Richvee

Sounds like R1 and R2 would be correct. The defense stopped playing when the umpire wrongly called the third out. It is umpire judgement where to place runners. So there's really no wrong or right rulebook answer.  Umpires can award or return runners on bases to nullify their error, but the placement should be conservative. Unless R2 was basically at third by the time F3 caught the throw, I'm good with R1 R2. 

On 1/19/2026 at 8:42 PM, The Man in Blue said:

Curious that the 2026 publication does not call this out, but simply states changes to 8-4-1-g are "associated" with the adoption of the double-first base.

 

It's almost like they took a loophole through the back door to change a rule. Calling it an editorial change in association with the double first base is a cop out. It's more like "we need to change this rule to match our interpretation. Let's just call it an editorial change and be done with it"

On 1/13/2026 at 10:01 AM, beerguy55 said:

Speculating of course - in your opinion is this about making a mistake on the rule, or simply forgetting where R2 started?

That may be just as bad as kicking the rule. 

8 minutes ago, grayhawk said:

I've submitted and missed one and can't figure out which one it is. Thoughts on this one? I suppose it's possible for the batter to swing and not hinder the catcher, but I don't like how answer A is written saying it's legal if the bat does not "contact" the ball or the catcher.

Nope. That’s not it. That’s correct. 

2 hours ago, orangebird said:

I had no idea warm weather states already got to see the test 😳

This is the NCAA test. Nation wide. 

3 hours ago, grayhawk said:

How about this one:

Seems to me that both A and C are correct, but maybe A is MOST correct? Certainly, we are told that with runners on base, when F1 toes the rubber and his free foot in front that we are to assume that he's in the set position unless he notifies us that he's pitching from the windup. So it seems that A should be the answer. Thoughts?

I went with C. “A”simply states the foot touches the plate. Doesn’t say parallel.   The answer “C” is word for word in 9-1-b 

3 hours ago, JSam21 said:

As a board member, here is what I can tell you. Insurance, Arbiter, rental costs for banquets/meetings/training facilities/training equipment/videos, accountant/treasurer and webmaster/website costs, food/drink and awards. That is what your dues for our organization go to. Along with carrying a cash surplus in order to cover any emergencies or payment shortfalls from leagues/schools in order to make payroll on time. 

Pre-Season training for us starts in January with video calls for our JUCO crew, we have a preseason banquet/training in late January for all members where we focus on the upcoming HS season, then we have weekly in person training sessions from the first week of February until the week before the season starts in March, approx. 7 90 minute sessions, along with spontaneous cage work opportunities. 

We have recurring conference calls in-season to go over what we are doing well and what we can improve on. 

We charge $85 for a general membership, $30 for softball only, and $30 for students with valid school IDs. After 25 years of service, you no longer have to pay dues and become a lifetime member. Our dues are based on the lowest single game fee that our org gets, ($85). 

The State also charges a fee to register with them. 

When I said "I have no idea" I didn't mean to imply anything negative, like "I don't know why I pay it". I just didn't know. State money?.. That's a different story. I'd bet a good chunk goes to the bureaucrat's salaries.  

You are correct. But the way it was worded raised a question in my mind. I was under the impression, if we already had a reset with a runner on, and then we have a warning for starting to come set too soon, isn't a ball added because it's the second reset to the same batter?

The way C is worded in #55 doesn't really say that.

"With any runners on base, the initial warning is also the reset for that at-bat (even if the reset has already been used during the at-bat). Any further violations will result in a ball added to the count."

App F 11B would suggest the reset due to the early start is the second reset and a ball is added. 

My HS association is $80. Gets us a rulebook, and a banquette at the end of the season with some decent door prizes. 😏

Couldn't tell you what the rest is used for. 

The state grabs another $60 from us, which gets us nothing more than a background check, and a poorly written test each year. I think the state pays the Arbiter bill as well. 

We don't have high school assigning fees, so there's that. 

Bottom line, it's $140 of expenses for tax purposes. 

This is a 4 man minor league crew kicking an umpire interference base award? wow. 

23 hours ago, The Man in Blue said:

 

Leadership does not want MLB betting lines decided by umpire misses.

100% 

It is the AI and tech bro age . . . who cares what it can actually do!  The important things is what you wish it could do . . . someday . . . eventually . . . in a fairy tale . . . maybe . . . so please invest. 
 

I think it’s the perception of what it can do NOW. The public loves to think the tech is infallible .They’re not interested in the facts (technicalities as far as they’re concerned) about “margin of error”, or the non rule book computer defined vertical zone, or the single plane zone. They don’t care.  
If the dot is inside the box it’s a strike. That’s all that matters to ”Joe Fan”

The JB weld product worked well. If I didn’t open up the gash with that polish/ heat method first, it may have looked even better. I’ll hit this with a little more black filler and  polish, but it’s now something I think I can live with.  @ump7tony @boyinr

Thanks for the suggestion 

1 hour ago, ump7tony said:

I've used the JB Weld products to repair cuts in my shoes. The leather repair product works great. Be sure the cut is clean. I wash with alcohol and a toothbrush to remove dirt, polish, oil, etc. Let it dry fully, then mix and swab on the filler.  If you take the time to create some dimples to match the leather grain before the filler cures, and then after it cures sand/ScotchBrite(r)  the filler to level it with the surrounding leather, you'll have a repair with texture matching the leather. Finish with a high quality polish...I use Tarrago... and the repair should be undetectable.

