Pops

The problem is when you have to do HS, then switch to PONY, then USSSA, then some other local league tournament with their own rules. It's difficult enough without having to remember all the rule changes with split second timing on the field. I know...the memory thing...it's old age. And we do have the option of saying no. I just like saying yes.

Yes. We get all our HS games and youth ball from schedulers in our association. They also support us with clinics and other educational meetings. Of course it costs us $35 to join, but well worth it. association dues $35?? Sign me up! I'm doing 2 1/2 games to pay dues. How many games do you get for your 35? Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk You can work as much or as little HS ball as you want. I currently have 33 games scheduled thru the end of May, but we'll have 10-15 canceled due to weather. I belong to another local association for a youth league with the same dues, same options for summer/fall games.

Yes. We get all our HS games and youth ball from schedulers in our association. They also support us with clinics and other educational meetings. Of course it costs us $35 to join, but well worth it. association dues $35?? Sign me up! I'm doing 2 1/2 games to pay dues. When you have 300-400 officials, you don't have to charge that much to run the organization.

Funny how I can remember many of my baseball experiences from years ago, but I can't remember what I had for dinner yesterday. It's called old age It's also called loving the game!

That's not the FED mechanic. P. 40 of the FED 2013-14 Umpire manual: "This position [C] will be used in any situation with runners occupying bases other than first base in the two-man system." They don't mean quite that, however, since with R1/R3 they have the BU in B (p. 56). So I'm not sure where this mechanic comes from, but it is not the FED manual. Illinois uses their own mechanics different from Fed. Too bad they can't agree.

Sez who? In my state, we have to use FED mechanics, which put the BU in C whenever runners are on base, except when a steal of 2B is possible (R1 only, or R1/R3). Pro mechanics put BU in C with R3 only and R2/R3, when no steal of 3B is possible. Not sure whose mechanics you're looking at... I am using Fed mechanics. They want us in B unless "3B is in imminent danger of being stolen." You are using IHSA mechanics and last I knew they were different from FED mechanics. You are probably right. We have to follow the State's mechanics which have been the same for several years now.

Sez who? In my state, we have to use FED mechanics, which put the BU in C whenever runners are on base, except when a steal of 2B is possible (R1 only, or R1/R3). Pro mechanics put BU in C with R3 only and R2/R3, when no steal of 3B is possible. Not sure whose mechanics you're looking at... I am using Fed mechanics. They want us in B unless "3B is in imminent danger of being stolen."

Yes. We get all our HS games and youth ball from schedulers in our association. They also support us with clinics and other educational meetings. Of course it costs us $35 to join, but well worth it.

There are several good groups in that area and if your not going to one of the trainings you should. this shouldn't be that confusing. I'm sure we've all been confused from time to time.

Right: that I would allow. The difference from the OP is that in this play the starting F2 has re-entered, so sub S1 is done for the day. He can use a CR for the catcher, but it's going to cost him the sub who pinch hit AND starter F2's re-entry privilege. Yes. This makes the most sense for answering the original post. Thank you for clarifying.

No. The only time you should be in C is when 3B is at risk of a steal from a runner on 2B. Number of outs don't matter.

Funny how I can remember many of my baseball experiences from years ago, but I can't remember what I had for dinner yesterday.

I should pre-game this. A recent HS game my partner (BU) gets lots of "attention" from both coaches...20 run/2:30+ game, I can't wait to hit the gate after the game, but I have to wait for my partner, who is smiling with the coaches, shaking hands, like nothing happened. Leave him there to have his fun and meet him in the parking lot.

I believe that if you develop a relationship with your catcher on those borderline pitches by calling out "Ball" and then telling him where the pitch was (inside or outside), he will start agreeing with your calls and will understand your strike zone. Then when the coach asks, "where was that one?", you wait for the catcher to tell him (and he usually will). If he doesn't respond, you tell F2, "let your coach know it was outside so I don't have to tell him." They understand how you want the game conversation to flow. It's between F2 and his coach. I think you have to avoid talking to the coach in the dugout the entire game.

go to a high school football game and watch the refs SPRINT off as a group after the game. Go to my games and you will see us sprint off the field immediately. I pre-game with partner - DO NOT STAY AND SHAKE HANDS!!! I had a partner that refused to leave right after the game ended. His "tradition" was to stand there and partake in a ceremony with handshakes with all the players and coaches. He even praised both teams verbally..."nice game guys! great effort boys!" I followed the umpire association's guidelines and was walking away while he grandstanded. You can't let other fools compromise your values.

