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I’ve just joined your ranks. I’m honored to say I have been hired and begun training with the United States Capitol Police. Though I have a long road ahead of me, I will give it all I’ve got. I guess when I became obsessed with umpiring at age 15, it should’ve been an early warning sign for those around me that I would get into law enforcement 😁. Shout out to all law enforcement and veterans on the site, and wish me luck!🍀

Congratulations and thank you for serving!

Congrats! Not a LEO here but a first responder. Fire police officer (traffic control at emergencies basically). Stay safe out there!

I am required to bring a time piece on the field with me when I officiate collegiate ball since none of the fields I work have operating clocks when these games are played. In fact, I carry two. I have the timer for pitch clock violations and a stopwatch for between innings and pitching changes.

Wristwatches were and should be anathema but the current wrist gadgets seem acceptable and I believe I've seen stuff on MLB umps wrists. I was a fill in on an Indy League game a while ago and my crew chief kept asking me the time while we were rubbing up baseballs so I forget to take it off my Casio as we headed out. I'm plate. After the game my partner told me during the game two players asked why I was wearing a watch. He told them I had a hot date that night.

Ultimately, we all work for our state associations, not NFHS . . . so . . . no issue if that is what they are re-writing the rule to say.

I’m 6’2”, 215lb, and can wear a 44R, but the 44L makes it drape on me properly while wearing the fabulously low-profile DX family of CPs (shameless, shameless plug). My first-ever plate coat was a Fechheimer 46R, and while it did fit me (and the Schutt XV I wore) well, I was… “treading water in it”. In a 44R, with the CP on, the cuffs ride up a bit for my liking, so YMMV. The 44L turned out to be “just right”. If you’re going to a liquidation sale to track one down, or heck – just to determine your size, take your CP along; no shame in that.

With great respect for Mr. Madmax, I don't think it's a ridiculous question at all. I recognize we don't have jurisdiction beyond the fence, but we do have a game management role. I had it in a JV game with very few around in the stands except for a clearly-close-to-the-team parent who was kinda/sorta coaching the players informally doing this right behind a short cramped backstop, so about 3 feet from me and the players. Isolated, rough and ready city field. Two very rough teams, though with excellent, development-oriented coaches. No admin for miles Ridiculous and distracting. Same as relaying signs by someone in the crowd, and I think appropriate to stop. I did address it. Was going to say something to the coach like "Is that a coach over there? If not, please ask your parent to stop signaling the hitter before we continue" and he would have done it, but I opted for the low-key direct approach. Its a neighborhood where there is a LOT of back and forth at the games. "Hey man, do me a favor, can you not call out the catcher position before the pitch?" "hey I"m I'm being polite!" (which come to think of it is a slightly odd response and indicative of someone who may have had similar discussions before) "You are being polite, and I'm not asking you to move. Calling out positions is a little different and its distracting, and I'd appreciate it if you can stop" He grumbled off and I heard the coach ask him what was going on a little later, parent said "yeah, I get it actually." So, it worked. Which I recognize does NOT mean its the right approach. But I think it was right for this game. My other/next step would have been to go to the coach and say I'm going to treat your guy as a coach since I've seen him interacting with you and the team a lot today, and I need you to tell him to stop this, Or I've gotta restrict both of you. Lets not go there. I'll hold the game till he stops, and you go talk to him. Again, this approach felt right and in keeping with the vibe of the day. Have at it.

I agree with the consensus for Option A. That said, I disagree with MadMax's premise. If the players are 18 and up, yes, it's a ridiculous question. But 13U-17U is not adult baseball. The umps in the video chose A, but the commentator (an umpire trainer) strongly disagreed and said B was correct on game management grounds. The stated rationale was (paraphrasing) "this is still youth baseball; we DON'T want the defense to 'take things into their own hands' and possibly start a sequence of retaliatory HBP. Address it now so it doesn't become a s-t-show later."

From the set position, the pitcher can do one of 3 things. 1) Deliver a pitch. 2) Step and throw/feint to a base. 3)Disengage. Taking a rocker step isn't one of those three things. If he is delivering a pitch, he has one step to do so.

Correct placement, but it's the first *PLAY* by the infielder, not the first throw. Doesn't matter in this situation, but it can make a difference.

OdoBan---I'm going to give it a try this Spring.