Pops

Thanks guys. I always find it challenging to umpire freshman games when I've been doing upper level. Not only are the players a bit slower and uncoordinated, but the coaches are less experienced as well. To make matters worse, a lot of the HS freshman games are solo, so there's no partner to confirm stuff like this.

I thought I understood the pitcher re-entry rules until yesterday. A freshman level coach was so persistent in his rulebook knowledge that I started questioning it myself. Here is the scenario: The starting pitcher left the game in the 4th inning for a substitute. Then later in the game, the original starting pitcher re-entered as a second baseman. This is when the coach insisted that he could only be re-entered as a pitcher. When I got home, I hit the rule book. The rules governing pitching substitutions are found in section 3. Rule 3-1-2 states that a player who is removed as pitcher can return as pitcher only once per inning. There is no mention of returning only as pitcher later in the game. Rule 3-1-3 says that any of the starting players may be withdrawn and re-entered once...and that the pitcher is governed by article 2. So are there any other rules which address pitchers returning into the game?

Nicely stated.

With R1 and R3, F1 makes a jump turn over the pitcher's rubber and does not complete his throw to 1B. He is basically straddling the rubber when he feints the throw. My partner and I call a balk immediately, and we award each runner a base. 2 innings later F1 has the same situation, but this time F1 jump turns and throws wildly to 1B, and the ball goes out of play. My partner awards R1 2 bases. Shouldn't this award be only one base since F1 made a jump turn (which is essentially the same as throwing from the rubber)?

Just when I thought I had obstruction understood, I am now second-guessing myself on a play at the plate yesterday. HS Varsity level, 2 out, R2, batter singles to center. F8 makes a long throw home to stop R2 from scoring. When the ball is in flight, F2 is standing on the first base side of the plate when the ball starts slicing away to the opposite side of home. F2 reacts to the movement of the ball by moving left and crossing over about 2 feet in front of the plate and 2 feet to the left of the plate to catch the throw. During the movement of the ball and F2, R2 was within a stride or two of home, about 1 foot in foul territory, ready to do a fade away slide to avoid the tag. But when F2 moved to his left in front of the plate without the ball, R2 took a quick running step back toward fair territory, crossing the 3rd base line and slid to the first base side of home. F2 put his tag down, and it was a real close play. I have R2 safe by a hair. But I started to think about whether or not it should be obstruction. Let's say R2 was tagged out. After all, F2 (without the ball) crossed in front of R2 (within a stride or two before his slide). I know it is a HTBT, but should this be obstruction by rule? Remember, R2 is moving fast and had to change direction slightly to avoid the tag. I've had coaches say, "You have to give the fielder the right to catch the ball." F2 was acting on instinct when he went after the ball and wasn't thinking about obstruction. The play happened very fast.

Thank you all. I emailed my partner this information in case the situation arises again in the future. I'm on the dish today, and we're looking at a beautiful day to play baseball (sunny and 57)!

After the call the PU and I talked...he admitted his mistake, so I asked him if he would "undo" the call and make it right. He said he wouldn't/couldn't. Should I have put more pressure on him to get this right? He insisted he was right at the time.

High school varsity game... My partner was at the plate and called an IFR by mistake. The ball was blown by the wind down the left field line and landed fair at least 70 feet behind third base. Instead of having bases loaded with one out, the team at bat had R1 and R2 with two outs, and their inning was over with the next batter. My partner admitted he called it too early but insisted that it could not be undone. So the batter was out and the coach had some words for him when he found out why his batter was out. I wondered about why a call like that can not be undone, especially when it is obviously a blown call. Why couldn't you move everyone up one base after admitting it was the wrong call?

There's nothing in the rules for us to enforce, but the OP got me to thinking that with enough money, the home team could make their dugouts very comfortable (A/C, heat, leather seating, roomy, fancy bat racks and shelving, refrigerator, cabinetry, etc.) and make the visitors very uncomfortable (only a narrow wooden bench with no roof or other accommodations). No hospitality for the guests. Advantage or not? However, with all that said, the game is eventually won on the field.

We were given this option a couple of years ago by our "experts" in Illinois. Remember that the OP says it's only with a 3-2 count, 2 outs, and R1 & R2. I've tried it and have never had a runner go early on F1...he's running on the pitch anyway. Force outs on a grounder to F5 are easy enough to see from B. Anything else is going to 1B or 2B. I kind of like the odds of the play being on the B side of the infield.

What do you think about moving from C to B with R1 & R2, 2 outs, and a 3-2 count? No steal of third is possible and runners will be moving on the pitch.

May your recovery be swift, your patience be solid, and your faith be unwavering.

If he was playing baseball for college credit, I'd give him an A+ for creativity. He obviously studied the pitching rules to make sure there were no illegal actions.

He probably got this idea from some tournament or travel baseball league which may allow this. But not from HS baseball.

What improvements have they made on the v.2?

Here's one more thought on BI: With a runner on second, a high and tight pitch comes in to a right-handed batter. He gets out of the way of the ball but moves into the throwing path of F2 who is attempting to throw out R2 on a steal of 3B. Intentional? No. Interference?

Yesterday our rules guy said that you were right because they were going for the "2 base" award instead of 1. They botched the other part of the question about TOP vs TOI. So it's just another bad question.

I think you are correct. I could not find anything to suggest when the ball becomes dead. This is not a ball lodged in the uniform or equipment. The catcher picks up a live ball with his mask...so it's a DDB until the umpire says it's dead.

Will you award the runner 2 bases at TOI or TOP?

I thought it was 2 bases at the Time of Infraction, not the TOP.

Our annual test in Illinois is now available, and I think I found a question without an answer. If F2 uses his mask to pick up a live pitched ball... A. It is an immediate dead ball. (5-1-2 b says it's a DDB) B. Each base runner is awarded two bases from the time of the pitch. (TOI per the table in rule 8) C. Each base runner is awarded one base beyond where they are at the end of the playing action. (2 bases per 8-3-3 c) D. There is no violation and the ball remains live. (DDB) Is it possible that A is correct because the umpire will call time when F2 uses his mask? Or is there another explanation that I am missing?

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After I got mine last year, I had to adjust and readjust the pads several times before it felt right. It is meant to be custom fit. I must have put in on and taken it off a dozen times. Then I upgraded the straps and adjusted those a few times. After using it all last season, it fits perfectly, feels light, and and is extremely comfortable. Are you sure you don't want to put in a little more effort before selling a great CP?

One more thing to add to this situation. Fed rule 5.2.1.d states that the umpires let it play out unless "there is a medical emergency" or "further play could jeopardize the injured player's safety." In those cases you can kill the play immediately. This happened to me last year when a line drive rocketed off the pitcher's head and he went down like a sack of potatoes. I'm not a doctor, but I know that when I see a kid go down like that, the game is suspended until I say they can play again. So I called time when he hit the ground and had to place the runners (I believe I only gave them only one base and no one argued). The pitcher was ok after his visit to the emergency department of the local hospital.

The biggest problem young kids have when umpiring are the adults who can be very intimidating to a 12 year old. I had a neighbor boy who tried umpiring, but he quickly gave it up due to coaches and parents. He looked like he was in tears after coming home from his games. Nothing I could say would change his mind.