SnareDrum

(Reply feature not working, but......) First, I have a pretty good "idea" on a ball near the outside corner. I leave the all of the guesswork on balls and strikes to the DC. Second, there is something in front of me: F1. I'd also have to be at least a little to one side of him or the other, correct? There goes the straight-angle. Third, when I have to go it alone due to a no-show, a partner injury/illness (can't see losing my PU partner and staying in the field), or just the way that league is, I'll be behind the plate. You prefer it in the field. Feel free. Not being petty or anything, but feel free.

Main TV cameras are in CF offset a little to LF for a reason. It's the best position for a TV CAMERA. When games first began being broadcast it was one of the few places where there were no seats, so they could just build a platform and it was great spot. Nowadays, there still aren't very many seats out there, but the angle and coverage from 450 feet away of the field and game for television and an elevated TV CAMERA is still better than it would be behind the plate. Whenever they use camera #4 behind the plate, you can't even see the ball all the way into the mitt, and most times, not even see where the ball crossed the plate... but the umpire can. The best spot to get the most coverage of your field, and call balls and strikes, is behind F2.

Typing in the dark here... that should say "F2" up there.

F1. I used to work a lot of games at the Mickey Owen Baseball School, and they were adamant about calling everything from behind F1. Hated it. I think they thought the overall field coverage was better from there. One day, my partner was late showing up so I was one-man from behind the plate for three innings. After that, they said I could do whatever was comfortable for me. Here in our City Leagues, all of our Rec leagues pre-12U are one man, and we have them work from behind the plate. Usually it's the new guys and, well, others. If they do well with that, they might get to "move up". 3 games in 90+ degree heat by yourself in full gear will test a lot... hustle, focus, dedication, and more... from any umpire.

Exactly x10 what the others said. Even the Beatles know... they're "Speaking words of wisdom... Let it be."

You gotta' love the "chuckleheads"! Glad everything went well for you out of the chute and may it only get better. Welcome back!

Just passing it along... 31st Annual Sports Officiating Summit 2013 — Grand Rapids, MI July 28-30

On a 7U coach pitch game????? So many levels of wrong here... ------------------------------ Preachin' to the choir, Scrounge.

..........did you take a shot? ------------------------------- I have to agree on how light and comfortable these are. EXTREMELY flexible, cushioned with a soft feel around the foot. No game action yet, but I've done some cage work with HS pitching and took one off the toe and another off of the metacarsal. Didn't feel a thing. Honestly, I think they're the most comfortable shoes I've worn of any type/style in a long time.

----------- I said exactly that when I heard he would be coaching. Apparently, he can't assign any of the games for the league, and for his games, there's always a Program Director and/or the Chief nearby. I know they've had a little talk with him and hopefully he'll mellow out a little. The other coaches still don't like it though and I can't blame 'em. We'll see how it goes this Spring/Summer, but something tells me I may be doing some 8U this year.

I like working the younger leagues around here, but nowadays the only time my chief asks me to work any is a "big game", or when they've had a major problem. He called me last year to work a 7U coach pitch league. I found out why when I got there... Our Asst. UIC was the coach of his son's team, and the week before, he got tossed by one of his own umpires. The umpire that ran him was a new kid, and one of my trainees. Yep. That was fun game. A-UIC almost got ran again, but when I gave him a chance to get quiet, he did

Very good easy-to-read breakdown of the changes in Gils' latest UEFL post, which leads here: Close Call Sports: MLB Modifies Interference Rules, Including Infield Fly Case, The INT on an IFR "comment" really caught my eye. Anything in the changes jump out at you?

Thanks cycloneokiece, and yep, it just got very confusing here. If anybody has time, maybe they can help me track this to the rule quote I have up there that says nothing about a RHP. I went to USSSA Baseball / ISTS Sports Statistics, then clicked on 2013 Baseball Bylaws and Rules - UPDATED 2/11/2013 . The page it took me to led me to that quote. (but yeah, bottom of 12, not 11, but still 7.05.D). Strangely, when I clicked the link I provided earlier, it mentioned the RHP, but the 2/11 link I'm looking at now does not. The 2013 rules link I clicked on via USSSA Baseball - Rules and Bylaws at OFFICIAL USSSA BASEBALL NATIONAL BY-LAWS & RULES (actually same link) also omits the RHP. To add to it, all of the cover pages list January 12th as the Edition Date. It's almost as if they printed the wrong words and then fixed it... today. Anybody else seeing an RHP "exception"? All I need is a coach saying that he "can show me in the rule book,"

For our "City League", we get paid every two weeks, and they let us know in advance what the dates will be. If there's an error, it's fixed in the following check. For HS games, we provide a voucher to the host school who is then responsible for payment. Timetable varies based on the school and when they cut checks, but you'll usually have a check in hand in 3-4 weeks. If not, we let our association know and they handle it. Both the City and my Association are pretty clear as to the time frame when we can expect payment, and what to do if we don't receive it or get shorted. Have you spoken with anyone with your Assoc. about this? You've already posted here, but IMHO, this may have been something to keep in the locker room.

