pitchcoach

yawetag, Tedious ... is educator's the price of patience, and patience is the price of the uneducated. Again, very informative web site - be patient with those that want to learn. Regardless of how simple any rule, book, is or should be, doesn't mean one can't ask. If it's that tedious, then perhaps there should be a clearing gate on this site for you to host - being the judge and jury of what should and shouldn't be posted as quesitons and/or situations. Either way, with our without your opinion(s), very informative web site, very well put together.

These situations happen in high school game last night. The batter was a RH batter, and the plate umpire’s vantage point, on this particular play, was as good as he was going to get. The pitches were knuckleballs, real beauties, floated nicely and completely had the batting order guessing all night. The catcher has his hands full trying to maintain control of the pitch. In any event, everything happened very fast, and from my vantage point in my lawn chair, along the third baseline, both the plate and the base umpire did a superior job all night. In fact, the plate umpire did an outstanding job working with both backstops and managed the dish very well. With respect to the catcher, he was forced back due to the batter’s stance in the box, which occupied the very rear portion of the batter’s box. But, he (catcher) wasn’t outside of his catcher’s box. I’m not an umpire, nor do I claim to have any desire to be one. But, I do try to keep myself educated with respect to the rules and protocols of the sport. I’m not educated in the Federal game - not applicable here in Massachusetts. I’ve directed two first year coaches to this site. Both of these situations happened last evening, and it seemed to start a debate among the two. Learning the rules of this sport is a constant effort, and a sincere one at that. Very informative web site, I hope they both take advantage of it. Thanks for the reply. ps BrianC14.... Honestly - this is getting tedious.... Tedious ... is educator's the price of patience, and patience is the price of the uneducated. Again, very informative web site - be patient with those that want to learn.

BrianC14 ............... EXACTLY. Just bear with me a little longer. Now in the same situation, there’s two outs. Same batter, same pitch, same bases loaded. But this time, no verbal call by the plate umpire, catcher doesn’t bother with the batter, simply stomps on home plate.

Bases are loaded, one out. Full count on the batter. Plate umpire and one base umpire. The pitch goes through the strike zone, batter is caught looking and takes it - but, being that the catcher is so far back in the catcher’s box, the pitch literally dies, drops right in front of the catchers toes of his right spike, bounces in the dirt for a split second with the catcher’s mitt right on top of it .. all in one quick motion. But in doing so, the ball slips out of the mitt and the catcher reaches out quickly and regains control. The catcher instinctively touches home plate, then tags the batter. How would you rule on this one?

I was with a club in a league that had a high turnover in umpires, four years running. For whatever reason, there was a core of older men and a constant stream of fresh new faces every spring. During one game, I had to return to our bus to get some personal things, and I can recount the same conversation between the umpires that Chance mentioned here. It was embarrassing, to say the least, their one-sided conversation which took place right beside our bus. I felt sorry for the young man trying to do his best to maintain some sort of composure. I passed on my observations to our Skipper and our infield coaches - all the while knowing all too well people like that do nothing for our sport, much less anything else. At the ground rules meeting, we listened to the exchange of this and that, shook hands with the other coaches - THEN made it obvious to all as we deiberately walk over to the two BU's and shook their hands, expressed our appreciation for there being there, totally ignored the UIC and returned to our dugout. Needless to say, he wasn't too pleased. Why there are people like that is a shame for the men and women in your ranks. As if it isn't difficult enough. However, my Mrs who is smarter than I'll ever be, said perhaps this is the only way people like that have a say in life - and for that short moment in their existence, their in control. Other than that - their very lonely people. Go figure? I don't officiate- it's not for me, but I can appreciate the situation that Chance had. I sincerely wish you better - you deserve it.

