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D. Don Kelly is one miserable POS.

It's actually really funny you mention this. We had a discussion just this year about the differences in coaches/levels of play, and who we need to hold accountable to know the rule. Then, help accordingly. In not so certain terms it was something like, 'The programs that pay their coaches full time, enforce the CI and move on. Let them bring it up. Your 16u, or 14u junior league games, enforce it, and help educate the coach on the options.' At the level where the coaches are basically still volunteer dad coaches, help them. But once the coaches are paid by the programs to just coach, they need to know what's going on. What we get are some High School soph/frosh teams who are just surviving because some mom volunteered to help coach so they could have a team. Then, some American Legion program where the head coach makes 60k a year. They are not expected to know the game the same way.

I’m rocking a cap crease on the bases. Wearing a helmet on the plate now. But to put this back on track I just saw John Tumpane wearing these. Those are very sweet.

Are you using the All-Star Axis or the new matte umpire cobalt helmet? If your referring to the new one; I'm pretty sure your supposed to be using a harness that has a grippy back (ex; delta flex, ump-life, pretty much any neoprene ones)

A mnemonic (memory aid) for this: Are there any letters from “choice” in Balk? No, so there is no choice in a Balk. Are there any letters from “choice” in Catcher’s Interference (CI)? Obviously. Thus, there is a choice available in CI. Consider, though, that in the pro game (both uppercase and lowercase), we (umpires) are taught to enforce the penalty of CI, unless it is satisfied by the outcome of the play. We enforce it, and then we allow a manager to inquire about (the) option(s); the managers are paid pros, and the burden is on them to know (the rule). However, in the amateur game, it is best practice to mention that an/the option is available. We should still enforce the penalty first, though, to make the rule’s application innate upon ourselves, but after that enforcement, be accommodating and thorough in discussing the optional outcome. You’ve got plenty of time. Once you apply the penalties of Balks and CIs, you start to recognize and realize the differences between them.

Crease for sure on my base caps. Far more difficult to crease my skull though.

I was in the Navy for 20 years and never saw a single ball cap with a crease. I like to crease my umpire hats and it has nothing to do with my Navy service. Just think it looks sharp. And I don't shine any of my shoes. Maybe the soles on the plate shoes. I like white on my base shoes. I saw a comment on this site by somebody claiming that military personnel only like all black shoes. Not true. You do you.

Based on all the glowing feedback on the UA FB page, I think the demographic that loves the patent leather monstrosities exclusively belong to states and groups that still mandate navy shirts and plate/base pay differential. I will die on this hil lol

Assuming the SB rule is the same as the BB rule: 1) This isn't "tangle / untangle" -- that can only happen in the immediate vicinity of home plate and nearly immediately after B becomes BR. 2) It appears to me that F5 was the protected fielder. So, BR would be out for INT.