mrumpiresir

Well the rule had better be in the rule book before I would attempt to enforce it else a $hit$torm would follow.

OK. I read further and you are correct according to 7.08 (b ) and the comments. I stand corrected. 22 years of umpiring and I learned something new or relearned something I forgot or overlooked. (Let the flaming begin but go easy on me)

How does lack of situational awareness equal intent? I'm not convinced intent is required for the int call. 7.09(j) doesn't require intent in this sitch. If Casilla had been moving toward 3rd base on a beeline and made contact with the defensive player making a play on a batted ball, intentional or not, I have int.

7.09(j) applies here. Casilla is properly called out for int. Casilla had his back to the play and didn't know where the ball or the defensive player was. The fact that he was on the base is irrelevant.

If your BU goes out in a two-man crew, he does it from "A", which means there are no runners, other than the batter-runner. Are you telling me you, as plate umpire, or any other reasonably-fit umpire, cannot cover ONE runner from the PU position ? Nobody said the PU couldn't cover a single runner. What is the purpose of going out and staying out in a two man system? There are just too many things that could happen which could be handled with ease if the BU comes back to the infield. Suppose the runner gets into a pickle? do you think it makes sense for the PU to handle it while the BU is standing out in RF watching instead of participating? Use common sense and act as the third team on the field. Show some hustle.

PU does rotate home if the BU doesn't make it. It is very possible that a ball could be rolling around the RF corner causing the BU to delay his return. If he can make the plate, it's his, if he can't the PU has it all. This is the way I was taught and it only makes sense. As BU if I go out I will return to cover plays at the plate. It's good teamwork and looks sharp. The only thing that must happen is communication between you and your partner. Going out and staying out is a three man mechanic.

I heard that Yogi was once asked "What time is it?" Yogi replied with "What, right now?".

The only problem you have is that the ball is dead immediately on R3's interference. You can't wait to see the result of the play to determine what the ruling will be.

Really?? Really???

That is not a bad list except for 6. If you slide legally at the base and contact the fielder in front of the base or on top of the base, he is fair game. If he is beside it or behind it then it is a violation. I'm not in agreement with 2 or 3 as stated. I would amend to read: 2. There is no “pop-up†slide that creates contact or alters the play. 3. There is no sliding “over†the base which then makes contact with the fielder or alters the play. We've covered pop up slides, so no further comment on that. But a runner can slide past the base legally, depending on where the fielder is, and depending on how the umpires judges the contact. Sliding past the bag is not, in and of itself, illegal. I think we are basically in agreement. For years I have been preaching that umpires need to use judgement in most situations. Those with experience will know when a FPSR violation occurs.

I was umpiring HS ball long before the FPSR was created and remember being taught the following principles which are an excerpt from the state interpreter. THE FORCE OUT: While the force-play slide rule applies to all bases, any controversy surrounding this rule normally comes from a play at second base. If the player chooses to slide when there is a force situation the runner MUST SLIDE DIRECTLY into the base with the lead leg low (at ground level). The runner must keep his entire body down as well. In other words the rule says SLIDE STRAIGHT INTO THE BASE, STOP THERE AND STAY DOWN!!! 1. There is no “going out†to get the infielder. 2. There is no “pop-up†slide. 3. There is no sliding “over†the base. (Force or Non-force) 4. There is no “slashing,†or “kicking†at the infielder. 5. There are no “roll blocksâ€. 6. There are no “attempts to contact the infielderâ€. It is legal to slide “away†from the fielder or not slide at all as long as the runner CLEARLY avoids making ANY contact with the fielder in an attempt to alter or influence his play.

Pop up slides are NOT illegal. Pop up slides into the fielder are illegal. That may be what you were saying, but making an encompassing statement that pop up slides are illegal is incorrect. You are correct. We are discussing FPSR and pop up slides are illegal in this context. A pop up slide or going in standing up on a FPSR situation, as I have been taught, are both illegal. In fact our association instructs that if a runner slides in a FPSR situation, the runner must stay down, thus no pop up slides allowed. Are you saying that on a force play, if the runner does a pop up slide without making contact or altering the play, that your association instructs you to invoke FPSR and call the BR out? That's what they are saying, but in reality, if he doesn't alter the play, I wouldn't call it . But any benefit of the doubt goes to the defense. Fed is basing this whole situation around safety and the protection of the fielder. You can't take the pivot man out as they do in pro ball. Heck, you can't even get in his way as he attempts the relay to first.

