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Welcome! As the previous newest member to hang out here this place is pretty chill and it's nice to talk about some of the details of this stuff that even your friends who like baseball won't find that interesting

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Hey, all, Just started umpiring last year but been playing baseball since I was 8 y/o. Here to gain more knowledge and put it to the test. Currently doing Sunday ball and some HS, absolutely love it. Hoping I move up the ranks and become a better umpire. And maybe one day, I’ll umpire higher levels of play…why not, the big leagues! GOD Bless! Gerardo “Jerry” Camberos

I've kinda thought that color definitely doesn't make sense with grey pants, black shoes and (usually) a black mask but alas, first year LL umps don't get consulted for fashion takes lol

Does she show up also wearing a blue polo with red and white stripes much like people would wear a team jersey to show support lol

True story: when my wife is at games (usually when I'm either working the game, or working a different game), parents of other players will ask my wife about certain calls. Because apparently being married to an umpire is exactly like being an umpire.

This is honestly one of the most perplexing plays I've ever seen. This appears to be a safety squeeze, but with the pitch coming inside, and the batter able to get the bunt down on the 1B side, it puts him behind the play rather than in front of it. In most cases, the batter would be out of the box well ahead of the catcher on a bunt. We also have a catcher that is positioning himself for the play at the plate without regard for the batter-runner. Does the BR intentionally initiate the contact with F2? I don't think so. It happens in a very tight space, he initially slips, which causes his head to come down and by the time he raises his head, F2 is right there. Usually, when we have ball, bag, runner and fielder, there is a play being made on that runner, but not in this case. Also, the ball seems to arrive in time for a play on R3 at the plate. So much going on! In the end, I have F2 obstructing the BR's path to 1B. The contact (hinderance) happens before F1 even fields the ball, so F2 cannot impede the BR's progress towards 1B. Obstruction on F2 before he reaches 1B. Immediate dead ball. BR to 1B. R1 to 2B, and I'm bringing R3 back to 3B as it's not clear to me that he would have reached home if not for the obstruction.

What about the old sandlot “ghost runner”. The kid hits a ball through the infield, it’s a single and put a courtesy runner on first, he hits a gapper, courtesy runner on second. Kid hits a bomb, let him enjoy a walk around the bases. its 9u, who cares what’s written, do what’s best for the kid

Less than zero tolerance. You want to further reduce the workforce of umpires, let this behavior go unchecked. Outright ban to start. No entry to any LL sanctioned event in any capacity. Depending on how young those umps are (ie. if they are minors) this could be misdemeanor harassment, or even assault, depending on what was yelled. This is not only an act of having those umpires' backs, and protecting all umpires, it's also being proactive. Those umpires may decide to defend themselves if they encounter this asshat again...or, those umpires' fathers.

The coach never coaching again (and zero tolerance as an attending fan if not banned for that as well), is the necessary first step. I've made that happen in the past. If the Board won't do that, every umpire should boycott the league until it happens and, eventually, the district umps should join in. Have fun doing All Stars without umpires. I could go on since this angers me so much but I'll stop.

It is an umpire site. Timing, timing, timing.

This is going to be NFHS, but I am interested in NCAA/MLB differences. Hello, great to be back thinking about umpiring. The following video got me researching a few things regarding obstruction. First of all, could someone please point me to the language in the rule book or case book that backs up the "tangle/untangle" type of play as a no-call (for NFHS)? https://www.facebook.com/reel/530384049588198?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v In the play above, the batter bunts a ball that was coming towards his face, causing him to lose balance and stumble back. The B/R then runs toward 1B and makes contact with the catcher who is in the baseline positioning to receive the throw from F1 to presumably get R3 at the plate. It seems like the umpire ended up calling Interference on B/R making contact with the catcher, called him out, and presumably put the runners back at their bases. 1. Personally I have obstruction, as the catcher was not fielding a ball and he clearly obstructed the B/R in runner to 1B. It seems pretty cut and dry. Am I missing anything here? Assuming I'm correct and we have a consensus on that, I have a couple follow-up questions on a couple what-ifs. 2. In NCAA/MLB I believe there is verbiage that protects a fielder in the act of fielding a throw (but not in NFHS - has to have possession). In this video, F1 had not fielded or thrown the ball yet, but if F1 would have flipped the ball and it been mid air before this same contact, would that make a difference in these rulesets?

