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Showing content with the highest reputation on 06/25/2019 in all areas

  1. 2:56:15 mark will get you the whole story. Perry Costello, coincidentally from...Dewitt, MI He stays with the play to make sure F1 possesses it, calls the out, announces the no-foul, keeps the players apart, asks the B/R if he's OK, and explains why he's going to walk him off. He taught me many years ago at a clinic that in these volatile situations it's good to talk to them to diffuse it and it really doesn't matter a whole lot what you say. If you can get their focus on what you're saying, they aren't thinking (as much) about escalating trouble.
    2 points
  2. For the first time ever for me, it worked in a 13U tourney game last Saturday, believe it or not.. OBR rules EXCEPT FED FPSR and fake to third is legal... R1,R3.. Pitcher steps to third and fakes, R1 started his steal of 2nd on first move, obviously to draw a throw for a possible delayed steal of home... Defense yells out he's going, pitcher turns from facing third and throws to second for the put out of R1.. R3 does not attempt to steal home... Only time I saw it work! BONUS: in the SAME game, with 2 outs, I had a swinging strike three at a pitch that hits the lefty batters' back leg and rolls in fair territory up the 3rd base line.. I yell out "Time!!!!... he swung, he's out!.... it hit him, he offered, he's out!" - and NO yelling or protesting from anyone, not even the parents.. Kind of a confused "what just happened?" pause from everyone, then the teams go about changing sides... DOUBLE BONUS: in the SAME game, I am PU obviously, no one on, 2 man crew, partner in A, shot down right field line, he goes out, I let him know I've got the runner, RF doesn't make the catch, ball bounces around, I follow BR around to 3rd, hear my partner say he's got the plate, and they wave the BR around third... perfect relay throw and my partner has a legit play at the plate OUT call as BU... A MEMORABLE 13U game.. I am officially recharged!
    2 points
  3. Aptly said. We umpires bristle and are all scared of the P-word. However, know the best way to avoid a Protest? Know the frakkin’ Rules, and quit making sh!t up!!
    2 points
  4. 1 point
  5. I believe the proper mechanic here is to turn to the HC and ask "do you want to handle this or should I?"
    1 point
  6. PU is at PoP, UIC is across from him, coaches and players are in batter's boxes. BUs are on the sides of the UIC. UIC will go over most of it. Coaches will forget most of it. If I'm PU, I start with the kids, play fair, hustle on and off the field, help your catcher get on the gear, warm up the pitcher, but most of all, Have fun! Then on to coaches, All players properly and legally equipped to LL standards? (I require a firm, "Yes" on this, no mumbling etc.) Ground rules, usually OOB lines, remind them if the ball gets stuck or goes under the fence, not to dig, throw up the hands and wait for an umpire. If there is a question about a judgement call, request time and when it's granted calmly talk to the umpire that made the call. If there's a question about the rules, request time and when it's granted, calmly approach the umpire that made the call and request the PU. During pre-game, ask the scorekeeper how they want changes. The UIC should have gone over this, but most coaches won't remember. We use, Player Number is coming in for Player Number at Position Number. For offensive, just get the Player Numbers, Player Number is batting for Player Number. As you increase in playing level, your tolerance for mistakes should go down. If an 8-10 coach comes out of the dugout, yelling "time" and walking to the mound, I'll grant time and head him off. I'll explain that he needs to request time first and when it's granted, he can leave the dugout and go out to the mound. If a LL baseball coach, pulls that same crap, he's going back to the dugout with a stern warning that he'll be restricted to the bench or gone, if he can't do it right. Make sure the UIC or yourself have time to do a proper equipment check. During the game, work on timing of calls, wait on catches. PU should have all catches and foul calls. During pre-game let the base umpires know to sell the call and not to call catches or fouls. Most important, keep the game moving. 8 warm ups for a new pitcher 5 for the same pitcher. I let the catcher know when he's got 2 left, then announce, "1 more" so the batter can be ready. Remind dugouts if the battery is not out and warming up, if the catcher was on base, get another kid with a mask and mitt out there. If a ball, goes out of play, let it go and hand the catcher a new ball. Remind the batter to keep one foot in the box. That's all I got for now.
    1 point
  7. Got it. keep it short. Introductions, lineups (if not done at the scorer's table), ground rules specific to the field. Players properly equipped. Sportsmanship, and If you want to add the ask for time and we'll discuss any issues...That's about it.
    1 point
  8. Don't you love it when a plan comes together? Had my first triple play call this year in a game I was doing solo. That felt good.
    1 point
  9. If it is my check is not correct
    1 point
  10. So the consensus is no balk. I told you I could be persuaded
    1 point
  11. You are 100% correct (as you know). We (at my urging) specifically put this in the FED umpire manual in 2016 because I had, had long debates about this with umpires across the country throughout my FED career. I told my fellow committee members that I didn't really care which way it was resolved, but that we definitely needed to provide guidance to umpires.