While watching a game (16U), a fielder running for a pop-up, turned his leg and then wrenched his hips, because of some sort of rut in the outfield, then collapsed in pain. His coach, a few adults, and a number of curious on-lookers gathered around the youngster, but nobody offered any kind of help for the kid. I found the situation odd - seeing all these people around the kid, watching him rock back and forth on the ground, holding his knee, his ankle, then rubbing the small of his back.. After a few moments, the base umpire separated the gathering and bent down and talked to the kid, calming him down. He also took off his jacket so the kid had something to rest his head on, as he stretched back and relaxed a bit. The BU new enough to keep the kid somewhat immobile, noticing the ankle swelling and the kid’s reaction to his lower back. When his coach suggested to one of the players ..” help him up so we can get on with this”.... the BU would have none of it. “He says put, till somebody, who knows what there doing, can look at him.” After a few minutes went by, the base ump asked had anyone called an ambulance. Not a sole took an interested in answering. ( I did immediately, the moment the kid went down and rolled with signs of pain) So, no sooner did he (BU) flip open his cell, around the parking lot came an ambulance. Turned out, the paramedics remarked how fortunate for the kid that no one tried to move him. I folded my lawn chair and left. I also left a group of adults that had about as much sympathy for their fellow man as sheep would, watching one of their own being taken down by a wolf. I don’t know where you people come from, and how you can stomach some of these people. But I do know that there is one kid that can thank his lucky starts that a base umpire took the time and the compassion to do the right thing. As if you guy/gals don’t have enough on your plate.

The Man in Blue, Boo-hoo-boo-hoo The man in Blue, boo-hoo-boo-hoo he’s always straight, he’s always true. No matter if it’s balls or strikes, he’s always true, he’s always right. On slides and tags, or batted balls, he sees it once, he sees them all. On grass or field, on skins or bags, his calls are true, as they always have. Impartial to the win or loss, it matters not to this man so tall. For the strength of men, and powers of might, whose glaring looks with fists clinched tight, will never shake this man so true, this man of honor, this man in Blue. Now a call is made, and upon my face, I forgot the words of trust and faith. No longer is this man so right, no longer do I trust the light. Whether safe or out, it matters not, balls or strikes, I still forgot! The man is wrong, boo-hoo, boo-hoo, He’s wrong for me, but not for you! I argue, shout and even pout, I even wave my arms about! But he never flinches, he only stares, he holds his ground, and breathes the air. “Ok”, I say, I’ve made case, I’ve put him in his proper place. With arms folded across my chest, with a defiant stance, I rest my case. Oh no, not that I sigh, he’s leaning back, with eyes towards sky. His arm goes back, then upward, and shouts, “Yerrrrrr out of here.... you are out! So here I sit, all alone, all by myself, I’m all but gone. And I repeat to my self in the dim of light, those words that I know are simple and right: The man in Blue, boo-hoo-boo-hoo he’s always straight, he’s always true. No matter if it’s balls or strikes, he’s always true, he’s always right.

Before plate umpires had chest armor they had a thing called a Balloon. It was like a stuffed sofa pillow that they held in front of them to protect them from passed balls, foul tips and other stuff. During one game, a runner on third was stealing home on the pitch and it caught the batter totally by surprise. So, instead of backing out of the box he stepped forward, and quickly. That in turn caught out catcher totally by surprise as it did the plate umpire who were still in their position waiting for the pitch to arrive. The pitch did arrive but the runner had to go around his teammate at bat, which took him off the mark to the plate and right into the our catcher with the ball. Our catcher went back into the plate umpire’s balloon – bounced forward and landed on top of the runner stealing home. “Your out!” – came the call form the plate ump. After the call, the plate ump had some conversation with our catcher that concerned our skipper and myself. When our guy got back into the dugout he went over to our dugout scorekeeper and said “ the ump wants credit for the assist and that play!:”

After three straight walks in a row, I walked to the mound and tried to calm my guy down, only to be met by the plate umpire who asks us “ what’s the hold up guys?” My guy says “ After that last call I’d like to get a second opinion!” Without batting and eye, the ump looks at him and says.” Ok, you want a second opinion, here it is – you’re ugly too! Now let’s get back to the game.” Being that the plate ump was about 6’8” and looked like he weighted in at about 320, I could only suggest to my pitcher.. “ what ever you do Rufus .. don’t upset this man .. I don’t want to scrape you off the bottom of his shoe after this inning!!”

