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I'll ask the question: why in the wide world of sports was BU turning to look at first?

In a real life NFHS experience..... On a Senior Night, one game before a championship game and it might have been little Johnny's friends iguinas's birthday too, I threw out a head coach for arguing over a FPSL play and an assitant coach for flying out of the dugout after the HC was tossed. The HC's argument was how could I make that call - well the kid slid through the 2B and hindered the play - and after blowing through the first warning, he got personal and wouldnt stop arguing, blowing through the other warning quickly. His personal statement included, what was I doing as it was Senior Night and the Championship game was a game away (here, an ejection includes a 3 game suspension). He appealed the suspension, of course, and got the three games reduced to one. All I care about was that he earned his in-game suspension, of course. But, to TMIB words, it is up to the coaches and players to act properly no matter what the future holds for them. They act like a fool, they risk participating in the next few games. We only care how they act in the current game. And dont let a coach sway you in a plate meeting by letting you know what is upcoming for them. Forget it as soon as you here that gibberish. It doesnt matter for the current game.

"Ground rule" double. ... and 50 Chuck'E'Cheese tokens for a perfect Skee-Ball roll.

Navy blue, forever and always *ducks*

Davis Mirage with Custom All-Star FM4000 Pads. Shout out to @concertman1971 for doing me a solid on these impossible to find pads.

If you wanna get saucy….. Them: “Hey, c’mon, they haven’t called that all year!” Us: “Happy New Year.” Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This is going to be an interesting one to follow. Lacking any real information at this point, I'll direct my response to the comments I am seeing. "It's a championship game, you can't/shouldn't toss him! They're down 6-0, why do you care!" Please, please, please, umpire brethren, NEVER fall for this line of rationale. If he needs to go, he needs to go. What happens next (i.e., suspension) is not our problem and we owe no favors. I've heard umpires justify non-EJs with "Yeah, but their next game . . . " NO, NO, NO. You are not working the next game and you are not a part of their team, so why do you care? If you are working the next game, you will have to deal with the monster you created by allowing him to remain in the game.

Im sure when the State org Heads and assignors are not 60+ and stop using the "back in my day" phrase like its a Biblical quote, creased hats, patent shoes, all black ONLY requirements, and (sorry @MadMax) NAVY shirts will all but disappear. Look at any younger (below 35) umpire out on a field. They are not creasing hats (unless pressured by those 55+ guys) and they certainly aint wearing patent leather shoes. Sh&*t, even softball is coming around on the pant color! I am at an age and a space in my career that I wear what is comfortable. Nike Golf shoes with the FORBIDDEN white logo on the bases, and whatever plate shoes I have in the car on game day. Just look at the 50th anniversary of Referee Magazine. The advertisements in that thing CATERED to the 55+ crowd, but articles were written about the "aging out of officials" and the "lack of officials". Im guessing the marketing departments at these places are the same Old Heads (for you Old guys, thats what the young generations calls you, and they most definitely mean it with all of the respect you think it carries) that run the state orgs.

Some more retrofits lately

Absolutely. What did I see? I saw my partner make a call that was his to make.

😂 It’s the New-England way of taking the plate: Chest protector up top and boat shoes down low. lol

Pretty much, AAA has had a MLB style schedule for a few years now and they want something like that. It does kinda suck though bc we don’t have the same relationships with players and managers anymore. My first 3 years in the game, I knew all the players from west coast teams and now that I’ve spent time in all 3 AA leagues, I don’t know anyone anymore.

U3 called attention to time being out as R1 came into 3B. I don't think Hunter ever signaled it but somehow with relaxed action, other than Rodon's hissyfit, I guess time was assumed. Off topic, I have kicked dirt off the plate but does this speak to Hunter's physicality? Better clip than @Velho's for those that don't do FB: Adley Rutschman scores on passed ball | 08/29/2026 | MLB.com

Can’t imagine whhhhyyyyy. When the question is asked, we only get, what, umpteen different responses?! - Sky blue! - Light blue! - Powder! - Baby blue! - Columbia blue! - Carolina blue! - Polo blue! - Robin Eggshell Blue - Pink! No, blue! * * - Monty Python & the Holy Grail fans rejoice!

So we need to make a limited run of MLB/sky blue pads?!

Timothy! The answer is socks, my dear friend. Socks!

Right... and making the plate measurement 19" is how they get there with Trackman, since it plots only the center of the ball.

