scrounge

I don't have any problem with that. That's what base coaches are for, to pay attention for things like that.

What if the plate umpire really does have the correct count and the base umpire has the incorrect count. I assume that he meant "as a backup" to mean when the PU lost the count or was unsure.

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=21603133&topic_id=&c_id=mlb&tcid=vpp_copy_21603133&v=3

Could you expand on that a little bit?

for once, FED comes in handy :)

maybe it's time to get those McDavid hexpad shorts that I've been thinking about....

Umpire interference is in the rules but this is not one of the two specifically enumerated instances of umpire interference. Ah, indeed. By defining the two instances of interference, it does make sense that all other types are simply to be ignored. That does make sense. Best outcome? Don't screw up and run a kid over and put yourself in that position.

When an asst coach wants to try to argue a call: Sorry, I'll talk with the organ grinder but not the monkey

I dont mean to be mean and I know my comment is caused in part by what happened over the last week of games for me, but you (and all of us) should use the rule book instead of you (and our) gut to make the ruling. In this case 9.01d point taken and a fair point

Umpire interference is defined as two things and two things only in 4.21 and the play here is not one of the two things. Play on. Well, that's kinda the point, isn't it? Again, just playing devils advocate....but an argument could be made that this is a situation that isn't in the rules. I doubt I'd call it that way myself unless it was egregiously unfair to the runner, a VERY LOW likelihood. But as a thought experiment, I can see a case.

Yea, I don't think anything productive would ever come from that.

Giving the new pitcher the situation is pretty common around here as well at lower levels. Middle school? Almost always. JV? Common. Varsity? Rarely. But at the middle school/youth/rec league level, pretty much standard.

While I'm quite fine with the call from one perspective....uh....I don't know about that.

Oh, that's a nasty one. Did he announce the count at any time (you'd think at that level he'd at least tell the new pitcher or announce it before putting the ball in play)? If so, I'd lean to A). The count is what was announced....there's no good way to get out of that muck.

Did he throw his helmet? I mean, why not, if actually hitting an ump is only 4 games, just throwing it is probably a stern glare at most.

Get off my lawn, you pesky kids! In all seriousness, I think there is some merit there but also some nostalgia as well. Was it really better 'back in the day' or are we just more aware of it now? Recency bias, where we put more weight on the more recent & vivid events? After all, Rudy Tomjanovich was nearly killed by a punch. Stuff happens. It just didn't hit Twitter and go viral instantly like it does now. But again, the underlying point of a decline in sportsmanship and a general increase in societal coarseness is spot on.

I'd say the let the teams hash out any bad blood and stay out of that. Maybe the visiting team should have their own informal book as well. Either way, not your problem. If it was BOO, then apply the prescribed penalty. If FED, proper batter out, improper batter now comes to bat.

The paperwork has been processed and I'm now upgraded to varsity status. In Ohio, that doesn't necessarily mean you'll get varsity games, but it is a requirement to do so. Here, it takes at least 2 successful evaluations, endorsement of your association, and passing an online NFHS test. So I've got that going for me. Which is nice.

I think (hope!) dumbdumb is being tongue-in-cheek And I still don't see the 3rd balk.

More fun from Jersey! If you buy a house next to a baseball field, well... http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/highschool-prep-rally/n-j-man-charged-assault-attacking-player-sent-151331403.html N.J. man charged with assault for attacking player sent to retrieve foul ball By Cameron Smith PostsWebsiteEmailRSSBy Cameron Smith | Prep Rally – 20 hours ago In one of the most surreal twists to a high school baseball game in recent memory, a high school senior who went onto private property neighboring his school's baseball field to retrieve a foul ball was assaulted by the man who lived in the adjoining house. In what could have doubled as an outtake from the 1993 movie "The Sandlot," an unspecified senior baseball player for Scotch Plains (N.J.) Union Catholic High was sent to bring back a foul ball which landed beyond the outfield fence during his team's senior day game against Plainfield (N.J.) High. Yet, as soon as he neared the ball, the player was attacked by the man who lived at the house, 44-year-old Michael Bennett. According to MyCentralJersey.com, Bennett grabbed the Union Catholic player by the neck and wrist, then, "grabbed the ball and told him to get off his property." Union Catholic baseball coach Jim Reagan JR. quickly came to his player's defense, screaming for Bennett to let the player go. Bennett complied. But MyCentralJersey reported that the player was left with visible scratches. Scotch Plains police were quickly called to the scene, and Bennett was arrested, charged with assault and later released from police custody. "I recall yelling 'Sir, stop it! Get your hands off of him!'" Reagan told MyCentralJersey. "I had to run through the Plainfield dugout to get to the scene. "He [the player retrieving the foul ball] definitely showed restraint. I think he was probably more shocked than anyone. And I want to commend Scott [Gleichenhaus, the Plainfield varsity coach] and his team and coaches, because they were excellent in this situation as well. They offered their full support." While no additional news about future court proceedings involving Bennett were made available, Reagan said that he had never encountered any incidents remotely like the one that occurred in the Plainfield game in more than a decade at the school. "No doubt about it: It was the most surreal experience I've had in 11 years as a baseball coach," Union Catholic assistant principal and varsity baseball coach Jim Reagan JR. said Monday. "But the kid is fine. I think other than being shocked and surprised at what occurred, he's OK."

Yep, it's unfortunate, but there's no rule to support anything other than keep playing and see what happens. I've seen umpires try to make up rules and place runners...but that is bad umpiring. Then again, if it's truly the umpire's fault, there's at least a reasonable argument that this is a situation not covered in the rules and subject to a 'best judgment' ruling No, there's not. Why not? If I mess up and am late pivoting and run into a kid from 1st to 2nd, how do I justify letting him get tagged out? Now I'm not giving him 2nd either, but seems like the best thing is put him back safely to first. Again, only if it's truly and unavoidably my mistake. If it's just a fielder or runner running into me when I'm where I'm supposed to be, like Prince Fielder the other day (I think it was him), then tough luck. But I 100% cause it, I gotta fix it as best I can. There's nothing in the rules to help me, so that's my best judgment.

hehe....the only thing better would be if you patted him on the head and told him to get back to Munchkin Land ;)

Yep, it's unfortunate, but there's no rule to support anything other than keep playing and see what happens. I've seen umpires try to make up rules and place runners...but that is bad umpiring. Then again, if it's truly the umpire's fault, there's at least a reasonable argument that this is a situation not covered in the rules and subject to a 'best judgment' ruling

Probably but by no means guaranteed. I'd post something to prove my point, but there's no way in hell I'm googling "Rosie O'Donnell stirrups".

They both should probably get a day off for that.