Pop up slides are NOT illegal. Pop up slides into the fielder are illegal. That may be what you were saying, but making an encompassing statement that pop up slides are illegal is incorrect. You are correct. We are discussing FPSR and pop up slides are illegal in this context. A pop up slide or going in standing up on a FPSR situation, as I have been taught, are both illegal. In fact our association instructs that if a runner slides in a FPSR situation, the runner must stay down, thus no pop up slides allowed.

If a runner does not slide legally, we will get two outs on the FPSR. If he doesn't slide and doesn't veer off and in any way hinders the fielder, we will get two outs on the FPSR. If pop up slides are illegal, how can anyone argue that going in standing up and altering the play doesn't result in two outs? I will get two outs every time on this play.

Either way, there is one one out. The only question is as the defense coach, would you rather have baker or charlie bat.

I have not ejected anyone this year and that is strange because I always get three or four during fall ball. I've always said that in fall ball you run into coaches who think they can say anything. And of course at this time of the year my tolerance is low with some of the idiot coaches (Read Daddy Coaches) I have to deal with. If a coach ever says to me " If you toss my player you will have to toss me" the next thing out of my mouth will be "OK you can leave too". Why would a coach say that? It's no problem for me to send him to the parking lot. ?????????? I had a situation where I was behind the plate and the batter swung and the ball trickled out toward the mound. I was not sure if he fouled it off his foot or leg so I let it play out. The 3rd base coach started yelling at me about how it hit him in the box and it was foul. After all action had stopped, I beckoned my partner in and started walking out to confer with him. Meantime the coach is still screaming at me. I stopped and said in an authoritive manner "DON'T HOLLER AT ME". He stopped yelling and I did not hear a peep out of him the rest of the game. I was surprised at how he backed down. (BTW my partner said it did hit the batter so we ruled it foul. I told my partner that if he knows it hit the batter he should kill it immediately)

As I said on the other forum, He begins his turn to first and starts a throw before his foot hits the ground. He did not step back off the rubber. I have a move from the rubber and thus a one base award.

You handled this correctly but I don't see why you think your partner put you in a pickle. He was asked to get help and apparently wasn't 100% sure of his call so he did the right thing coming to talk to you in private. You got the call right and your explanation to the coach was perfect. Play on.

Heads he's an idiot, Tails, he's just plain stupid. Call it in the air.

Why do we refer to Tim He-who-shall-not-be-named as " He-who-shall-not-be-named"? The guy is an idiot and I've been hoping for years that he might read some of these forums and humble himself. I have the right of my opinion and the 1st amendment allows me free speech, so by what justification are we not allowed to use his name? He is a public figure so he has no right of privacy. Any member of this site could do a better job of explaining the rules of the game. He-who-shall-not-be-named's opinion is worthless because he is untrained in the rules and doesn't know what he is talking about. The sad part is most fans get their rules knowledge from announcers and when a jerk like this constantly gives incorrect information it makes the job of amatuer umpires much more difficult. Has anyone ever contacted Fox sports to tell them they have a moron constantly giving incorrect rules interpretations on the air? Forgive me, I just had to rant. One more time, Tim He-who-shall-not-be-named is either an idiot or just plain stupid. I expect this post will be deleted because it is not politically correct, but that doesn't change the fact that He-who-shall-not-be-named is an idiot who has no business explaning the rules of baseball.

Well said. When I miss a call for whatever reason, and I do on ocassion, I mentally remind myself that it happens to the guys on TV, so I don't beat myself up about it. I simply try to figure out why and prevent it from happening in the future.

I did this not too long ago. Legion Regional playoff game, 4 man mechanics and I was PU and R3. Ground ball to F6 who throws to F2. I was so intent on seeing if the tag was applied before the runner reached the plate, I didn't see the ball bounce away from F2. I felt like a fool giving an out call and then having to reverse it and signal safe. Since then I have been trying real hard to remember to slow down and see the play to it's conclusion.

I don't believe it has to be intentional. Intention makes the time of award to be different. Yep. You're right.

I don't believe it has to be intentional.

I hate to hijack the thread but is this the mechanic you guys usually use? With a runner on 2nd base and a fly ball to the outfield, the BU should have the catch, the tag up at second and the susequent play at third. The PU stays home. At least that's the way we do it here and it makes more sense. If there is an overthrow at third base the PU is already in position and does not have to hustle to the plate to make the call. Comments?