I once suggested to the coach that he needed to start sending Thank You cards to the other crews that have been giving him gifts all year

Every level has been doing this since last year

Here's what I don't understand... Instead of conditioning "your" umpires to expand the strike zone off the plate, into-and-often-defined-by the batters' boxes ("call the chalk! call the river!" Whatever TF that means... ), why not change the width of the plate? A 46-60 or even a 50-70 field will never be used by any baseball player greater than 12 years old, and maybe-just-maybe youth softball could benefit from this, too. Umpires, at all levels, then could call the plate, instead of a widely / grossly interpreted zone. Pitchers could progressively be taught to pitch to the plate, and catchers could be taught to set up... oh I don't know... on (the edge of) the plate! Novel ideas! ------------------------------ Prefaces: - I am not perfect. - I do not have a published, recognized method that I am "selling" or defending. - I do not directly represent a union, organization, or doctrine. - I call a wide variety of levels, and have called every level of baseball short of "The Show". I no longer call (as PU) anything less than 60'6" pitching distance, unless emergency call-in or voluntary event. The terms "river", "white line", "chalk", "paint" are foreign to me. Sure, I was a catcher, I know what they mean, but as an umpire, they are not part of my lexicon (vocabulary). The width of the plate (the physical object – we can discuss in more detail if that includes the black rim or edging) is the width of the zone. Period. Simple. Easy. I view it as a binary conditional query – did the pitched ball pass over (a part of) the plate? - If No → Ball. - If Yes → Next Judge / Determine Height. Now, the plate itself has divisions, or zones, if you will. I teach developing and novice umpires this concept, by way of introducing or demonstrating one of these: Of course, there's the upper boundary ("top") and lower boundary ("bottom"), and I establish them as early and often or as necessary in a game. If you're a batter or catcher, you will hear me actively say, "That's the top" or "That's the bottom" (after calling the Strike, of course). Then, in regards to the width, I use the following terms for the 5 zones or divisions or segments of the plate: Inner Edge – Inner Third – "Center Mass"* – Outer Third – Outer Edge. * - Use what you want for this middle / center region. I despise the colloquial terms "c0cꓘ shot" or "down the d!cꓘ". Instead, I use the term "center mass", and granted, I don't (need to) use it often, if at all. I find myself using it as a point of levity, such as when a Batter takes the pitch during a steal attempt, and the Batter will ask after all is settled, "Where was that one?", to which I reply, "Center mass"... and the F2 chuckles and audibly smirks. Just like the establishment of the Top and Bottom boundaries, I actively identify the Edges. A pitch is grooved down that inner edge? "Hrike!... that's the Edge." "Any further in?" "Nope, that's the edge." A pitch catches the (outer) corner? "Hrike!... that's the Edge" "Catch the corner?" "Yup, the Edge". And both the Batter and the Catcher are equally appreciative. I consistently reiterate and reinforce – Edge, edge, edge. Define the boundaries. For both opponents. Where I use the "Thirds", is when a Batter asks "Was that the edge/corner?" or "Any further out/in?", to which I'll reply (something like) "No, outer/inner third." Being that that's not the edge, it implies that there's more to go... of course, up to the defined Edge. I never declare "third", but I use it as an answer to the question. I always answer questions... which is something that, again, players on both sides are appreciative of. Too often, college and pro Batters and Catchers alike remark that other College and pro umpires are too cryptic, too vague, and too standoffish, often ignoring even simple questions. Where I employ the zone training plate is with already-active umpires who are interested in challenging themselves. While I introduce the training plate to brand-new or novice umpires, I don't advise using it with them (putting them on it); instead, simply train and condition them to read and call the plate as a whole to start. Don't overwhelm them. With the interested veterans, I lay out the training plate as a challenge – to track the pitch to a color segment, and identify where it primarily crosses. This takes the emphasis from tracking the pitch to the catcher's mitt, and transposes it to the plate... where it should be... and where ABS-Hawkeye and TrackMan are largely focused. Granted, tracking a pitch through the zone to the mitt is a component of the pitch-tracking process, but how the catcher catches it – where it is, how or if he catches it (fingers up or down, ball dropped, etc.) often influences what we collectively judge the pitch to be, especially if it's "close".

That becomes a problem when you learn 3-4 man. PU and U1, U2, U3 is intuitive. U1 at HP and U2 at 1B is not.

Yes, I always want to get to the 45, OR AFATPA (As Far as The Play Allows). However, my keen baseball knowledge will tell me that a 2 hopper hit to f4 with no one on tells me to use economy of motion. Trail the runner, but understand that sprinting to the 45 adds nothing to the game. IMO, the guy who blindly sprints to spots is telling me that he is inexperienced. That same keen awareness also knows that a slow roller hit to f5 who is charging hard and throwing on the run often pulls f2 off the bag and towards the runner. this means I am not blindly running to a spot, but rather UMPIRING and taking what the play gives me, while reading the actions of the fielders. I may have to stay longer for fair/foul, there may be some action by f3 coming off the bag early as he reads an errant throw. Does BR slide at the last minute? Is there OBS? Plays on the infield are many times the plays where we get paid. Read the play, react to the play, make the call. Just my $0.02

I was screaming at the TV that night. Idiot announcers. The live broadcast wasn't clear in real time if the third out was appealed at first or third, so I asked my wife that during the commercial...and let her know, assuming the appeal was made at first, exactly what was going to happen after the commercials ended. Best part was, the next day she went to work and schooled a couple of colleagues on how the fourth out appeal works. Not only did the team leave the field on their own - it's clear that some of them also thought the fly ball was the third out, and are leaving the field even before the third out appeal.

