catoblue

LL Big League is OBR with almost no modifications. If the ball is legally in play, you have an out at 3B - it's a kinda bush play, but the hidden ball trick is perfectly legal in LL Big League In most circumstances when teams try this, the ball is not in play and it's nothing.

BR can not advance beyond 1B on a single or an error, 2B on a double or 3B on a triple - UIC judgment determines value of hit. Since this was an infield hit/E6, BR only gets 1B, everyone else except R3 is returned to the base forced to by BR reaching 1b, and R3 goes "poof!" - back to the bench, no out recorded and no run scored. Scorekeeper puts an x through R3's box and writes 7.13© (rule reference) A 7.13 violation affects all runners, all outs made count, and any open bases as result of outs recorded, provide the necessary real-estate for more runners to be returned.

Which comes back to the question in OBR... Where does it say that all defensive players except F2 must be in fair territory at TOP? 4.03 says they must be there when the ball is put in play - so to me, that means once the ball is legally in play, F3 can stand next to the dugout if he wants.

So... I think the final consensus, backed up by the interpretation manuals, is this... No appeal, run scores Appeal at 1st, run does not score an example of the elusive, but real, "adventagious fourth out".

HTBT for sure, but from the description, there's a pretty good chance I'd call the int. INTERFERENCE (a) Offensive interference is an act by the team at bat which interferes with, obstructs, impedes, hinders or confuses any fielder attempting to make a play.

Thoughts? I'm in complete agreement. When at a game you're not calling, as a coach or spectator, the fact that you are an umpire means that you should conduct yourself at a much higher standard than a non-umpire. The same professionalism you would use to call a game should carry over to all interactions with a baseball game - particularly if it is a league that you also umpire for.

Here's why I will give the hook automatically on "counted calls": When they tell me I've blown X calls, they take away my option to issue a warning for arguing the call at hand by arguing multiple calls at once. The warning for the current one get's passed over because they are arguing another play (or plays) from earlier in the game as well... So in effect, they are leading me through all four steps (ignore, acknowledge, warn, eject) with one statement - WHOOSH!!!!!! 1) INGORE: obviously, his argument on previous play(s) was/were ignored at the time, or he might not still be there 2) Acknowledge: we do this on the initial argument of the current play (before he tells us how many bad calls we've made) 3) Warn: is taken away by dredging up a play or plays from earlier in the game moving us on to... 4) EJ: he has presented a ticket to the parking lot, and it is our duty to punch it for him. The guy is double-dipping his arguments, taking all the rope we give them to hang themselves and tying it around his neck and jumping off the cliff for us.

This makes sense, since the "must be in fair..." rule only specified that the defense must be in fair when the ball is put in play. I've not seen anything that says the defense (except F2) must be in fair to pitch after the ball has legally been put into play.

Jeter is F6!!!! :ranton:

RIM says to instruct scorekeeper to put an X through that runner's at-bat box and write in 7.13© POOF!!!!!! Never have had to call it, but it's bound to happen eventually!

Under the circumstances, I think you were kinder than I would have been. I'm miserable after 2 games, and if I had managed to last 4, I'd be pretty "testy". I wouldn't have dropped an F-bomb on him but I'd have been a whole lot more biting with my sarcasm. I'm thinking it might have gone something like this: "Wow, how nice of you to point that out!!!! I would have never guessed that by the time we hit game 5 of six, we might have gotten to the point where a couple games ran over and the schedule got a little behind, but I'm guessing that in your little world, everything runs like clock-work, right? I'd LOVE to live on THAT PLANET! Maybe it would have helped if you got here at 8 AM this morning like we did, so you could point out to the managers and players of the two games that ran over, just how much their games running over would inconvenience you. I'm sure that they would have just quit playing so YOUR game would be able to start right on time. Now... Unless you have any more earth-shattering, late-breaking-news for us, the bleachers are over there <point>, how about you go find yourself a good seat, shut up, sit down and let us get on the field and start the game"! Then we walk calmly away and start the game... Ahhh, now that is one sweet daydream!!!!!

Good toss. As a couple other mentioned, once he was off the field, your best recourse to get him to leave the vicinity of the field is to put both teams on the bench until he leaves. Neither you or your partner should leave the field to get rid of him.

I typically run scenarios through my mind before every pitch to be ready for potential plays. Only problem is, calling LL games, more often than not, the play goes where you least expect it.

