feels a bit more organized to have...something

Plenty of MLB umpires are now wearing the All Star S7 over the FM4000 magnesium so for starting out you're in great company. (MLB catchers are using it too.) I wore the S7 for 6 years and it was very good, only thing is I'd recommend upgrading the pads to the magnesium version. Stick with the skullcap too, I find it's much more comfortable than using a regular cap. I do like the Mirage 12 better but you're just starting and it's not like the S7 is some mediocre starter mask.

Apparently, the delivery service MLBU uses did not show up in time for the game, according to Dan Hayes. The truck did arrive later, and they changed into MLB-approved pants between innings. (Just in time for Baker to eject the Twins manager.) And this isn't the first time this has happened (see here). I'm about 99% sure the plate pants he was wearing were not smitties, based on the texture- maybe the old fechheimers? Still better than nothing.

In the specific case of the All-Star “Cobalt” Skuly, it (a D3O insert) wouldn’t. It’s unnecessary, and “forcing” it in is both overkill, and not an effective use of resources. It would be a disservice to D3O and the Skuly. The Skuly isn’t a bad hardhat/skullcap; in fact, as it sits now, on this current market landscape, it is the technical best option. It has the best padding configuration, which is removable, and more sized-specific than the grossly over-generic sizes (ie. “Small-Medium” or “One size Fits Most”) that plague a wearable piece like this. It has a “Con-cushion” – it’s just put in the wrong end. And while I get it why they left it there – because it shares the same mold as it’s for-catchers siblings, and creating a brand-new mold “just for a few umpires, who we don’t have an Exclusive contractual arrangement with” is cost-prohibitive – I just do not like being lied to as to why. Be transparent. Call a spade ♠️ a spade ♠️. Don’t spit in my hand and tell me it’s raining. A D3O – or XRD via @concertman1971 (thanks!) – liner would be an immediate upgrade in everyone else’s skullcaps, including Rawlings, Easton, EvoShield, and especially Wilson’s. I’d also get a set of bike helmet sizing pads (Giro? Specialized? Bell? etc), which are lozenge-shaped adhesive foam pucks. I’d begin by tearing out that stooooopid closed-cell foam puck at the top (crown), which actually inhibits hair growth and induces baldness (check baseball players sometime, who spend a lot of time with a conventional batting helmet or skullcap on their head). I’d also remove the foam / leather ring, just leaving the bare shell. Now, install the Adv. foam insert, and put it on to test out the fit, and determine where to place/adhere those bike pad capsules (pods?). You don’t need complete contact between the liner and your scalp, and those pods create that point-of-contact stand-off distance. The hardhat should fit your head, not necessarily snugly, but it shouldn’t shift or jostle around either.

I respect the effort, but stave off the fire; instead fold the excess back upon itself into a "tab", wrapped with two circuits of electrical tape. Not duct tape, nor gorilla tape, nor... duck tape, nor athletic tape. Vinyl electrical tape. That wondrous stuff only sticks to itself, so it doesn't leave behind any gross residue if/when you need to take it off, and it can, of course, handle the heat juuuuuussssssst fine. Small trick of those who flip or re-color masks often.

I won't lie, I'm an UmpLife harness snob, and they've all been fitted around the Rawlings Skully. (Then, since I'm a nerd, I have a backup Rawlings skully, then, another backup to that backup), and an extra harness. However, that's all nothingness. I just mean the UmpLife harness is long enough for anything I've done with it. I think there is a big anti cut-and-burn group in here somewhere.

If you are the umpire who made the call and the coach starts for your partner, tell (or yell to) the coach, "That's my call -- come talk to me!" The only time I let a coach go to my partner on a call I made is when I am working alone.

I totally agree with immediately telling the coach, "Go to my partner, he made the call." Two reasons. First, you may not know the reason for your partner's call. A pulled foot you did not see, a dropped ball you did not see, etc. Second, the longer you talk, the more unverified information the coach can pass on to your partner. e.g. "Your own partner told me he missed it." If you immediately direct the coach to talk with your partner, that can't happen. And, while I'm on the subject, unfortunately, you may be working with a partner you do not trust. In this case, if your partner comes to you then goes to the coach, you go with your partner to the coach. That way you can be sure your partner passes on to the coach what you actually said. In fact, it's probably a good idea to always go with your partner who goes to a coach after talking with you.

Note the play at 2B. Here's the new NFHS interp from 2026. Does it apply here? SITUATION 9: May a runner who chooses not to slide, go into a base in a force play situation and make contact with the fielder; be hit by the throw; or alter the play in any other way? RULING: No. In a force play slide situation (while a runner is never required to slide), if the runner chooses not to slide, the runner must run to the side of the base in a direction away from the fielder to avoid making contact or altering the play of the fielder. If the runner goes to the base standing up and makes contact with the fielder; gets hit by the thrown ball; or in any way alters the play, the runner is out and the batter- runner is also out. The only time the runner might be able to go into the base standing up on a force situation is if the fielder is nowhere in the vicinity of the base. (2-32-1, 8-4-2b)