Thsi is deeply sad. As a baseball dad (my son is is 13, moving from PONY to a not-too-serious travel team right now), I gotta say I really appreiate it when I see the umpires who actually know what they are doing and who put in the effort. I try to say thank you to those guys after the game -- but it's not always possible. When you do a kids game, and know what you're doing, know that there are a lot of dads out there like me who really appreciate what you're doing -- even if you don't hear about it. I do mostly 12U and 10U games and the vast majority of people are like you -- even if they might be griping vocally during the game. Many of the teams in the games that I umpire often have volunteer parents with basic rules knowledge and no education in mechanics doing the umpiring, so to see someone show up in uniform with a command of of the rules and procedures is somewhat novel to them -- and they appreciate it. Last year I had a parent come up to me before a game and say "it's so nice to have a real umpire for today's game ... we don't usually have that." Hopefully she felt the same way when the game was over! I've had that "real umpire" comment as well. All you can do is smile and thank them for the nice words. You won't get such appreciation every game.

I agree with all of the comments regarding the reentry of Dave and Fred. I never knew this could happen, so thanks for enlightening me. And the issue of whether or not a DH can continue was clarified as well. I re-read the end of 3-1-4 where it says, "The role of the designated hitter is terminated for the remainder of the game when: the defensive player...for whom the designated hitter batted, subsequently bats, pinch-hits or pinch-runs for the designated hitter..." In my OP, I had the sub running for the DH which is totally different. Thanks for setting me straight.

So you're saying that the original starter can reenter, but Sub 2 can not. Wow! Is there a rule to substantiate this? Wow, did you say you couldnt find the rule because you don't have a rulebook. Or are you also a softball umpire? The rule is different. No. The rule is not spelled out to include this specific scenario. And there is no case play like this either. It simply says, "Any of the starting players may be withdrawn and re-entered once..." I just began thinking about what would happen with multiple subs. I understand the rest. Anybody up there helping out with training or do they just throw you a rulebook. Congrats for reading it. It takes a little help even upon reading it. Yes, we have multiple associations and every one of them has their own annual training. As far as reading the rule books, I do that every day while I watch the snow melt and wait for the temps to get above 40 for more than 2 days in a row.

So you're saying that the original starter can reenter, but Sub 2 can not. Wow! Is there a rule to substantiate this? Wow, did you say you couldnt find the rule because you don't have a rulebook. Or are you also a softball umpire? The rule is different. No. The rule is not spelled out to include this specific scenario. And there is no case play like this either. It simply says, "Any of the starting players may be withdrawn and re-entered once..." I just began thinking about what would happen with multiple subs. I understand the rest.

So you're saying that the original starter can reenter, but Sub 2 can not. Wow! Is there a rule to substantiate this?

Dave is the DH for first baseman Fred in the clean-up spot. In the middle of the game, Dave doubles and Sam (a legal Sub) pinch runs for Dave; therefore the DH is gone for the rest of the game. Sam, however, stays in the game and plays first base. I believe Dave can reenter but only as a sub for Sam. But can Fred reenter before Dave does? Or is Fred out of the game...and why? There is a similar case book example, but not this exact one. I think the answer will be the same as my previous post...I just don't know why.

B1 starts the game and Sub 1 enters the game for him in the second inning. Then Sub 2 enters in the 3rd inning for Sub 1. Then Sub 3 enters in the 4th for Sub 2. The coach wants to take out Sub 3 and reenter B1. Does the reentry rule allow only Sub 2 to reenter in this scenario? I think B1 in done after Sub 2 entered the game, but I can't find an appropriate rule or case example.

I've been reviewing the Fed rule book for subs, courtesy runners, DH, etc. because this section can be confusing, especially since these rule violations don't come up very often in our HS games. But it has the potential to create havoc, so I want to be well versed in how to enforce these rules. Question: Sub 1 pinch hits for the catcher and singles to CF. Coach wants Sub 1 to have a courtesy runner since he batted for the original catcher. Do you allow this CR? I think the answer is no, but I'm not sure why.

Mike: I read thru 6 pages of shoe cleaning tips but failed to find a reference to wood cleaners. If it's Murphys cleaner that you're referring to, it can be used for wood and other materials, but why is that funny?

Start the countdown timer for the first person of the season to question why you would use wood floor cleaner on your shoes... Arosol... like hell if im going to sit there pumping that damn pump spray for ever and ever. oh and to make Mike happy... why would you use wood floor cleaner on your shoes? (Dont answer, just helping out.) For those of us who don't use the product, what's the inside joke about the wood cleaner?