Sometimes there are communications issue, i.e. the headsets don't work. Other times, they are checking to see if it's reviewable situation. I speculate they are slow because they want to be 100% and it's not necessarily one person deciding. Small point of clarification, I can only speak first hand to one site but, at that one, the replays were done on site. They do try to get the TV producer working ahead of time when they see a possible replay coming. Results vary of course. Not having high speed cameras and only 2-3 manned cameras for the earlier games is a hindrance as well.

Because the replay that you are seeing likely isn't the one that they are using for replay. It has to go to the replay center in Williamsport and all reviews are conducted there. The replay official in Williamsport then has to go through the TV producer to get different videos/angles. Even if you have one angle that may show something, you will look at other angles just to confirm there is nothing else you missed. https://www.littleleague.org/world-series/video-replay-process/

It absolutely matters! You need footwear that screams "Respect my authoritAY!"

This is definitely a game our colleague Clarence Callsafew will be on!

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

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

Those who have heard my stories know of a phrase, from a (head) coach, directed at me after an… intense discussion – “You (Max) were right the other night, but there’s no way you’re right twice!” That didn’t get him the hook. … the hook came after the next insight he offered. 🤠

Got on the field last weekend for the first time since my injury. Worked the Special Olympics softball championship for my state. It's slow pitch so the deep squats weren't needed but still a lot of pop up, run, plant, turn, etc. we do. I worked 11 games over the weekend (9 behind the plate) and not a peep out of the knee. Everything else hurt though lol. I have a friendly scheduled for next week with the local FP travel coach. We'll see how it holds up then. Thanks again for the war stories and first hand experience here.

So... it is about that time. Who is going where? This could be a way to know some people before you go.

Something like this?

But at what point did it become a ground rule double? 😁 Edit: Screw it, I'm giving him third base just because that was a cool no human being will ever replicate, even if Henry Winkler is still alive. 🤣

Sounds like he was at a clinic, or talked to someone who was...They got this wrong too. You snap your head to 1B immediately after the release of the ball and you know it's not coming at your head. ...Not once he fields it.

I'm not quite sue if this is real or a shot at the NJ overlords. In either case, it's the first time I've heard of this new mechanic. @Richvee?

If the tag is on the runner's side, PU can get it. If the swipe tag is on the runners back, BU can usually get it (esp if he takes a read step). If PU takes a read step, he will have a better angle, too.

Your “foot Ferrari” is this guy’s foot fryer. No thank you. If we’re equating to cars, and polish-&-patent is a gleaming black sedan, out here in the wild? Gimme a land rover with the top off, if ya please. If I gotta stand out here for 2-3 hours while you scrutinize the strike zone, then I’m going to need something comfy. #PizzazBeDamned

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.

I get what you are saying, but cutting costs goes hand in hand with reduced benefits (and reduced opportunities). I will be curious to see what the outcomes are over the long run.

Clarence will also be on his phone between innings. I'm sure he is just checking his e-mail to see which higher-paying game he wants to pick up tomorrow (and then find replacements for the two he already has booked).

Precisely! Among other brands, I do high school, and my Assignor has always told us that we "must go by the lines." Hogwash. Even Varsity High School fields are mismarked, especially batter's boxes, and we are not to be held hostage to them.

We can argue all day about the strike zone. The most important element is, is the umpire consistent? Batters can adjust if an umpire is consistent. If the umpire is not consistent, then it's everyone for himself.

Mizuno Japan beat you to it, TMiB.

You absolutely did the right thing. I can't think of any reason an umpire would answer questions from a coach regarding his partner's call.

Leather Luster is great--but it's all in the preparation. I tried it while I was on active duty and it cracked and flaked badly--because I rushed the preparation. Leather Luster, when not applied correctly, ruins shoes. Edit: apparently they have a service where they'll apply the Leather Luster to your shoes for you (I would have loved that service before I retired!). To avoid the issues I mention above, I highly recommend folks opt to spend a few more dollars and have the Luster folks do it for you.

They most likely have used Leather Luster on their shoes, which is why they're so shiny and seem to shed dirt.

If you’re really after aftermarket insoles, I’ve used two brands to good success – FORM and SOLE. My stock Mizuno insoles were paper thin, and invariably, Arizona infields get like concrete. I use SOLE cork-based insoles in my casual shoes, and FORM insoles on my base shoes. Both are found at Amazon.

Well, @Umpiresrock74, you did a really top-notch job on @JeBa’s Platy. I just want to remind him and everyone, to avoid using Lysol, or anything with bleach in it, to “freshen” or disinfect it. Technical soaps (sport wash), OdoBan, and Febreze (weaksauce) are much less caustic.