NY Blue

Oh, trust me. I wasn't confused..they were. Blows my mind how certain the base ump was when I asked him which rule set contained that particular infraction.

Just when you think you'll never see anything new... 12U Cal Ripken. D3K and BR heads to first. In the commotion, BR carried the bat with him almost the entire way to 1st, tossing it off a few steps before getting to 1B. Throw did not get BR at 1st. BR now on 1st, Runner from 3rd scored on the play. D/AC comes out of the dugout and protests to the base umpire about the BR carrying the bat with him up the line. Next thing I know, the BR is called out for carrying the bat up the line. I asked the plate ump where I might find that infraction in the rules and whether it was a Cal Ripken rule or OBR. He said he had no idea and he had never seen it or seen it called before. After the game, I asked the base umpire where I could find a reference to the call and he informed me its OBR. For me, unless the batter caused INT by carrying the bat, which in this case he did not, I know of no penalty or ruling that makes this an out. I can't find anything relevant in OBR either. Anyone?

Saw a new one yesterday. Working a scrimmage game (OBR- CalR) and pitcher, from windup, managed to flip the ball to himself under his leg, catch it and deliver the pitch. Doesn't really fit under the balk rules, unless (as I called it) you consider the act of first release of the ball and then catching it and then pitching it to be deceptive to base runners. In any case, anyone seen this little trick before and want to weigh in?

"In 10 seconds, one of us is leaving. The game will go on without you, but it won't go on without me. Your choice...."

Gone. I've never been quick to eject but theres a few lines I don't allow to be crossed. You can't scream at me from across the field like I'm your dog. You don't say anything that is clearly said to try and embarrass me. You don't swear. I'll discuss anything the coach wants an explanation for if he conducts himself reasonably. Call me old fashioned but if the coach does that, his players learn it. Not every situation calls for a warning, but it's good if you can get one in before the toss. I'm on your side with this one.

Actually, I used to say the same thing, until I saw my son as F1 do it this summer. But that has more to do with an inattentive runner than technique.

Cal Ripken Tourney this summer...bases loaded, batter ready, pitcher starts windup and batter steps back out of the box with one foot. Pitcher stops mid-windup. Umps call balk and send the runners. I've always understood that this situation is specifically addressed in the rules (6.02). Despite objection by the DC, both umpires let let balk stand. To add insult to injury, it happened a second time in the same inning, obviously by design/coaching. If I'm calling the game, it's a do over, a warning and an EJ if it happens again. Or have i missed something?

Based only on reactions heard at every game I'd have to say the rule most commonly misinterpreted/unknown by the average fan is the "fake to third, fake to first" by the pitcher. You almost always hear the fans calling the balk.