Richvee

They were up for a couple days then NFHS pulled them and posted a nastygram.

http://www.NFHS.org/vango/custom/resourcelibrary/Default.aspx?id=3

And the acronym tool is busting the link. So here is their wisdom.

NOTE: THE NFHS IS MOVING AWAY FROM MAKING PDF FILES AVAILABLE ONLINE. THIS IS DUE TO THE INCREASED ABUSE OF THE COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. FAR TOO MANY LOCAL CHAPTERS AND GROUPS HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTING THE PDF VERSIONS ONLINE. AS WE MOVE FORWARD ONLY ONLINE SEARCHABLE VERSIONS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE.

If you have access to their site on Arbiter, the rules are very nicely done. It links to the different sections when it says "see <rule>," as well as a way to view case book plays related to the rule without having to go away from the rule. A great resource to those just learning the rules.

Thanks for the info . Never knew this was there. Great feature linking the case plays to each rule.

What they want to make sure you understand here, is the penalty for a 4th charged conference in a seven inning game.

3-4-1 PENALTY: After three charged conferences in a seven inning game, or for any charged conference in excess of one in each extra inning, the pitcher shall be removed as pitcher for the duration of the game.

From what I understand, if the team was not over the limit of charged conferences, the player can be removed as pitcher in the 6th inning, and come back and pitch the 7th.

If a pitcher stays in the game and simply changes positions from F1 to anywhere else, he is allowed to return as pitcher as often as the coach would like, with the provision that he can only be removed as pitcher and return as pitcher only once per inning. (3-1-2)

In the TOP of the sixth inning, the coach removes F1, a starter, because it was the tea,s fourth defensive conference. In the bottom of the sixth, the removed F1 reports to pinch hitfor the pitcher who substituted for him. U1 will correctly:

A. Refuse the substitution, stating F1 was removed because of a fourth defensive conference.

B. Allow F1 to pinch hit for anyone.

C. Allow the action. F1 may return to any position.

D. Allow the action provided F1 does not return to pitch, is in his original position in the batting order and has not previously used his re-entry

D

Thank you. What happens if B would occur? Is that anything?

Yes. It's poor mechanics. ::' />

OK, I am definitely missing something then.

Am I not allowed to remove my jacket?

Taking off or putting on a jacket during a game must be avoided. So wearing a jersey under a jacket is unnecessary and generally unacceptable. And generally speaking, wearing a windbreaker behind the plate is becoming a thing of the past. Long-sleeve shirts in navy or black plus sufficient undershirt layering for the temperature is what is done---even with the base guy(s) wearing jackets. Also, a long-sleeve undershirt under a short-sleeve jersey is a sin.

Chris said it best. It's unacceptable in a serious umpire. This is like the military, son. It's not supposed to make sense; just do it.

Wow. Never knew this. Never even thought about it. I can't begin to count how many 9 or 10AM starts I've had that I started in my jacket and removed it after an inning or two. I guess this spring I'll do a few calisthenics at the car to warm up on those 55-60 degree mornings and leave the jacket home since I know by the 3rd or 4th inning it'll be 70-75 and sunny!

I pulled the trigger yesterday and ordered the book. After reading these boards for a few months, it seems like a "must have". Yes, the price is pretty steep for my budget, but judging from the posts on these boards from people who's opinions I've come to respect, I'm sure I'll enjoy the book and learn a whole lot! Looking forward to it's arrival :D

Point taken. Maybe if I had the plate and was UIC I would have insisted. It was my first game there, was BU...I know- no excuse. Things will be different if I'm assigned a game on that field next year. Thanks guys.

haha..Should have refreshed before I found the casebook and typed my reply

Seems we need a space to type ( b )

For FED baseball, I've never been able to find a precise definition of what exactly constitutes being "out of the box" with regards to a batter being hit by his own batted ball. Is it one foot outside the box? Two? Frankly, your guess is as good as mine. Perhaps at some point in time this has been defined in one of their annual interpretations they issue, but never made it into their Case Book. If there is a printed interpretation that defines this, I would love to see it.