Size 11 or 12. Thanks for the offer. 
I have ordered the JB weld leather weld. It’s supposed to be here today. Thanks for the info. I will clean out the polish in the slice, and try the JB weld. 

7 hours ago, Jglopez7 said:

if the runner is illegally running outside the runners lane he cannot correct himself then become legal "after a throw from around home plate to 1B"

On 11/17/2025 at 6:57 PM, umpstu said:

What did you wind up doing? Got a nice gash in mine.

So I tried the polish/lighter and adding layers. Seems every time I hit it with a little heat, the gash opened up wider. There's a LOT of melted and solidified polish in there...Looks like I've got a pair of mudders and a pair of Mizuno plate shoes on Santa's wish list 

Check with @Whosyourcaddy

2 hours ago, johnnyg08 said:

I feel like another reason they're cleaning this up is for the hidden ball trick. 

Maybe… but I saw it more than a few times this year. Batters standing ready in the box for close to 20 seconds without much recourse other than get in the box, but don’t look up for 10 seconds or so, forcing the pitcher to wait to come set. Now we’re just playing games.  I like the new interp  

There’s a great complex in Cary. I believe they play the NCAA D2 CWS there. They also have many youth tournaments there. I attended a 3 man clinic in Raleigh and we had a few evaluation games at the complex in Cary. 

Two interps released today. I like them both. 

1. Interpretation: After a pitcher has declared to be using a windup with a runner or runners on base as described in Rule 9-1-b, they may change to using a set position once at any time within the same at-bat. However, to avoid confusion, the pitcher shall notify the plate umpire who will then notify the other umpires and the offense that the pitcher is now pitching from the set position. Without this notification, it is an illegal pitch. They cannot change back to using a windup position within this at-bat unless there is a substitution by the offensive team or immediately after the advancement of a runner

I'll spare the rationals NCAA lists. Here's the real rational...Pitchers can now return to the set with a fullcount. 😁

2.Interpretation: During an inning and following an umpire’s call of “time” or if ball has become dead (e.g., after a foul ball or a pickoff attempt that goes out of play), the clock shall stop, reset, and start again when the pitcher is in possession of the ball, the catcher and batter are in the dirt circle surrounding home plate, all defenders have returned to their positions, any runners have returned to their original bases, and all participants are ready for play to resume. When the pitcher engages the pitcher’s plate, the umpire will call and/or signal that the ball is alive and in play.

 Again.. here's the real reason... I've seen multiple teams taking advantage of this loophole. Foul ball. pitcher engages the rubber, batter steps in the box...Clock starts. Pitcher takes his time coming set, then holds the set for what seems like an eternity while the clock runs down to 1 second, while the batter, who doesn't want to use a charged conference has no choice but to stand there and wait. Now we can start the clock. Batter has his 12 seconds to be ready, and we don't put the ball in play until the pitcher and batter are on the rubber and batter is ready. 

I am a member of NASO and get Referee magazine. I buy the prep baseball report every year. I find it the best way to stay up on rule changes, interps. Lots of test questions and care plays throughout each copy on each subject. Worth the purchase for me. There will also be a preseason guide… a couple sheets of paper highlighting some of what’s in the prep baseball report. 

17 hours ago, umpstu said:

What did you wind up doing? Got a nice gash in mine.

 Nothing😁. I am going to try the polish/lighter technique at some point soon. I’ll keep you posted. 

So just for a minute, I'm going to put on the tin foil hat...ABS is here to save baseball from the evils and temptations of game rigging because now the pitches are being called by an always correct computer....Until the ABS tech/programer/calibrator is on the take.   

Ghost runner

7 hours ago, Velho said:

Shift ban

Including an infielder's feet on the outfield grass. 

9 hours ago, SeeingEyeDog said:

Did anyone see the play (I think it was the third inning)...there was a ball down the LF line, I do not know 6-man but, I presume U5's coverage area is anything beyond U3, yes? Tumpane (U5) came into the frame looking like he was going to point it fair and then stopped and had an awkward look on his face. The frame of the shot was too tight to see what U3 was doing but, my speculation is that U3 forgot they were in 6-man, the ball goes by U3 down the line and he turns with it to take it as he would in 4-man forgetting Tumpane was out there. Finally something clicked...and Tumpane took the call, called it correctly and there was nothing further. Despite being down the line, it was not that close and they absolutely got the call correct. Was there anything else that happened on this that would have caused Tumpane to dry fire and then grab it as he should have anyway? Just curious what you guys might have seen...not looking to fry anyone over this...

~Dawg

I hate when this happens 😩