Should have typed: "They copied it word for word from OBR 2013, WHICH reads..." I graded a few papers today, so I'm on a bit of grammar kick. Anyway... short and sweet, and pretty clear.

I just checked the USSSA 2013, and what I found (page 11, 7.05.D), seems to keep it pretty simple: "It is a balk if the pitcher, while touching his plate, feints a throw to first or third base and fails to complete the throw; Pitchers may still feint a throw to second." They copied it word for word from OBR 2013, it reads: "It is a balk if the pitcher, while touching his plate, feints a throw to first or third base and fails to complete the throw: Pitchers may still feint a throw to second." Neither set says anything that I saw about anything that occurs after the feint. Feint to 3B or 1B (while on rubber) = Balk. That would pretty much kill the play on the spot, though I know some crazy things could occur. It is baseball, after all! That covers USSSA, and Babe Ruth (no change). Has anyone heard of any other OBR based leagues yet? http://www.usssa.com/usssa/usssa-general/2013BBRuleBook.pdf and thanks to stl_ump for locating and posting the OBR Rule Changes (attached) in a nearby thread earlier... 2013 rule changes.pdf

I had them on and tied a little later after I took the pics, and the guard moves just a fraction higher. Bottom edge is even with the top of the tread/sole. I haven't started my breaking in phase yet, but it doesn't look like the guard will drag. I'd rather have a little too much protection down there than less.

Probably see a few D-1 and pro scouts at every game...

One set of "all-black" pics. The fit well and of course they're pretty stiff, but that'll get a little better as I break them in. They look like they'll clean up pretty well, but between the tread and sole, where those up-and-down zigzags are, are holes go all the way under the shoe starting at the arch and getting larger going back to the heel. I can see these will be great hiding places for dust or mud and may require a little extra time for cleaning, but not a deal breaker. You'll be a little taller too... the heel with the tread/cleat is a little over an inch. The Reebok lettering on the toe and heel is dark, silver-gray color that seems to get brighter under the sun. I'm debating whether or not to carefully Sharpie it out. If I was getting paid to advertise for them...

Yes Alan, you've found the place! Welcome aboard!

Mine (all black) will be here tomorrow. I'll try to post a couple of pics over the weekend if nobody else has.

I am assuming you are describing a third-to-first manuever. Well, balk for feint to third. In FED, immediate dead ball; R1 goes to 2B and R3 scores. In OBR, you probably want to withhold calling "Time" until play is over. If ball goes into d.b.t., two bases from time of throw - R1 goes to 3B, R3 scores; disregard the balk as every baserunner reached the next base safely on the errant throw. -------------------------- The new rule would only apply to OBR, not FED... at least not yet. BUT, in the penalty for a balk, it says that "each runner shall advance one base without liability to be put out, unless the batter reaches first on a hit, an error, a base on balls, a hit batter, or otherwise, and all other runners advance at least one base, in which case the play proceeds without reference to the balk." So in the instance Larry has above, since the batter didn't advance safely, it would be R1 to 2B and score R3. Right? If the pitcher steps off the rubber, feints to third and throws it into DBT somewhere, then I would have R1 going to 3B, and R3 scores.

Snaredrum, Nothing wrong with that protector whatsoever, you'll like it, and when the time comes to upgrade, keep that for your backup! When looking for something new, if you're needing the length, look at either the All-Star or the Douglas ...... both offer 15" models ---------------------------------------------- I almost pulled the trigger on the All-Star this time. The Champion is good, but an upgrade is coming more sooner than later if everything works out. I'll keep the Douglas in mind, too. Thanks!

-------------------------- I was wondering who was going to spot that! Sure took a while though. A funny story came to mind as I was typing "indicator", so I tossed it in. I also thought about adding dark blue shirts...

Beckerd's interp from ump school nailed it for me. "A step to third from the rubber will require a throw to third base". If he feints, "that's a balk", and that eliminates the 31 right there. What F1 does after that regarding R1 would seem to be almost irrelevant. It's looking like the language of the rule will eliminate, while on the rubber with R1 & R3, feints to third OR first.