mstaylor

Smart catchers are a god send.

I saw a pick at first where it rolled down the line, hit the tarp and bounced out of play. Of course the runner is now on third.P U came out, killed the ball, put the runner at second and then talked to the OM that just lost his mind. The bad part was this was A ball and it lead to a protest.

I will send the catcher out to explain the error of his ways. If I am feeling generous a repeat will get me taking a step in front of the plate and telling him to cut the histrionics. Anything else and he goes home. A manager worth his salt should already be on him to shutup and pitch.

Technically correct so we have to expand to ten because there is one more. And Kevin is correct, it will piss you off.

Good to have both another MDer and another softball guy. We have the USSSA FP WS in town again this year.

Hi Brian and WELCOME. I am from MD too (Cascade - 15 miles east of Hagerstown). Where are you? I'm in Salisbury over on the Eastern Shore. I like seeing MDers joining.

You should always be a little nervous or excited before a game. The best thing to do is remember it just another game. I assure you, as I get older I question if I will be able to do it another year, then I go out, it's all good and I work the season. Don't let being nervous make you fast, use it to focus you.

Where in MD? I am in Salisbury.

I always tell guys you are wrong 100% of the time, it just depends if it is in your right ear or your left ear.

According to the CCA manual it says to handle a R2, two outs with the same coverage as R1, R2. That means the U1 does rotate in and takes the BR to second. The only time that doesn't happen is if the ball goes to right field.

There are different versions of Smittys. There are the average untrained volunteer out there doing the best he can. This is a good portion of youth umpires. There are guys hat attend clinics and learn nothing. They will go out there and do an OK job but never improve because they don't understand that they aren't learning. The third type is the worse kind. He wants to umpire just for the money or to go out and prove who he is. This is the guy that goes to a clinic and tries to prove the instructors wrong. A good clinician identifies him early and make him an example. The first type we can teach and help. The second, maybe we can help if we can make them see they have their heart in the right place but they can improve. The third type, just try to stay clear of, they will pull you under the bus in a heart beat.

9 is wrong. BB and IW is still a walk.

Nine ways to get on base? This may have been asked last year.

Strike one!

Without looking at my CCA manual, C for U3 with two outs and R2 is correct. On the hit U3 should take the R2 to third and let U1 pivot and tke the runner to second. I could be wrong but that seems logical to me. If the BR tries for third, U3 is already there. If her gets hung between second and third, both ends are already covered.

As my Dad always taught me, when you know all there is about what you are doing, quit, you just got dangerous.

It's really impossible to tell from the pictures. The fielder could have stepped in the way after the runner started his slide. If so, absolutely obstruction. The pictures look bad for the runner but it may have been the fielder's fault. It could be MC which would supersede the obstruction. Without video, hard to tell.

Minimum 30 minutes, more if possible. Dressing in the parking lot is the norm here.

The bolded part is so true. A lot of these kids out there want to do a good job, but no one has ever taught them anything different. After eight years they become very good at doing things incorrectly. I help instruct with a local youth umpire organization my friend runs (PONY/LL) and he will ask me to work the bases when one of his kids has the plate. After the game, I will always ask, "you mind if I tell you a couple things?" They are attentive and some actually take notes. Most want to learn and do things correctly. These are the ones we need to reach out to. We all know the "guy" who has been butchering it for years and will never change because he knows he is right. Nothing you can do with him. But the one's who have never been taught the "right" way usually want to learn...taken em under your wing. I concur, try to improve the guys that want to learn. I took a pretty good young guy that had a lot of bad habits and he was really getting good. The problem was his dad was the head Smitty. Been around for years, refused to learn or change. He undermined everything I taught him and turned right back into what he was before I started with him. Very frustrating.

This was asked on another board and didn't get a lot of takers so I thought I would bring it here. The trivia question is always what is the max number of appeals allowed. The answer being ten on a bases loaded HR. The questions was the F1 throws to first to appeal the BR missing first, cutting off all runs, assume two outs. They throw the ball out of play, does that kill the other 9 appeals or just that one.

So very true.

I agree the knee pop was probably too subtle for this age but was wondering if any would pick it up.

That is the purpose of the question. On a jab step I was taught he still go off the front, he can land on the rubber or toward third but not off the front. If he jump steps landing in front is OK. Being the jump and jab steps are technically illegal, there is no rule book guidance. There's also a slight adjustment of his left foot before he makes a move. It could be considered as part of settling or popping his front leg.

I don't eject a lot, But I eject when necessary. I also have a reputation for tossing so when I say enough, most coaches know to back off.

It didn't throw to first so that is an obvious balk, which they missed. My question is if he had thrown the ball do you have any other problems with the move?