Scotty_Ump

Thanks for all your feedback! This thread took an unexpected turn when I read runners could be called out for passing a lead runner even in a dead-ball situation. But the home run example makes perfect sense, I guess I had never thought of it that way... Just so I understand - if the BR had passed R1 immediately after the ball bounded into DBT, by rule B-R is out for passing a lead runner? And the reasoning there is because runners are awarded 2 bases they cannot pass each other while completing their awards? And to complicate things more... Let's say that B-R passes R1 on a fly ball hit down the RF line and subsequently the ball lands in foul territory. Does the penalty still apply if the passing occurs on a ball in flight before it becomes foul? I ask because in the OP that ball was fair by about 2' so this easily could have been the outcome of that play.

18u, NFHS rules, R1, 0 outs. 2-man crew and I'm in B. The batter hits a long fly ball down the RF line. R1 takes off for 2B and is touching the bag when the 1B Coach yells "get back" because F9 is bearing down on the ball. R1 sprints 3/4 of the way back to 1B when B-R clearly passes him rounding 1B. Once I see the pass, I point to the B-R and call him out for passing a lead runner. And while the pass is happening, F9 misses the ball, it lands in fair territory on the warning track, and quickly bounds over the outfield wall for a ground-rule double. We then awarded R1 3B. The call somewhat confused the OT since they hadn't seen a passing runners situation before. OTHC was great though and had no issue with the explanation we gave him about the ruling. This also was the first time I can recall calling a runner out for passing another runner. From my view in the working area, I saw the runners pass just after the ball hit the ground but before it went over the fence because (luckily?) I had both the runners and the ball in my line of sight. I was expecting an argument from the OTHC like "How can you call my runner out when the ball is out of play?" but he never brought that up. And since my partner was focused on the ball, he told me later he hadn't noticed the runners passing so he wouldn't have had anything for me if we did get together on timing of the pass vs. timing of the ball crossing over the outfield fence. So just an interesting combination of circumstances I never had before in a game... welcome any feedback on how I handled it and anything I should have done differently.

So we know this situation happened at an MLB game. But I'm curious what we do here under FED rules... IMO - I'm calling the runner out for attempting to leap over a fielder. But no ejection because I don't have malicious contact. The biggest takeaway I have is officials should carry Tasers. But for coaches ONLY. It's the step we take after restriction but before ejection. Ignore. Acknowledge. Warn. Restrict. Taser! Taser! Taser! Eject.

I’m watching the White Sox vs. Cardinals game tonight on MLB.com and this ad showed up while I was reading this thread.

O’Nora would wave to the press box when a new pitcher or a PH entered the game if that’s what you mean.

I went to the Orioles vs. Guardians game last Friday. During the plate meeting I saw Brian O'Nora handing Nestor Ceja what looked liked duplicates of the teams' lineup cards. Nestor put them in his pocket before jogging out to 3B and I noticed him take them out during substitutions. Just curious if anyone here knows what that's about. In MLB does the 3B umpire also keeps track of lineup changes - like a "backup" to the HP umpire in case any changes are missed? 🤔

Open to everybody but I'm particularly interested here in feedback from both coaches on this site and officials here who also coach / have coached youth baseball. Do you try to remember officials' names at the plate meeting and call them by name during the game (instead of "ump" or "blue")? Why or why not? Do you teach your players to call officials by their first names or by a generic title like "sir" (instead of "ump" or "blue")? Why or why not? Does it matter to you if an official calls you by name or only addresses you as "coach" throughout the game? Why or why not? Do you find officials have a more positive relationship (generally defined as more "deferential and respectful" vs. "argumentative and confrontational") with you and your players during a game - or throughout a season - when first names are used either by you towards officials or by officials towards you.

@cwbaseball11 - In 2021 I went with LUCs (over Team Wendy) for my Diamond and loved them. They’re 100% worth the cost, fit the mask perfectly and look great.

Got the 2023 Referee Umpires Training Catalog in the mail today. I'll usually get the NFHS Rules by Topic whenever there's a major rule update (like the P/DH change), and I bought the CCA Manual from them in 2019. Any recommendations on other baseball resources they offer? Everything Baseball Pitchers Can and Can’t Do and Say What? How to Respond to Baseball Players and Coaches look interesting - has anybody read these and found them valuable? https://store.referee.com/baseball

Simply was thanking a fellow umpire this morning for weighing in. I’ve been working games from 12pm-7pm today so haven’t had much time to follow the thread. I very much appreciate the case book citations you and @JonnyCat mention. I did read the 8.3.3 case play this morning but was concerned that it only pertained to a pitched ball, not a thrown one. Thanks for adding the NFHS interpretations.

Great pics! That's crazy how you can see each photographer in the background of the other's photo. 🤯

Had this situation come up last night. FED rules. No runners on. Batter grounds to F6, who throws wild to F3 and the ball gets away and is rolling towards a dugout opening. F3 chases after it, manages to grasp the ball in LBT, but his momentum carries him down into the dugout. The batter-runner occupies 1B when F3 enters DBT. What is the award and where do you place the runner? In that game, I gave a 2 base award and placed the runner on 3B. My thinking in the moment was the fielder's act to grasp the ball to prevent the ball from entering the dugout is a "subsequent play" and once he enters DBT the award is given from the base the runner occupies at the time the fielder enters DBT. Just want to make sure I handled this situation correctly and, if not, what rule or case book situation would apply here?

After 3 assignments that were rained / snowed out, I finally got in my first game of the season this morning. HS Varsity, I'm on the dish. Bottom 1st, no outs. SP starts off with back-to-back filthy curveballs for called strikes. Next pitch, batter whiffs on a high-in fastball. Frustrated batter then sends his bat flying towards his bench and starts walking away while I'm giving him the ejection mechanic with an emphatic "you're gone." HC knew it too, he didn't even try to go down the "why didn't you give a warning?" path. Nothing else happened and game went on as normal. That's easily the earliest ejection I've ever had to start a season. I just wanted to dust the winter cobwebs off - didn't see that one coming today.

I’m a little late to this thread, but this is absolutely the BEST sentence I’ve ever read on this forum. This should be quoted on page 1 in every umpire manual.

Now that’s a video I’m looking forward to. MLB has got to either mic up the crew chief to announce replay decisions or have a “comms director” umpire in NY who can cut into broadcasts to explain the mechanics of plays like this one to broadcast team. Side question: are retired umpires somehow “forbidden” from taking jobs at FOX or MLB Network to do for broadcasts what retired NFL refs are doing on FOX and CBS?