    1 point
  12. This year, Little League Baseball (majors, 10-12 Tournament) can start June 24th. They allow 3 1/2 weeks for Districts - never heard of anyone taking anything near that long! After that, all the levels are about a week each. Regionals are staggered so they can all get their finals shown on ESPN. Softball starts a week before baseball, they get two weeks for Districts (usually not as many teams). I've recommended not starting Districts till after July 4th. You could easily play it in 10-12 days and be done in time for Sectionals. Starting that late also gives you more time for your Regular Season (get in more games for all of the kids in the league). Then again, that's just me. I know of several Districts in Florida that played last Saturday and Sunday (Pool Play) and had their Championship Game (Pool Winners) Monday (yesterday). So, they're done already. The District Winners now have quite a wait till Sectionals start July 19th. The good thing is, the losers get a long summer break!
    1 point
  13. Just balk that SH*# early so you don't have to deal with it all game.
    1 point
  14. Keep it simple on this. Don't use too many words. I had this last year and I simple said, "No Tag" and pointed to the ball. In this case runner then came to touch home so I signaled safe. Otherwise if tag gets applied correctly I signal out.
    1 point
  15. Assuming there’s no reason to charge the batter with interference, the ball is live and whatever happens, happens. A good example of this occurred in the top of the seventh inning in game 5 of the 2015 ALDS between the Texas Rangers and the Toronto Blue Jays. While the initial call was “dead ball,” the umpires were able to confer and eventually came to the correct conclusion.
    1 point
  16. Featured Story by Author Ronald T. Waldo As a change of pace today, I’m throwing some love in the direction of those who judiciously handled the indicator during baseball’s Deadball Era. Undaunted by criticism and threats of bodily harm from players, managers, and fans, the game’s umpires persevered and forged onward, doing their best to make decisions and render calls that were correct, and supported by baseball’s rules and tenets. Just as was the case with players and managers, the umpiring fraternity contained some individuals who stood out among their counterparts because of personality and attitude. One such person who walked to the beat of his own drum was arbiter William Jeremiah “Lord” Byron, who was known as the “Singing Umpire,” due to his penchant for breaking out into song while officiating a game. When Byron first broke into the major league ranks in 1913, he gained acclaim for reciting poetry or bursting out with a little musical interlude while undertaking his diamond task. One example of his ability to quickly create lyrics for even a situation when fans were upset with his work was the musical line: “Fandom must be very sore. Listen to the awful roar.” Over time, the monotonous tone of Lord Byron’s warbling voice drove players crazy. Not surprisingly, New York Giants manager John McGraw wasn’t a big fan of the umpire’s singing, or his ability as an arbiter. Byron took all the criticism in stride, usually exhibiting a sense of humor. This trait manifested itself even when he wasn’t inspired to unburden the vocal chords and burst into song. During the progress of a game at the Polo Grounds on one occasion between the Giants and St. Louis Cardinals, Byron quickly exhibited that he had a grasp of the ever-changing diamond conditions. An airplane from a nearby amusement park suddenly flew over the ballpark, and the machine’s pilot circled over the field from a height of 2,000 feet for several minutes. Byron, who was working behind home plate, called time, and summoned McGraw and Cardinals skipper Miller Huggins onto the field for a conference. When the two managers reached the umpire, William announced a new addendum to the rules. “A batter hitting that machine will be entitled to two bases,” Byron solemnly proclaimed. Leave it to Lord Byron to institute “air rules,” to accompany the standard ground rules for a specific ballpark. Sometime during the 1916 campaign, Byron received a severe tongue lashing from a devoted patron following a game between St. Louis and the Brooklyn Robins at Ebbets Field. This fan was particularly irked over a critical decision that was rendered early in the game. “Bill, I think you missed a decision on Daubert [Brooklyn first baseman Jake Daubert] in the second inning,” said the Robins’ rooter. “Well, perhaps I did,” replied the singing arbiter, “but in the course of a year I make about 500,000 decisions in umpiring 154 games, and if I miss only one in a game I’m a great umpire.” Lastly, sarcasm certainly oozed from the pores of patrons when it came to this great umpire, following a play that brought the fans to their feet. In one particular game, Lord Byron made a decision on a close play which received a positive reaction as he, runner, and fielder all converged on the scene, and went down to the ground in a heap. “What are the crowds cheering for, George?” asked one fan in the stands. “The umpire called him safe,” replied George. “It was a great slide.” “I’m so glad,” responded his relieved friend. “When I saw him tumble I though surely he’d be hurt.” Throwing some tainted love in the direction of arbiter Lord Byron, master of singing, air rules for a baseball game, and overall greatness as an umpire. -Author Ronald T. Waldo Photo - From left to right, umpires Lord Byron (NL), George Hildebrand (AL), Bill Klem (NL), and Bill Dineen (AL), during the 1914 World Series. 6060 11 Comments5 Share
    1 point
  17. I've found that travel ball players on a rec team are typically the bad apple. They think they're better than everyone else, when it's usually that mom and dad have enough money to put their kid on a travel team.
    1 point
  18. Why didn't the manager/coach bench the kid? I agree with your ejection but the manager could have taken disciplinary action against the kid well before it got to this point.
    1 point
  19. When coaches start yapping about my zone, I simply look away and show them my Champro harness. That shuts them up pretty quickly.
    1 point
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