7.13 explicitly says "a violation by one baserunner shall affect all other base runners. Where the partner may have been confused is 7.13( & ©, kinda like using a mixed metaphore. He used the italic part of ( and applied it to © 7.13( when a base runner leaves the base before the pitched ball has reached the batter and the batter hits the ball, the base runner or runners are permitted to continue. If a play is made and the runner or runners are put out, the out or outs will stand. If not put out, the runner or runners must return to the original base or bases or to the unoccupied base nearest the one that was left; In no event shall the batter advance beyond first base on a single or error, second base on a double or third base on a triple. The umpire-in-chief shall determine the base value of the hit ball. 7.13© when any base runner leaves the base before the pitched ball has reached the batter and the batter bunts or hits the ball within the infield, no run shall be allowed to score. If three runners were on the bases and the batter reaches first base safely, each runner shall advance to the base beyond the one they occupied at the start of the play except the runner on third base, which runner shall be removed from the base without a run being scored. NOTE: See exceptions following this rule. EXCEPTION: If at the conclusion of the play there is an open base, paragraphs (a) and ( will apply. It was an infield hit - nobody is allowed to score.

Great post Stan!!!! Your analysis is right on, and I'm the same as you with regard to how I respond to a partner's seniority, level of play, and ability. I take advantage of the learning opportunity when working with a more advanced "superior" umpire, and if they are open to it, will get into teacher mode with a lesser umpire. As for my game itself, I find I have less to worry about with a partner that is good, so I can completely focus on my responsibilities, whereas, when I have a less-than-adequate partner, I find myself keeping an eye out for problems that may arise when they don't do what they are supposed to do or go where they are supposed to be - that detracts a little from my game. Importance of the game is something I rarely take into account. In fact, it is something that I purposely put out of mind. I look at each game as just another game and I'm there to do my best at each and every game I call. As for plate or bases - I like working the dish, and will take it when my partner is junior/inferior, but will only take it if offered by a senior/superior partner. Although... if it's really hot and humid, I sometimes opt for bases.

I found this post on "my .02.....Long two cents" interesting and have nominated it accordingly for "Post Of The Month July, 2010"

This reminds me of a story that is actually a little humorous... I don't remember what me and my sisters did, but we were in big trouble for something, and it was more than what Mom wanted to deal with. So the first thing that happened to us was we got to be full of dread all afternoon, because hit us with: "Wait until your father gets home". There were three kids on pins and needles all afternoon. So Dad gets home, and he's furious . My sisters and I are all standing there in the living room, awaiting the licking we were going to get with his belt. He unbuckles it and yanks it out of the belt loops with an angry swift flourish. Here we go, I'm thinking. Just then, his pants drop to his ankles and he's standing there in his boxers!!!!! We tried not to laugh, but it wasn't any use. In seconds, all three of us were roaring out loud, then Mom couldn't help herself either, and finally Dad lost it too. It kinda went down like this: :rollinglaugh: Needless to say, we didn't get spanked that night. To me, the whole afternoon of "wait until your father gets home", was worse than a spanking anyhow!

TD was present, but was coaching a BR game on a different field. This really wasn't anything we needed to get him involved for, and the coach's book was quicker to get in-hand than to have the scorekeeper dig it out of the box of stuff on the scorer table. It wasn't a protest situation or anything that needed to go outside the field - both coaches were unsure, and I was "pretty sure" about the rule, but just for the sake of doing the right thing, I saw the book on the HT's bench and asked him for it like this "Let's make sure I'm right on this, let me see your book for a second." I had read through the tourney section the night before, and turned right to the page and verified it. Then I called both managers together and told the VT manager that by rule, he get's to pick which player gets to re-enter. His response was "any kid he (HT manager) wants". This was at a point in the game where VT was up 25 or 26 to 0. Back in my Navy days, I was stationed in San Diego, and lived for a couple years in Chula Vista and for a year in El Cajon - it got plenty hot, but the lack of humidity made bearable. Even now, I travel to India for work once/year, and the temps in the spring when I visit range between 99 and 105, but the humidity is almost 0%, and it isn't bad. Once we get into the summer three H's (Hot Hazy Humid) here, it gets unbearable, the humidity keeps your sweat from evaporating, so you don't get that natural cooling.

That's the kind of game I like!!!!! Absolutely sounds like a fun game to call. I'm done for the year - unless they put together some fall-ball. Maybe next year I'll get a fun one like the one you described! I did get complements from both sides after the game, and both teams had managers and coaches that demonstrated class and good sportmanship through the whole ordeal (hard to call it a game), but by then, all I wanted to do was get out of my wet uniform and get home to our pool.

The defense should have known they didn't have 3 outs because of you no-call at 1st. Starting to celebrate with what at the moment appeared to be two outs (even though out no. 2 would later be overturned) was their own blunder. I wouldn't over-rule your partner's call on R3, but think that coming in for the play on R1 when you saw PU headed for the backstop was the right thing to do. Once play relaxed, then I'd conference with PU and would bring up that BR was out, so no force at home, then sort out the runs scored.

Must enjoy fencing as a hobby!!!!! I would have loved to see that in person!

Should have given her a called strike three mechanic!!!! LOL!