2011 FED casebook 8.4.1 Sit. B

B1 squares to bunt and hits the pitch. The batted ball bounces off the plate and hits B1's (a) leg or , (B) bat a 2nd time while B1 is holding the bat in the batter's box (no foot is entirely outside the batter's box)

Ruling- In (a) it is a foul ball. In (B) the ball is foul unless in the umpire's judgment, the ball was contacted intentionally, in which case the ball would be dead and B1 declared out.

That seems to infer that if one foot is on the ground entirely outside the batter's box, he's considered out of the box.

I'm with Kyle here, 100%. Doesn't bother me at all, but when a coach remembers my name from the pre-game conference, I'm impressed. And yes..the better managers remember and use your name.

I've never heard of the term coming from fans perceiving we "blew" a call. I doubt many coaches think this either. When I wear my red shirt, I'll inevitably have at least one coach say "well, I guess we can't call you Blue today". I'll always use this opportunity to politely say "well, you can call me Rich..I usually answer to that" :)

Yeah, basically one or 2 dinosaurs. I've called strikes from the bases on appealed checked swings with these guys and gotten the "evil glare". I laughed it off (on the inside), and apologized after the game the one time it was brought up to me. Just wanted to be sure I wasn't breaking some kind of "unwritten umpire code" :unsure:

Only time I've ever had a situation like this come up was when a partner of mine (great guy) was having a bad day... He had missed a couple judgement calls, but I had stood beside him getting the coaches away, helping him out...

The play I was able to use this on though was when a batter was hit in the hands by the ball as he swung... He (the PU) sent the kid to 1st, but before the fielding manager could come argue, I beckoned my partner to me and met him halfway.

Me: Did the ball hit him in the hands?

PU: Yeah, it hit him as he swung.

Me: Alright, the rule for that is that it is a strike because he swung even though it hit him.

PU: You sure?

Me: Positive, it's one of those old myths.

PU: Alright, you had 2 strikes, correct?

Me: Yep, so that's strike 3. Go ahead and make the call.

He made the call, both managers understood, we were happy, life went on.

I was in that situation, nothing varsity game, visiting coach getting killed. Batter swings and gets hit in the hands. PU calls foul, I know he smoked the call, I am cringing but didn't say anything. The coach starts in on the hands are part of the bat crap. The PU comes to me to discuss it. I explain it is a dead ball, swung strike and third strike. Coach had a meltdown.

Thanks for all the feedback. I asked because I've had this happen and didn't have a good point of reference to go back to and when to step in. There are a few guys I have worked with, and this is the exception not the rule, that feel they are more experienced and expect you to do things their way, don't reverse a call on them, if they call ball on a half swing you should call it that way too. I've been told between innings after calling a strike on a half swing that I better get it together and back this guy up, I'm making him look bad and he won't have it.

I like the point about bein protestable, that one goes in the vault.

If guys are telling you to back them on anything, especially check swings, then they are old and using bad mechanics. Take what they say and take little to heart, most will be wrong.

I've had a few games with these "old guys" who have pretty much told me pre-game to back them up on everything. Is there anything like "umpire etiquette" where me, being the new guy,( I've only been at this for 3 years now, and this was only my 2nd doing HS), agree and back him on everything? Or be the "rebel" and call what I see on something like a check swing when asked?

I love the parents on my kids teams that know I umpire, coach included, that ask me question during a game about a rule.....I give them the rule and how to apply it and they then tell me they don't think I'm right and want to argue their point based on myth. I finally told them stop asking.

Remember a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

...They ask, you tell them the rule, and then they utter that one line that really makes my blood boil..."Are you sure?" :BD:

I learned this mechanic from Evans, call the strike, verbalize 'no catch' or 'ball on the ground', give the safe mechanic or point to the ground.

Personally I call/signal the strike, point to the ground and verbalize "NO catch". I feel the verbal is important and here's why, with younger kids they all take off on strike 3 no matter what, what are you teaching them by saying nothing and letting them throw the ball all over the diamond, same if you give no signal. Why let them throw it around the diamond and possibly give up runs when the Batter is out.

