catoblue

simple one for me, I live in a village named Cato, and I umpire there to, so catoblue is an easy one. For the longest time, on every forum of any sort that I joined, I used to go by joejv4 - part of my longstanding email address, but last year I decided to use slightly more meaningful usernames - hence CatoBlue on umpire boards and I started using jonboat on fishing boards, since I do most of my fishing out of a jonboat on the small lakes in my neighborhood.

I think it's a great idea do build a rapport with with your F2's, but I wouldn't go quite so far as a "catcher's special" (unprofessional - hence all those groans on that close pitch you balled) or guiding them on where a pitch needs to be (that's coaching - after an inning, if they haven't figured out your zone, either your zone is very inconsistent, or he has no business playing the F2 position). The handshakes before the game and calling them by their first name, and even a complement on an outstanding play... I can live with, but that's as far as I will go. For the knucklehead in the OP... Warn, then toss. He's not doing himself or his team any favors by giving you flack. He gets tossed, quite possibly he'll learn that he needs to work with his umpire. Hell, there are books and videos for catchers that are all about working with umpires, suggested reading for any F2 above LL age.

I don't know about ASA rules, but OBR and LL Rules are pretty clear on the "overrule" aspect: 9.02© If a decision is appealed, the umpire making the decision may ask another umpire for information before making a final decision. No umpire shall criticize, seek to reverse or interfere with another umpire’s decision unless asked to do so by the umpire making it. There is a little wiggle room in the case of two or more umpires making different calls on the same play (situation where whose call it is might be in question and more than one makes the call): 9.04©If different decisions should be made on one play by different umpires, the umpire-in-chief shall call all the umpires into consultation, with no manager or player present. After consultation, the umpire-in-chief (unless another umpire may have been designated by the league president) shall determine which decision shall prevail, based on which umpire was in best position and which decision was most likely correct. Play shall proceed as if only the final decision had been made. The OP falls under 9.02© and were I the "overruled" umpire, I would request to never work with this tool again, and were I a coach, I'd ask the association to not assign him to any more of my games.

I'm thinking 4 sounds about right... So what was the result?

Your ruling #1 is correct - the our stands and since all bases are again open, all runners return. Now some other food for thought on this one... bases loaded and a grounder to F6, who bobbles it, BR reaches 1B safely. Two runners put back on base, R3 doesn't have a base to go to, but since it was an infield hit, is not allowed to score either - the "poof" play. This one is covered in the RIM as well. Things to remember with leaving early: 1) leaving early by one runner effects all runners 2) allow all action to come to a stop before returning runners 3) any outs recorded stand 4) on a batted ball runners may only advance to the base they are forced to by the "value" of the hit (i.e. a clean double would put R1 at 3B - "value" of the hit is a judgment call by the umpire) 5) Read, and re-read 7.13 If you have a copy of the LL RIM, that is even better. If you don't have one, PM me.

The way I read it, he can come set in the stretch and pitch without moving his feet - all arm. Granted, it's bad mechanics, and the pitch wouldn't be likely to have a whole lot of velocity, or even accuracy, but it would be legal. I'm with Rich on this - he may take a step backward and forward with his free foot, and it behooves him to do so, but it is not required.

I'm sitting both teams on the bench and telling the coach that we are not resuming play until the idiot has left the vicinity of the playing field. If that fails then we are at the point where the game is suspended and the league BoD can deal with it.

Another monkey wrench to throw in the mix if you're doing a lot of 12U and 10U games... Runner coming home on a passed ball. Where F2 goes to retrieve it will also limit you on where you can set up - simply to keep yourself from interfering with the throw to F1 (who should be covering). Many times, this is what dictates whether I'm on 3blx or 1blx, the point, or somewhere else. As long as you read the play as it develops, you should be able to slide left or right to a spot where you have a halfway decent (but not the best) angle to see the whole play.

older kids (Legion, HS, etc) I'd leave it for the coach to handle in most cases, but in this sitch, it's 12U ball... at this level, an F-bomb ends your day every time, regardless of who it's directed at.

I found this post on "Plate Position" interesting and have nominated it accordingly for "Post Of The Month June, 2010"

Welcome to the crew - your gbr site is great!!!!!

Wow - impressive! I's gotta be awesome to have a son working at the pro level. You must be a proud Pop! Congrats Jim!!! How many games has he been called up for so far?

hehehehe.... awesome picture, and I don't see anything about mechanics, positioning, uniform or anything to rip on - but ,since we're looking for things to rip on here..... the best I can come up with is: with the vein sticking out on the side of your forehead and the bright red face, I have to ask if your "real" first name is Bobby, and if you've ever coached NCAA basketball :nod:

One of these years, I MUST take a week off and do the CDP thing. I's only about a 2.5 hour drive from home!!!!! Looked at it on google earth - what have they got - 22 fields?

I'm thinking maybe if I invent double-sided duct tape, I might have a market for it (starting with me!)

LOL!!! Back when there was more hair on my head, the hat "stuck" better. Now, even though it is a nice snug fit, it slides right up off my "extended" forehead! I just can't see using velcro as an appropriate alternative!!!!

Ditto what Rich said.

If it helps out the overall effectiveness and reputation of the association... definitely! I don't know if you have competing associations (we don't here), but if you do, getting yours to be "cream of the crop" will only benefit everyone - more leagues, higher quality leagues, more games for all.

When I get to the point where I start doing paid games, I'll shell out the $$ for plate shoes and a hard shell CP before I start - protection, protection, protection. But for now, doing 12U LL games, I have been hit a ton and the gear I have is doing what it needs to do.

I like your assignor too!!!!!!

Well, I believe this is the only photo of me umpiring that exists: ...and yes, I do know that my mask should be in my left hand - I keep working on it, but habits formed years ago as a catcher are hard to break!!!!

"you are wrong" is probably the gentlest thing you can say in that situation.

Oh yeah!! When you walk on the field and hear kids from both benches say "we got the good ump tonight" it always feels great.

I get paid the same for a plate game as I do for a base game as I do for a couple hours of fishing in my boat on a nearby lake (launch fees not included), so, while I don't always turn down a PITA coach, I do make them call at least 2 days before the game, or I'll conveniently "have prior commitments". Other coaches (of the non-PITA variety) - sometimes will call a half-hour before game time, and if I'm free, I'll run into the nearest phone both and emerge in uniform (ok - not really, I simply change), grab my gear and make the 2 minute drive to the ball field. My "2 days notice" list starts off every season empty, and by mid-season, there are always a couple coaches that have made the list. The funny part, is that a coach rarely makes the list two years in a row. They seem to figure it out, and the following season they suddenly have manners and an understanding of field decorum - and stay off my list. As to the idea of HC's volunteering for different age groups... We've been doing that for several years now. It's not mandatory, but sure helps make it easier to get umps. Majors coaches call Minors games and Minors coaches call Majors games. What ends up happening is you get a situation where coaches will do the old "I'll do your game, if you'll do mine". We don't have a lot of coaches that do it anymore, but back when I was coaching, we had 6 or 8 of us any given season. Right now, we've only got 3 coaches that will call games and I believe there are maybe 5 of us that just donate our time to umpire. It gets tough for the coaches to line up umps, since between Majors and Minors, there are games 5 nights a week and a couple on Saturday.

:2cents: You make a great point!!!! Most coaches, I'll hop on a game for them, and I don't get any crap from them because they see it as me doing them a favor by doing their game on short notice (it's almost always short notice). I may have conveniently decided that I had other plans a time or two when certain coaches have called!!!! ;)