JHSump

I did another game tonight, 12U (these are local league games, not travel ball). I didn't get hit! Used the box throughout, but probably not relevant. The relevant fact: better pitchers, better catcher tonight. Nevertheless, I tweaked my box stance a bit to lessen the possible damage to my thighs if a pitch hit me there. My thinking: aim to make my thighs as parallel to the ground as possible --- basically by "sitting" down into my stance. Then, when a ball does hit a thigh, it's more of a glancing blow. I this the logic behind the "sitting" move into the the heal-toe or box stance? Or, am I way off?

ha ha ha.... I think I set myself up for those answers!

Ha ha ha ...I had that same blue t-shirt with UMPIRE in white letters! This was when I first started out at 17 years-old --- many decades ago (mid to late 70s). We used the balloon in the 13-15 year-old Babe Ruth town league games I umpired. I think the rest of my uniform consisted of shorts and sneakers. I don't think I even had a hat! There was a Babe Ruth game each summer weeknight, and double headers on Saturdays. If I wasn't playing, I was umpiring or watching. Little League games were played every night on at least half a dozen fields across the town. Baseball was either more important in those days, or more important there (Long Island), than were I live now: my town had a Little League parade at the beginning of each season with fire trucks and all the kids in uniform from 8 on up to 12 marching through the town. Other towns had similar situations. Anyway, the shin guards, mask, indicator, and balloon were waiting for us at the field where I umpired. There was no training. We were on our own. I think my only training was watching umpires on TV on my own (and reading the rule book on my own). I do remember looking over the top of the catcher's head at the strike zone, centered on the plate. I don't remember ever being hit or injured in any way. Now that I think about it, I can't remember if there was a second umpire! We may have been doing the games solo. There was a college guy that starting using an inside protector to umpire higher-level games (16-18 Senior Babe Ruth, for example). That guy looked cool --- I wanted to switch to an inside protector, but my parents were against it. I do have a VHS conversion of a super-8 movie of me playing an inning or two, but nothing of me umpiring :(

Well, I am in about the same position! Many bruises from 12U and 10U games. No problems at all at upper levels or HS. What, exactly, are the reasons for *not* using a balloon in lower-level games? Sure, when the pitchers and the catchers are skilled, you can use inside protector. You get more mobility, and a better look at the strike zone. But why not use a balloon at the lower levels? Would the games suffer? Really? I doubt it. The field is smaller, so mobility is not as important. For that matter, wouldn't increased safety translate into increased comfort and increased concentration on the task of calling balls and strikes? Just asking.

I use the box. In the past month I've been hit 4 times in the thighs. Three on the left thigh. One on the right thigh. It's beginning to make me think I should consider another stance for low-level games. The first left-thigh shot produced a colorful display like Cajuncubsfan had. The second shot in the same spot --- about a week later --- actually squeezed the blood under the skin out to the sides, clearing a patch in the middle! The third shot was to the right thigh. It is still colorful. Just not as large as caused by the first shot. The fourth shot happened in a game tonight. Like the first one, it was caused by an inside fastball that was not touched at all by the catcher. It just went straight into my thigh. I now have a lump there, and I am sure it will be very colorful in a day or two. All these recent shots have occurred in 12U or 10U games. I just finished my first HS season (JV). The only hit I took was on an inside 55-foot curve ball, that was untouched by the catcher. It hit me just below the CP (a WV Gold). I get hit much more frequently in 12U or 10U games than in any higher level games, simply because the pitchers are wilder and the catcher's less able to block the ball, or even catch it at all if the pitcher is especially fast and the catcher is especially over matched. So, I'm beginning to wonder, should I use the box for higher level games and perhaps the scissors for lower level games? Or, what? I have tried the scissors in the past, but it seems to me my hands and arms are much more exposed than in the box. What is the best stance for protection of the uncovered spots (thighs, arms, hands) in lower level games??

The camera views are not great, but it looks to me that Ruiz's foot pushes Molina's foot straight back across the plate. In other words, it looks to me that Ruiz's foot is not deflected at all. If I were Ruiz I don't think I would have any objection to the call --- I was "out by a mile" and then bang bang bang I slid into Moliina with lots of contact: I don't think I would be able to tell if I was tagged before I reached the plate or not.

