UmpIowa

With this being a somewhat common incident, the fast comebacker, when will we see HS mandate that pitchers where a facemask similiar to what you see softball players wear?

F2 bobbled the ball which sent R2 running. All of the bobbling took place without the catcher getting up out of his squat.

I thought it was an easy call too. DHC came out and politely asked about it and PU was like no big deal. It just seemed odd. I had INF on it too, but then questioned myself after.

Fed Rules. R2. R2 is stealing 3rd with a RH batter. Batter is a 6'2" 12 year old. Catcher is 4'8". Batter steps back and takes a practice swing. It did not appear to be anything more than just a practice swing and he bats the ball as F2 throws it to 3rd. Umpire had no call and R2 gets 3rd base. It seemed very strange to me to just let the play go. Thoughts?

So it appeared to me the batter tried to vacate. The penalty was awarded inappropriately as well. In this instance they returned the runner to 3rd and called the batter out. According to 7-3.5d the runner is out and batter is still at bat. Is this correct?

This game is played under FED rules. I am not sure where the ball went either, but when looking at F2 in relation to the plate I don't see a play here. My opinion obviously.

The first time I watched it I could understand the call and just chalk it up to judgement. But then I looked at it in relation to the plate and don't see it. I know there is no mention of proximity to the base or play, but is it fair to give the batter the benefit of the doubt and assume the throw must be in a position to make the play. I struggle with interference/obstruction so just looking for guidance.

Sorry for the poor video. The PU called batter interference on the throw to home. The batter was outside the box back and toward on deck circle. VID_39061130_080405.mp4

​That is the whole problem with MC. It is a complete judgement call and had to be there call. So very hard to say exactly what it is.

They awarded him 2nd as we was essentially there when the ball hit the glove.

Has anyone ever called Defensive Malicous Contact. I was at a 12U Tournament today for my son. I was watching a game that my son was not playing in. Situation. FED Rules R1 and R3. R1 is stealing. F2 does the old throw to F4 short trick. F4 throws the ball back to F2 who has R3 beat by a mile. F2 is a step in front of the plate with the ball. R3 slides and F2 drops his facemask, which he is still wearing, into R3 arm and chest and applies the tag with both hands into R3's stomach. Given the time F2 had to apply the tag and the position he had blocking the plate legally with the ball it seemed like a hard tag. R3 had to leave the game with a bloody arm he recieved from the facemask being drove into his arm. I was asked about the play from a HC also not part of the game. All I could say was that MC can be called on the defense, that MC is a judgement call, and that I have never seen it called on the defense. He asked my opinion on the play and I told him I would have had MC, but again had never called it on the defense.

12U tournament game with R1. R1 steals 2nd on the pitch and F2 gets jumpy. The ball grazes the top of F2 glove and passes by. PU pivots to let F2 go after the passed ball. R1 looks around and the coaches begin to send him to 3rd. A very astute BU calls time and yells to PU that the ball had gone right into his ball bag. Never seen that before not sure I ever will again. The bag in use was similar to this one with a formed opening and the PU wore it on his thigh rather than his hip which allowed this to happen.

​8 runs were scored the first inning and all were hits to the OF. The additional IF did nothing in the first inning. Even when a play was made in the IF the additional man did not even move.

This is not an umpire question but thought I would put it out to all of you with a great deal of baseball knowledge. I was watching a 12U USSSA game. The home team came out in an odd defensive formation. The infield was mostly normal with the 2nd baseman cheating toward 2nd base. What I would call the right fielder was playing up right on the line of outfield grass to infield dirt. He was splitting the difference between where the 2nd baseman was and F3. The 2 remaining OF were playing LF center and RF center. What possible benefit could a team get from this set? Once the ball cleared the IF there was really no one to get it and the OF took advantage. Even when a left handed batter got up to bat there was no shift. I had never seen anything like this and just could not see how this benefited the team. Thoughts?

The umpires mask was a mask bought at a second hand sports store so the integrity of the mask is not completely known. For all he or I know that mask may have had several bad hits in it and was junk. Not to mention it is not the most high quality mask to begin with. The umpire did in fact have a concussion, but thought he was fine and had no idea he was hurt. He really wasn't listening to reason at the time. As far as he knew the coaches were trying to pull one over on him. The coaches forfeited at the time as it was the only way that the umpire would let the game end. Again, he thought all systems were go and the coaches were trying to "Umpire shop" or something. As someone that has experienced concussions in the past, football not baseball, I can say that I honestly thought I was fine and I was good. When people would tell me to sit down or sit out I thought they were full of crap and needed their head examined. I guess that is what the brain can do to us when we are out of it.