MPLSMatt

@jkp015 Honestly, I think that that's too much talk over something so trivial. This guys is trying to bully you and it doesn't warrant a long explanation. Just a simple, "coach, that's the ruling - now lets play ball." Anything more is a warning or ejection. I'd also call the head coach out and remind him that if that assistant speaks to you again, he'll be ejected - then follow through as needed. This is more rope than some would give, but in kiddie ball, these assistants are often unaware that they cannot speak to an umpire (and are allowed to do so all season by inexperienced umpires) so if you toss right off the bat, you may be a redass. As an aside, this is an absolute power play by a Daddy coach, and its ridiculously common at these younger ages. I went back and did a few 11U games for the first time in years, and had coaches tell me that I "have to enforce" the number of people out of their dugout between innings (he said the rule book says 4 - it doesn't), a prohibition on the "football pitch" (it doesn't), and try to convince me that "any pitcher may reenter the pitching position" really meant "one pitcher" may reenter - all with this bullying, tough guy attitude. Of course, I knew the rules and shut them down in all 3 situations but I'm sure that younger umpires get pushed around by the BS. Good job not allowing that to happen. Also, it gets better as you get to older kids.

Where does this verbiage come from? I'm not trying to be daft, but with many leagues clearly establishing "a runner is never required to slide, but if he does he must do so legally," many would argue that this interp is requiring a runner to slide as running away from the fielder would concede the out.

Didn't see this play - but here's what was reported to me. USSSA Slow Pitch - although I'm interested in baseball codes interp too. R1, 1 out. Ball hit to F6, who, instead of flipping to F4, takes the ball to second himself. R1 comes in standing up, beats F6 to the bag by very small margin, and the two collide. The collision is a result of two players heading on intersecting paths, not malicious (no arms raised or anything), and R1 was slowing down to try and hold the bag. Nonetheless, F6 comes up bleeding and battered. Defense wants an out for "failure to slide," which isn't a thing but I'm wondering if FPSR would be in effect on this play, even if R1 beats F6 to the bag?

Very few things get my attention quicker than a coach shouting BALK! That should get taken care of sternly right away. I explain to coaches that in FED, a balk kills the play, so shouting balk is akin to a basketball coach blowing a whistle because he wants a foul call.

Yes, at least by FED (high school) rules Link to Article Rule 2.21.1 SITUATION A: With R1 on second base, B2 hits a grounder to F6. Just as F6 starts to throw to first base, R1 on his way to third base, yells at F6, which startles F6, causing him to throw the ball over F3’s head into dead-ball territory. RULING: R1 is called out immediately for verbal interference, and if in the judgment of the umpire the interference prevented a possible double play, B2 also would be called out. Also, at most levels above shaving age, if an out isn't called here, he'll be wearing one the next time he's up.

Exactly. If he holds it more than a second after I've made my call, it's too long. This kid was holding it a good 3 seconds AFTER my call. That's too long.

How do you guys address a catcher who is holding pitches on you? It's been many years since I've had a situation where a quick "back to the pitcher - none of that garbage today" didn't fix it, but had that situation today in a 12AAA (of all friggen ages) game. Kid is a total Bryce Harper wannabe - scowling at me over pitches he didn't get (while hitting), complaining about everything, slamming his bat on the plate after a called strike, but the real problem was that when catching, he started holding the pitches he didn't get well after the call was made. I told him, "still a ball. Get it back to the pitcher" but he kept doing it. Would you escalate this? Warning? I'm not sure I was ready to eject at 12 year old over this, so I didn't want to throw out a warning I wasn't prepared to act on. At this level, would you recommend going to the coach (who happened to be the kid's dad in this case)? How would you handle it?

*illegally impedes. Not all impediments are obstruction.

Thanks, guys! This was the best I could come up with too, so I still have no idea where the coach came up with four.

Doing an 11u AAA league with modified FED rules. Between innings, the offensive team has six guys out of the dugout taking swings. DHC says that there is a rule that only four are permitted out of the dugout. I couldn't find a rule on it in the FED book - am I missing something?

I don't know about this one... I think if I said OK on too many calls where the coach could be correct, it's going to set him off. Wouldn't the next line in this conversation be, "Why didn't you call him safe then?" or something thereabouts? It seems to me, "I hear you, Bill, but I had a tag there" is a more approachable line. That said, I'll certainly give the "OK" approach a go.

How is this an accusation of cheating? I don't have a problem with the ejection here - but I'd also be OK with a more explicit warning. However, to say that this is an automatic because of cheating accusation is grasping at straws.

I agree that the umpires totally butchered this. The League is doing a disservice to the umpires and the teams that they have in the future if they claim this to be the correct ruling or mechanic. However, I'm not sure that there is enough here for the league to overturn the call, even if legally protested. I don't see a black and white rule that these umpires applied incorrectly and you could make the argument (as @noumpere did) that the window for changing it doesn't close until the next legally thrown pitch. Again, this isn't how things "should" have been done, but it seems like one the league should just wear.

It's not an appeal play - it's a force out. But a run cannot score if the third out is recorded via a force out, so if a defensive player in secure possession of the ball beats R1 to 2nd or R2 to 3rd, the run would not score.

Adult slow pitch traditionally has a little bit of a longer leash too. I'd agree that you did fine. I can hear tossing the first guy - the second one if it's quiet and looking at the ground, you're a red ass if you toss there.