scrounge

Doh, forgot which section this was posted in.....yep, I had FED in the head.

With that wide veer off to the right of the chalk line, I'd say yes to a violation. Seemed like F2 was lobbing it to get it over the runner, causing the bad throw.

This play kind of threw me off my rhythm for a couple of innings and still bugs me. Not sure what more could have been done but thought I'd ask. JV game, 1 out, R1 so I'm in B. Partner at plate gives rotation signal. Batter bunts a roller right up the 1st base line to F3 who's expecting it and just standing there waiting on it. I begin moving to 1st but F3 picks up the ball and looks to 2nd, a couple feet inside the foul line at about the 45' point. So I stop, unsure where he's going with it. He just stands there looking at 2nd as the batter approaches, so I wasn't sure what he was doing. Everyone's yelling "ONE" and saying "TAG THE RUNNER" but he just stands there looking at 2nd. At the very last second, he wheels around at medium speed and attempts to tag the batter, who is pretty much even with him at that point. Unfortunately, all I see is F1's back. I'm completely straightlined and don't see a thing regarding a tag. He doesn't reach for him and the B/R is hustling. He may have tagged him, but if so it was pretty quick and I was totally screened. Naturally, one bench screams "HE MISSED HIM" and the other "HE TAGGED HIM". I let it play out, give the safe signal, and call time. I go to my partner, but he had moved up to 3rd on the rotation. Not sure why, but I guess F1 picked up the ball fair quick enough that he decided to go up the line. In any case, he didn't see the tag either. There really wasn't any discernable body reaction by either fielder or runner that gave me a clue on if there was a tag, but the runner was close enough that I'd bet there was a 60% chance or so he did tag him. But if he did, it was at most a mild touch on the back of the jersey as the runner flashed by. But having seen nothing to say either way, I had no idea, so I saw no choice but to stay with the safe call. Is this just one of those things where a goofy play found a hole in the 2 umpire system? Was I out of position or should have anticipate a swipe? I'm just wondering if I froze prematurally or could have done something differently.

Wasn't the HC at the plate conf before the game? You didn't know he was HC? Is it common for all coaches in a 12U game to be in uniform?

weekly occurrence, esp in youth/JR hi games

the 2nd to last one in the Indians-Reds game looks pretty iffy to me....

three words: chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Take ALL the time needed, and then a little more. Don't take chances with this.

Hmmm....black with cream just sounds like it would look odd. And by the outer stripe guideline, the outer stripe is cream. I doubt I've ever seen a cream undershirt, so it seems white would be a closer match than black. Maybe it's just easier to go without undershirt at all with cream.

So what undershirt goes with cream? Or do you just go without undershirt since the only reason you're wearing cream is that it's probably 95 degrees or hotter outside?

But it's 1 base beyond what the runner has already obtained, not the base he's trying to get to. If in your judgement he would have gotten to 3rd (i.e., he hasn't gotten to 3rd YET) but not scored, the proper award is indeed 3rd. In that case play, R1 gets 2nd whether he's advancing to 2nd or retreating to 1st, since he already attained 1st but not yet 2nd.

For school games in OH, we can use either gray or navy. I'd say most use navy, but gray isn't by any means non-existent. Last year, I had one gray bag, the same material and color as my pants (both Smitty charcoal gray). Frankly, I liked that look - but now that I'm not unemployed and trying to get by with the bare minimum in starting up, I've gone to two navy bags. Non-school games? Pretty much personal decision. Mine will mostly be two navy bags with powder or red, two black bags otherwise.

Unless the sun is reflecting off the glasses and is distracting, I don't see what the big deal is.

Another vote for the All-Star

I don't think you were wrong in the slightest for talking with him. One - he started it by pointing at you. Two - as you described it, it's not a confrontation at all. He thinks it's an insult to say you treat 10 yr old girls differently than 18 yr olds? Uh....duh. My only criticism is that you didn't hit him with a full-fledged, Willy Wonka "Good day, sir. I SAID GOOD DAY!!!".

Even knowing what to look for, I can't see it on the frontal view. Only the side angle shows it. I'm fine using replay for this kind of reversible situation, but I don't blame the crew for missing it, esp the PU.

Oh, that's right, the Fox exclusive game. Even locally? I did hear Farmio's radio call on the post-game....a little underwhelming actually. Oh well! At least we have one great highlight in what's likely to be a bleak year.

Awesome game....not living in the area anymore (formerly Hoffman Estates), I wish I could have heard Hawk's call.

Sometimes, if a ball is traveling at just the right velocity and hits at just the right angle, a dent may not be the worst thing in the world. After all, the alternative is that all that force is transferred to your head. I'm not saying a pattern of dents is good, but a handful of anecdotal stories shouldn't be considered disqualifying.

Oops, duh on me...this is what I get for having FED on the brain so much

Isn't obstruction a delayed dead ball? I thought the call is exactly like like umpcoachfather said, point and say it, watch the play continue, if the runner attains the base he would have gotten absent the obstruction then drop it.

You're not wrong in the slightest. She took a losing coach's word about your strike zone? In a 10u softball game? Come on, girl.

I actually started, technically, when I was 16 for a local summer league. No training, no introduction, they just handed me a balloon protector and a mask and said 'good luck'. Third game in, a big pot-bellied dad/coach didn't like a call and came charging in from the 3rd base box. Well, he couldn't stop his considerable girth in time and ran right into me, knocking me backwards. After that, I basically said 'screw this' and gave it up. Nothing happened to the guy - it was 25 yrs ago and in a small town. I don't think I even reported it, just walked away in disgust. Fast forward a couple decades and I'd been coaching the kids in rec league for many years, but they eventually either stopped playing or stayed with coaches they had previously while I was coaching their siblings. I'd been thinking of getting into umpiring for awhile but didn't make the plunge till last year. Like so many others, I can't believe it took me this long.

I would absolutely put a stop to that at the first opportunity. "FOUL" is a reserved word - no one yells it but you.

As I understand it, unfortunately no. It's when you travel to a temp work site *from* your permanent work site or another temp work site. So going from work to a game counts, as it's perm work site to temp work site to home. Home to temp site is just commuting to work. That's how it's been explained to me, at least. :)

I've got the silver Diamond with Team Wendy pads. I split about 60/40 of the time with HSM and the mask. Each has their pros and cons, but I wouldn't wear a mask without the Team Wendy pads. When it boils down to it, the name of the game is protection and attenuation of force. No matter what mask you choose, I'd put Wendy pads in it.