At the MLB level, there is the possibility on such a play that the runner may lower his shoulder and blast into the catcher. So the MLB umpire may be giving the catcher the benefit of the doubt, and allowing him to possibly avoid the effects of a direct collision by standing somewhat upright, ready for anything. The result may be a tag applied as in the video --- about at the waist But nevermind MLB, this is essentially a video replay of almost every tag play in youth baseball games. Each time it happens I'm tempted to hold a clinic for coaches and players right there on the field: drop the glove into the dirt in front of the base and let the runner slide into it, then raise the glove up and show everyone you got him, and have control of the ball. When I call the runner safe, many coaches will yell out to the defensive player: "Bobby, didn't we talk about this --- tag him in the feet" (or something like that). I don't think they realize "talking about it" and having them practice doing it gets different results. But, often we umpires are left holding the bag. "Safe!" --- "Aw, com'on blue, he was out by a mile!" "Out!" -- "Geez, blue, he slid under the tag!" I just call the runner safe if he is obviously safe. Maybe the coaches/players will get the message: learn how to tag, or suffer the consequences --- but that's up to them. Sometimes, when it's close, I give the defense the benefit of the doubt and call the runner out --- the call that is expected by almost everyone.

At least she didn't yell out, "Go get 'em Matt. You can do it baby." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIUp0TPQHcM Sorry, I couldn't resist. But, really, your story was very very funny! One of the funniest stories I've read in the "Funny Stories" section. I think you handled things just fine. Like T-Rav said, what are you going to do? And you never know, with a little training she could be quite the asset in the stands. Tournament directors might hire her to keep the peace!

You cannot simply announce an intentional base on balls in Dixie Youth Baseball. There is no such provision in the dixie rule book. Also, note rule 4.03 in the dixe rule book which states that the catcher has to stay within the catcher's box during an intentional walk. 4.03—When the ball is put in play at the start of, or during a game, all fielders other than the catcher shall be in fair territory. (a) The catcher shall be stationed directly back of the plate. The catcher may leave that position at any time to catch a pitch or make a play except when the batter is being given an intentional base on balls, the catcher must stand with both feet within the lines of the catcher’s box until the ball leaves the pitcher’s hand. The dixie rule book is OBR, with some modifications (the changes or additions are highlighted). The dixie youth baseball rule book is available at http://youth.dixie.org/

Maybe I'm mistaken, but it sounds like you have not been given *Dixie* rulebooks. If not, here are the online rulebooks. Dixie Youth Baseball http://youth.dixie.org/Main_Navigation/Rules/rules_and_regulations.htm From the Dixie Youth Baseball rulebook: In Dixie Youth Baseball the official divisions are Minors/AAA (10U), and Majors or Ozone (both are 12U, but Majors has 60' basepaths, Ozone has 70' basepaths) There are still younger divisions, but it sounds like you don't deal with those. Games are 6 innings in AAA, Majors, and Ozone. 4.10(a)(1) IFF applies in AAA, Majors, and Ozone. 2.00 (No exception stated for AAA or Majors) No D3K in Minors or Majors 6.05©(1); D3K does apply in Ozone 6.05©(2). Now, your league may have some local rules...good luck with that. In addition, older ages fall under Dixie Boys and Dixie Majors --- with different rules. http://baseball.dixie.org/Assets/dixie+boys+baseball/pdf/2012-13+Official+Rules.pdf?method=1 7 innings is the recommended number of innings per game. 4.10(a)

Ok. The consensus is A, B, C, C. And, the nice summary by mstaylor and the caveat by noumpere are very good! Thanks everyone. These are essentially the thoughts I had, but I had heard others give different opinions. I now feel confident about these situations.

I was doing a 9-10 year-old Dixie game a few years back. At the plate meeting one of the coaches asked me to explain the IFF rule. No problem. Then he asks if this is the last age level where it applies! I did a double-take, wasn't sure he was serious. But he was.