For the first two innings as I looked out our dugout it seemed that our first baseman was having a party with every batter runner that go to first. A condition that didn’t escape our pitcher. In fact, on a couple of pick off attempts, the pick off was clean and right on the money when our first baseman dropped the ball .. and started giggling. Finally my pitcher could take no more! He called time and jogged over to first and did a “what’s up” .. only to stand there and start giggling himself. After the inning was over, I waltzed over to my guy and asked him what gives with first? The pitchers looked me straight in the eye and said, “ coach, your not going to believe this by their first base umpire talks just like Elmer Fudd!”. At first I didn’t understand… so, “He’s what?” “Yeah . I swear coach… just like Elmer Fudd.. you know ..Looney Tunes!”. Well, after a few more innings our change at first base was inevitable. Then another change, then another change .. and so on. Now, an Umpire in Chief has a lineup card that he pencils in substitutes, and on this day he was using the boarders .. all of which he found no humor in. (pick, picky) The last fielder we sent to the first bag turned to the other teams first base coach and started having some words with him, then the first base umpire stepped in because things were getting a little hot. Finally the plate umpire walked up the first base line and got into it. The plate umpire and the first base umpire discussed the situation for some time. Things settled down and the game got back to business .. the home plate umpire put his mask back on .. pointed to our pitcher.... “play”. The next pitch was right down the pike and the plate umpire yelled out ..…” STUWWWRIKE!!!

We had two youngsters from a local high school act as ball boys – one boy, one girl. As the game progressed, each youngster took their turn bringing the baseballs to the plate ump. Every time the young lady –who was very attractive, would jog out to the plate ump and supply him with new baseballs, our catcher would notice from the time she left the dugout to the time she returned to the dugout. After one visit by the young lady the plate umpire deliberately took his knuckles and gave a rap to the top of our catcher’s skull cap. You could hear the “donk” all the way in the dugout. When our backstop came in after the inning was over I asked him “what was that about?” He said that the ball girl and the plate ump where just talking and somehow he got into it. When I asked him what did they say to one another to get you involved he said the plate ump said, “ you’re doing a fine job sweetheart”, then she said “ thank you daddy”, next thing you know somebody’s knocking on my door!

An umpire was shaking his head and leaning into our catcher during one inning .. that drew my attention. It seemed like nothing, until the ump called time .. walked half way to the mound with his mask in hand and told my guy "one more time with the face and muttering about the balls and strikes and he was gone!" I sprang out of the dugout and jogged over to the two now engaged in a conversation .. with my pitcher motioning.. what did I do? The ump turned to me and said this man is gone if he gets one more look that even suggests he's being squeezed! When I asked my pitcher if that's what he was doing .. he said “ heck no”. He was just singing to himself .. it took the pressure off. "Ok fella, what ya singing?" asked the ump. My guy says he's singing that song about the lions that were raised by these people .. then set free. It goes something like this .. " Born free... my father's a doctor..." The Home Plate Umpire walked back to the plate, shaking his head, and I heard him mutter to himself .. " their nuts .. their all nuts!

Thank you BIG RED. About 18 years ago, my Mrs showed me some 16MM film of a coach coming from the dugout, going over to the UIC and vocal about a play. His arms a waving, his hat pushed back on his head, first talking, then walking in circles - still waving his arms. She had our son dub-in music ..." here comes the clowns"... as in slow motion this coach shook his head and waved some more. As I watched... I thought ..." hey, that guy looks familar!" Yep, it was me -- with a lot more hair on top, a lot less around the belt line. I had sub'd for our skipper who took ill during an away game. The three field umps joined the session and finially - enough was enough ... gone. Then it all came back, I was not only out of the game, but left my bench without a game plan. Stupidity comes in many forms - I learned not to take that form again. It's made me a much better pitching coach, far more reasonable, and the ole blood presure seems to fit too.

