UmpJeff

Now, that IS funny!!! Let the record clearly reflect that, in this dialogue (or whenever Jim Leyland is the topic of discussion), the term "guy" and "rat" are synonymous.

I just read out on Twitter (@BaseballHall & @Ken_Rosenthal) that Tim McDouchebag has been named 2012 Ford C. Frick Award winner for...ready for this...excellence in baseball broadcasting! I first thought it was a joke, but, much to my dismay, it's true. UGH!!!! :a100posts:

Now that's funny!!

I would like Santa Claus to bring me a new job which will enable me to work more H.S. ballgames. One which begins between 6:00-8:00 a.m. and ends at 3:00 p.m. That's all...

I have a Mont Blanc Edgar Allan Poe L/E fountian pen and I have a couple of questions related to it. Hopefully, someone out here may be able to answer them. Thanks, Jeff

My "SUV" is the 2004 Buick Rendezvous (with 184,000 miles!!)...complete with the clothes bar across the backseat and all my gear in the back. Wouldn't have it any other way!!

Runner on third base. Fly ball hit to right field. As the runner faces home plate, tagging up and awaiting the catch, the third base coach: a: Lightly lays his hand on the runners shoulder, then removes it as the catch is made, or; b: Slaps the runner on the shoulder as the catch is made. Ruling**: This is not physically assisting the runner because the runner was not physically "held" or a "pushed". The coach's actions did not apply a physical force that propelled the runner forward, nor did they inhibit him from being propelled forward. **NOTE: Ruling applies only in Rich's Universe. In items a: and b:, the coach, IMHO, is physically assisting the player. The rulebook says nothing about being "held" or "pushed". It simply states physically assisting. In both cases, there is physical contact which is aiding the runner in his (or her) baserunning responsibilities. In a:, the ending of the physical contact tells the runner that the catch has been made and to advance. In b: touching of the runner as the catch is made tells the runner that the catch has been made and to advance. In both cases, a verbal "GO" without the added physical contact is sufficient to let a runner know when to advance. Lest we not pick flysh*t out of pepper, any type of physical assistance is against the rules. Yes, we can bring the spirit of the rules into play (see paragraph 3 below). However, the bottom line, again IMHO, is that during playing action, a coach shall not physically assist (read touch) a player while on the bases. Now, if a coach comes to me in pre-game and tells me he (or she) has a deaf child on his team and asks if it's okay to tap or touch while on 1st or 3rd base, I will examine the spirit of the rule with both coaches and make a decision beforehand. But, as someone else said earlier to which I completely concur, it's up to the runner to watch the ball/catch on his own... Just MY $0.02

+1

You can't forget the most important part of the definition of strike zone: is that area over home plate the upper limit of which is a horizontal line at the midpoint between the top of the shoulders and the top of the uniform pants, and the lower level is a line at the hollow beneath the kneecap. The strike zone shall be determined from the batters stance as the batter is prepared to swing at the pitched ball The zone is determined when the batter is preparing to swing. Now consider this, most called strikes are called when the batter does not swing. So we most determine what that zone is prior to the batter actually swinging. See pic below: The picture on the left is a picture of a batter in his stance as the batter is prepared to swing at the pitched ball. If you translate that zone over to the picture on the right, the batter in his "ready" position you see the strike zone is located a few inches above the belt just below the knee. NO, the picure on the left is his stance as the batter is swinging at a pitched ball. The picture on the right is more in line with his stance preparing to swing. I concur. The Strike Zone is determined by the graphics in the photo on the right.

Well, the SoCal Honigs closed, so you have that on us. But what do you mean by "nearly"? Sorry, Hawk..."...can work year-round!!". I meant that I suspect you warm-weather arbiters work 2, maybe 3, more months than us Northern arbiters.

Geesh! All this talk of new pants, specifically PolyWools, is making want to rush out and buy a couple pair. Lucky for me, Honig's is about a 40 minute drive from my house. I can go and try them on before I buy. In fact, I think I may do just that next weekend!! P.S. Kevin, with you being from SoCal, please don't complain about having to work in 50 degree weather. Us Snowbirds in Michigan would love those temperatures in March/early April and October!! In a sense, I kind of envy you guys in warm-weather locations who can work nearly year-round!!

One of the few who sign where the recipient can actually read who signed it. I didn't post that to say that I don't believe it. I don't know who that logo was patterned after. And, quite honestly, don't reall care. I love the MLB logo. It's the best of all professional sports. I, too, have met Harmon Killebrew. All three times have been in Cooperstown. He was the nicest Hall of Famer I've ever met. And believe me, I've met some sh*tty ones. I think he was of baseball's finest people. May he forever hit home runs and rest in peace.

I'm finding that out, Kevin. It's not the most well-written manual I've ever read. But, I have to say that the content is worth it's weight in gold. Having said that, I find that the purchase price of $70 is worth it from a content and learning tool perspective. If I had to give it a 1 to 10 ranking on editing, I'd have to say probably a 5 or a 6. However, I'm bright enough (at least in my own mind's eye) to navigate throught the "fog" I sometimes find in the manual. So, I'm getting an awful lot out of it. That, in my opinion, is the ultimate determinant of value.

I just told this story in a PM a couple of days ago: My boyhood baseball idol was Harmon Killebrew. In the 1965 World Series, he hit a towering bomb off Don Drysdale--then my favorite Dodger--and I became enamored of Harmon, like any 8-year-old might at the sight of a titanic blast by a prolific slugger. I went away from that series copying Killebrew's stance and style. I continued to try to be just like Harmon, except I ran fast. Killebrew was the model for the MLB logo, and won the MVP the year it was introduced. So I love the logo like I loved the man, but for some reason, it makes me feel like a poser to wear it on my mask, which is the one piece of gear that's on prominent display. I don't know why I am that adamant, but I am. I buy harnesses with the yellow W, and modify or get rid of the harnesses with the MLB logo. (try to imagine looking at this from behind) I hate to burst the bubble, but, Killer was not the "model" for the MLB logo. Here's an article related to the MBL logo.. http://espn.go.com/e...ndex?id=6559613 Here's another... http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122453063968851133.html

Now that you're opening an office here in Michigan, will you consider holding a camp in Michigan? I will be first in line if you did!!! Jeff

Let it go, man!!!! Your partner confirmed you were calling that pitch all game, right?? It matters not where you are in a ballgame when you punch someone out. If it's a strike in the top of the 1st, it's a strike in the bottom of the 6th!! Don't second-guess yourself, man. Nothing good will come from that!

I have the same experience, the younger the players, the worse the parents and coaches. I'll triple that. The only time I tossed parents was during a 9U game...from both teams!! I ended up telling the manager who scheduled me to lose my number.

My favorite...with the Two-Tone padding. Nice and protective...and light as a feather!

Nice shot!!!

I will be reading Maximizing the Two-Man System, Jaksa/Roder, and the Wendelstedt Rule Interpretation manuals...and, of course, my two rule books...OBR and NFHS. I will also be going to our local umpire camp...Southeast Michigan Umpire Camp...semuc.com in February. Post-season next year I'm planning on heading down to Kissimmee to JEAPU's camp between Christmas and New Years Day.

I'll take Marquez.

Where is the invoice that Hunter said was attached??? Can somebody post it out here?

Me, too! However, around the bases, they need to be tagged for me. :yippie:

Agree...100% He had his pitch called a ball and he was, in my opinion, trying to get it erased because of the new St. Louis Cardinal "Rally Squirrel".