There isn't a go to first unread, but at the forum level, there is a goto icon next to the most recent post. My fishing board is phpBB and I find it very easy to manage, easy to add mods, and one of the biggest reasons I chose it, is that you have navigation links at the bottom instead of just at the top... (i.e. above, there is: Umpire-Empire > Speak out > Funny Stories > comment made by my son/wife) on a phpBB board, it's the same at the top of the page, while at the bottom, there would be a < Return to Funny Stories link, and below that there is an Index page link. I always hate having to scroll back to the top of a page just to navigate back to the forum I'm reading (the "jump to" boxes are too clunky for my tastes, so I don't use them. Also, I like having the avatars on the right (new in phpBB 3.x), so that the post catches the eye before the avatars and stuff - puts more emphasis on the content. My LL-Umps board is myBB, and I used that just so I could try it out and see how it compared to phpBB - and found that I like phpBB better. I have immediate no plans to change that one - seems like it would be a wast of time since it's up and running using myBB. Best of all, phpBB is free - and that's right in my price range!!!! You can check both out by hitting the links in my signature and get a feel for what's available. On the fishing board, you'll notice I've installed a ton of mods, so all the bells and whistles are there. Oh, and by the way, for anyone interested in fishing, while the primary target audience for my fishing board is Upstate NY, we welcome members from anywhere in the US and Canada - and will add a local reports board for new members that we don't already have one for (yes, an unscrupulous plug for my fishing board!) Outside US and Canada, I apologize, but registration from outside the US and Canada has been disabled (based on IP) because we were getting way too many spammer registrations.

Sounds to me like he's got umpiring firmly embedded in his brain - good deal!

OK, a little background first... This is my first year back into only umpiring. For the last 15-16 years I coached (LL), and only umpired maybe 6 games/year. This year I did 25 games for our local league. So now, the local league is hosting the district 10-11 Tourney, and the first night of the tourney (Tuesday after the 4th) I'm at the baseball complex for my son's last LL Juniors game, and that is when I get asked if I could call some games. Well unfortunately, I have prior commitments Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, so I can only do one game - Wednesday night. Now, many of you know that the NorthEast US is in a bit of a heat wave this week (7/4 - 7/9) with temps in the mid-to upper 90's and humidity in the same range (heat index is 103-106 all week). So here's a description of the single LL tournament game I worked this year... in a word... BRUTAL. At game time, it was 94 with 85% humidity. I brought 2 liters of gatorade, and was supplied with several bottles of ice water (periodically dumped over my head and on my neck). I did a good job staying hydrated, and dealt with the heat OK. The brutal part was the game itself. Home team lost 28 - 0 in a mercy rule game after 4. It took 2:10 to get through the 4th. First 2 innings, I called a regulation strike zone. By the third, it was easy to tell where the game was headed, so, although I don't like to, I expanded my zone - batters box to batters box and neck to mid-shin. 40 minutes into the top of the 3rd, I called time to let the defense come in and get drinks and some shade from the dugout. (Yes, the defense had been on the field for 40 minutes and only had one out folks!). Home team pitchers were waaay off. Even with the expanded zone, they were throwing strikes one out of four or five pitches, and every time they put one anyplace near the plate, the visiting team would rip it to the outfield. I think that the home team pitchers only got 2 or 3 called strikes all night, and maybe a half dozen legitimate swinging strikes, along with a slew of foul balls. The visiting team was swinging the bats and making contact with anything close. I have to give the VT manager credit too - He did a couple things that showed a lot of class: After he got a 13-0 lead in the first, he held all of his runners at 3rd on passed balls for the rest of the game (I can only imagine the score if he had been sending them!). The other thing he did, was when we finally got to the top of the 4th, he had his kids pretty much intentionally strike out. They were swinging on every pitch, and not at the ball. HT finally got a 1,2,3 inning. Also, my partner and I totally missed an infield fly - we've been calling games all season under fools rules (local rules) that had no IFF. Fortunately, it didn't matter, because all the runners held up and F1 caught it easily. Freaking local rules screw everyone up! Also I managed to get hit in the CP 4 times - once on a foul ball and three times on pitches missed by HT's F2. Also took a foul that bounced under VT's F2 and got me in the cup! The only rules question that came up, had to do with subbing for an injured player when there was nobody eligible on the bench. HT had just put his three subs in, MPR not met yet, and F2 hurts his hand and can't play any more (which sucked for HT because he was also their best F1 and hadn't been on the mound yet). I was pretty sure that the "opposing manager can choose" rule was right, but since it was a tourney, I borrowed the coaches rule book and made sure - and was correct. Opposing manager deferred to HT Manager picking the kid to go back in, and we play on. After the game, I went home and wrung the sweat out of my uniform, then jumped in the pool for a good 20 minutes. Slept like a baby afterward. I pleasantly was surprised that this game didn't cause any nightmares - must be my brain decided I only needed to live through it once!