I got my very first coaching job as an assistant to a pitching coach .... a go-fer's job really, and I like most everyone else was quick on the trigger to complain and object vocally to calls by the men in blue. One season - in between jobs, my Mrs. suggested that I take stint as part time umpire. So, one seasn I did. From the other side of the game, it looks entirely different. It was a reality check to be sure. The level of concentration is much more than just the play at the moment, it's really a 360 degree environment... and then some. But what really hit me were the contradictions to one of the purposes of the amateur game itself. Here we're trying to pass on all the good things conected to baseball - camaraderie, fair play, reasonability, and most of all respect for some sort of order presided over by an established authority. But, it's a hard sell. How youngsters can learn to be reasonable and respectful in an environment where adults come unglued at the seams is beyond me. And the smallest thing seems to set people off like a bottle rockest. And then there's the fan in the lawn chair with a foul mouth and tanked before he/she got to the game, and sitting in the hot sun starts the fermentation process ... and other things. On the other hand I found some (not all) Umpire Boards to be no help either. "Take your money and keep your mouth shut" seemed to be the golden rule with some. "don't rock the boat for the rest of us" my partner advise me at my very first game. " This AD and other schools won't call us" (the Board). I'm sure there is a balance out there and I've seen some absolutely great men/women at the dish and on the field. How you people deal with this environment day after day, jerk after jerk, is beyond me.

The catcher throws the ball back to the pitcher, but, the throw is a little high and the ball tips the pitcher's glove and rolls towards second base. There's a runner on second and he' about six feet from the ball. The ball is still live, mind you. Situation (1) The second baseman glances at the runner on second and makes a casual flicking motion with this hand for the runner to toss him the ball. So, the runner casually takes two steps off the bag, picks up the ball, and flips it to the second baseman. Situation (2) The second baseman glances at the runner on second and makes a casual flicking motion with this hand for the runner to toss him the ball. So, the runner casually takes two steps off the bag, picks up the ball, and hands the ball to the second baseman. Is the runner on second base out in both situations - or, only in one, or not out at all.

I don't understand what you're getting at here To some one like yourself, these rules seem rather straight forward and self directing - I'm not so gifted. In any eveny, neither were the two coaches that took up better than twenty minutes pawing over this very subject, not to mention all the people on both side lines - got kind-a confusing after a while, but the UIC did a nice job anyway. (gotta-be nuts to ump!) So, two base award on the second play of a fielder regardless of where the batter runner is. Seemed straight forward to me also - but these rules aren't that easy, not to me anyway. What started to confuse me was this part in the rule's book: If the batter-runner has not reached first base, the award is two bases at the time the pitch was made for all runners. Now perhaps the wording here and my approach wasn't the best - but thanks to Paperipiper17, I got my answer and finially worked things out. Thanks Paperinpiper17, for you response and the way you responded - appreciated it.

This situation came up at a game that I was watching, and both coaches had their books out and each had his own version of the rule. Kind-a interesting. But I do remember one of the assistants being not that far from where I was sitting (spectator), and I saw his reference in the official Baseball Rule book of the following section to Rule 7.05: .....The position of the batter-runner at the time the wild throw left the thrower’s hand is the key in deciding the award of bases. If the batter-runner has not reached first base, the award is two bases at the time the pitch was made for all runners. The decision as to whether the batter-runner has reached first base before the throw is a judgment call. I assume this portion of rule 7.05 only makes reference to the batter runner ... no influence what's so ever to the R1 on second - R1 scores per the two base award at the time of the throw.

I’m trying to find any exception to awarding bases when a batter runner doesn’t make it to first when a throw by a fielder goes into dead territory. Normally, awarding bases is usually after the pitch or after the throw. On the second throw made by a fielder - a two base award is given based on the location of the runners at the time of the throw not at the time of the pitch. But, suppose at the time of the second throw, the batter runner hasn’t made it to first - does this have any bearing on the award of bases? For example, R1 starts running on a hit and run play, the batter hits a ground ball directly to the SS, who in turn throws to second base but has not chance to get R1 out. The second baseman seeing that the batter runner is not really making an effort to get to first, throws to first - but, the throws goes wild and into dead territory. Now since the batter runner never made it to first, would this change the awarding of the bases for R1? Would award of bases be consider at the time of the pitch, instead of at the time of the throw? Again, does the batter runner at least making it to first have any governing implications award bases, in this instance?