Here is the district you're in (I believe). There is an Umpire-In-Chief contact on there. Reach out to him if interested. I expect he'd love to have you. https://www.ca43.org/Default.aspx?tabid=2049026 Love the aspirations. You may want to go to Pro Umpire School. Folks on here can point you in that direction better than I.

LoL!! 😁 My wife and family (also) usually come with me to my games as well. And it kind off helps me umpire better. There’s times I get less “so-called” umpires in the stands. I get less routty folks. And my family doesn’t dress to the occasion as well! 😆

No, I've trained her right: she doesn't like navy.

Little League West Region headquarters is right there. Even if you aren't doing much Little League, they have excellent training at decent prices. For our locals that have gone through that and want to start doing HS, the assigner loves them because he knows they are well trained.

Drumroll please...I present...baby's first mask! Champro CM72. My first game is base (by my request) so I won't get to use it right off the bat (no pun intended) but figure it's still worth sharing

Welcome, since you are an ex player we will not try to break you of saying "foul ball" and "dead ball"🙂

Welcome! I think it's safe to say we all want to be better umpires--so you're in a good spot.

Because PU has the subsequent play at 3B in pro mechanics (and CCA, for that matter.)

Scrimmage...yeah, let it go but, I would contact your leadership and or your state athletic association to make them aware of the situation so that they can hopefully issue proactive direction about it and raise awareness of the situation. ~Dawg

I would just let it happen. No need for anyone to get heartburn over this. It would probably be no different if an in person translator wanted to go to the mound. I would let that happen, too.

Would this qualify?

First. Thanks for the compliment. I have nothing to add to @Replacematt and @BigBlue4u ‘s answers. I’ve been frequenting a site/ app called “RefMasters” where some top college and some pro umpires participate and we’ve been talking interference/obstruction lately. A growing theme I’ve noticed is MLB, and D1 umpires will often say plays like some of these that can either be interference or obstruction or nothing, really have no “right answer”. That could be seen either way, as @BigBlue4u alluded to. Sell what you have, and be able to explain it to the coach that’s going to ask you about it in rule book terms. Shameless plug for RefMasters. It’s worth at least a look.

Seconded.

I haven't done my first game yet but as an adult LL ump I wouldn't trust the org had my back if that guy was allowed to coach again so that's my 2 cents

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I'll grab the easy one - Gerry Davis was #12 on the field.

I loved the golf prism on my set of Oakley's they worked on cloudy days as they made everything "Pop" Incredible clarity and the contrast they put on everything. LMAO I use them to drive too.

First, all the credit in the world for the plate umpire selling the heck out of the call. Anyone doubt what he had? Second, it appeared to me the catcher was positioning himself for a throw from the first baseman, rather than trying to field the bunt. Thus, I have obstruction on the catcher. If I thought the catcher as well as F3 were trying to field the ball, under (NFHS) 8-4-2-g-1 ) I would protect F3 and still have obstruction on F2. And, I guess we can add that decades-old umpire prayer, "If I'm not right, please God make me look right."

I've got obstruction also. In all codes. Even if you're considering interference on a fielder fielding a throw, he can't be obstructing the runner like that. No different than F4 taking a SB tag play and blocking 2B. It's not going to be interference if R1 contacts him before he has the ball.

There's timing, and then there's the point where you forgot to make a call.

I recently bought 2 sets of pants. 2 base and 2 plate. I took them to the tailor and only tried one set on for hemming. It turns out that somehow a size 38” was in the 34” package. I discovered this at the game. I emailed UA on Saturday night. Courtney replied Sunday morning to say they were shipping a new pair and to donate the other pair of pants. Found a first year guy that can use them. This is why they are the best. Thanks UA.

Just got my All-Star S7 Steel back from Tony at Mask-it Sports and I absolutely love it! Now all that's left to get is some new pads to really spiff it up! By the end of last season, it was looking pretty rough. My indicator chipped off the paint on the lower bars and rust was starting to form. After some well deserved TLC, it looks even better than it did when I first got it!