Help! I am confused. Assume OBR. Please select the correct ruling in the following situations, and cite the rules that apply, or cite any other sources used (e.g., Jaksa/Roder). Some rules to consider: 6.06c, 7.08(g), 7.08(l), 7.09(d), 7.09(e), 7.11 or any other rules you find relevant. I have heard a variety of answers. In all cases: R3, pitch gets away from F2 and rolls to the backstop, F2 retrieves the ball and throws to F1 covering home. 1) Less than two outs. Thrown ball hits the batter standing still in the batter’s box ignoring the play. Ruling A: Interference by batter. R3 is out. Ruling B: Interference by batter. Batter is out. R3 returns to 3B. Ruling C: No interference. Run scores. 2) Same as (1), but two outs. 3) Same as (1), but the batter has stepped out of the batter's box to avoid any possible interference, and is hit by the throw nevertheless. Batter was trying to avoid any interference. 4) Same as (3), but two outs.

Thank you Mr Umpire and Umpire in Chief. Those were very helpful explanations on the correct approach to use on these plays.

I have a question about the positioning of the PU on plays such as this. Many times, I have read (here for example), that the standard position is 3BL-extended. But, in this case, for example, that seems to be a difficult position from which to judge the tag. I often find I have a much better view of plays at the plate, such as this one, from 1BL-extended. (1) In 1BL-extended the throw from F5 is not right at my face, so I don't have to worry about anything but judging the actual play. (2) I am at right angles to the throw (like for plays at 1B, when starting in position A). (3) I am at right angles to the slide (like we are advised to try to acquire on steals of 3B, by running from position C toward the 45 foot position between 3B and home base, in 2-man mechanics). (4) The runner is not running right at me, so again, I don't have to worry about him. (5) The catcher can't block my view of the tag with his body. (6) I can easily judge whether the tag gets applied before the plate, on top of the plate, or behind the plate, or at all (i.e., the tag is missed). That's why photos for photo finishes are taken from the side of the race (i.e., viewed along the finish line). I am seriously looking to learn something here. What are the reasons for using 3BL-extended? Thanks!

JHS: I am of a similar build (5'-9" 180 lb and chest is a 44). I wore a Platinum for a season and while it was bullet proof I always felt like I could never get it adjusted so I was not hitching it up. I sold it on Ebay and bought a M-L Gold. The Gold fits me much better due to the thicker padding. I have been very happy with the fit of the Gold. As for the sizes if you search the Ump Atttire blog you can find all the information. Jim Kirk did some great work on this. Here is the link: http://umpattire.blo...-of-wilson.html I have had it happen a couple of times where the side flaps have got out of place but it is easy enough to tuck them back in. I don't throw too many balls nor do I have a big strike call. Not a big deal and an acceptable inconvienance for the level of protection. As for shirts I wear an XL on the plate and XL or L on the bases. If possible find someone in your association and try them both one. They do fit differnet. Good luck. boyinr, Thanks for the reply. I took your advice and found someone with a West Vest Gold M/L and tried it on. My next step is to try on a Platinum. I figure once I do that I can make a decision.

I'm 5'9", 165 pounds, 38 inch chest. I am trying to decide between the WV Gold and Platinum. The current sizes for the Gold (see Ump Attire) are S (32-36), M-L (38-44), and L-XL (46-54) --- chest sizes in parentheses. The Platinum sizes are simply listed as 1.75 inch and 12 inch (neck to bottom of CP). I've read about guys having trouble getting shirts over the Gold and the Platinum. I have many Large size shirts. I'm almost decided I should get a Gold, M-L size. Or, should I get the S? Majordave: you seem more broad chested than me, but you have a S, it seems (or is that an older model?). What do you think? Another thing: I've read elsewhere on this forum that some guys have issues/problems with the little flaps on the sides of the Gold, just under the shoulder pads. They sometimes get stuck in front of the shoulder pads when they lift their arm (for example, on a strike call or throwing a ball). Any comments? (This was an issue with my current ProNine CP, and I eventually cut them off. I am moving up in level and wouldn't want to cut off the Gold WV pads! But would like to know what the deal is with them.)