All that I'm saying is.. that is there too many signals in a very short time..think about it..swing and miss..

1. Signal strike

2."no catch" with a safe signal

3. Then maybe a out mechanic if the batter is tagged right there.

think 3 different arm mechanics in about 2.38 sec...

If the catcher blocks the ball in the dirt, comes right up and tags the batter right away, (lets say within 2.38 seconds or so ), you probably haven't even began to say "no catch" yet, or signal safe. If you have started, obviously cut it short and call the BR out. I think the safe signal and the verbal "No catch" are for those times when it's not obvious to F2 and/or the batter that it's "strike three, no catch". The actions of both the batter and F2 will dictate what needs to to said and/or signaled.

It's black-and-white. A CR can be used for whoever LAST played the position. There are no exceptions listed.

Can you point me towards a rule or case play that uses the term "LAST to play the position"? All I can find are rules and situations where CR's can be used for catchers and pitchers, not for catchers or pitchers who have left the game and have re-entered as pinch runners.

I was in the "illegal" camp on this, but I can accept the interpretation that grants the "ex-catcher" catcher status when he re-enters the game as a pinch runner. However, as far as I can tell, this is an interpretation and it's far from black and white.

3.1.1 N addresses this (unless the number has changed; we don't get case books every year.) It states unequivocally that a CR is allowed only for the catcher to last play defense before coming to bat (it would be logical to assume that the principle holds for pitchers, as well.)

Not really. 3.3.1.n is about a projected substitution. It's about a coach, while his team is at bat, tells U1 that when he goes back on defense, F7 is going to catch, so if F7 gets on base, he wants to use a CR for him. No one is leaving the game and re-entering to pinch run.

However, in the ruling, it says, "the CR would only be allowed to run for the player who was the catcher on defense before coming to bat."

I agree that can be interpreted as "last to play the position", but it's not black and white. This case play and ruling has nothing to do with the real issue here....The question here is, when a catcher or pitcher leaves the game for a pinch hitter and re-enters as a pinch runner, does he retain his defensive position he held prior to being removed from the game?

It's black-and-white. A CR can be used for whoever LAST played the position. There are no exceptions listed.

Can you point me towards a rule or case play that uses the term "LAST to play the position"? All I can find are rules and situations where CR's can be used for catchers and pitchers, not for catchers or pitchers who have left the game and have re-entered as pinch runners.

I was in the "illegal" camp on this, but I can accept the interpretation that grants the "ex-catcher" catcher status when he re-enters the game as a pinch runner. However, as far as I can tell, this is an interpretation and it's far from black and white.

My argument is once the catcher is pinch hit for, he's lost his status as the catcher. He's out of the game. At the point when the pinch hitter is at bat, there is no catcher in the team's line up. Now, when he re-enters to pinch run, he's nothing more than a pinch runner until he takes a position in the field next inning. Calling him the catcher at that point would be projecting.

I don't love the fact that a ball called foul down the line with runners on base, and then overturned to fair after review will force the umpires place the base runners where they think they would have advanced.

Another scenario that's sure to cause problems...0 outs, R1. Low liner to shallow CF who makes a shoestring grab. R1 is caught between 1st and 2nd in no man's land...Ump rules catch, F8 fires to 1st and doubles up R1. The play is reviewed and ruled a trap. Will they give R1 2nd base? It's the type of play that, if it was called no catch/trap to begin with, F8 could have forced R1 @2nd.

My initial response is no, you can't use a courtesy runner for Johnson, because Johnson technically isn't a Catcher at that moment, he's a pinch runner. Even if the HC tells you Johnson's going to catch again, that would be a projected substitution which is illegal as per 3.1.1

We have a high school field in the area with a real short RF fence. My son played Frosh and JV ball there 5-6 years ago. They played with a ground rule that anything over the fence to the right of a certain spot was a ground rule double. When I began umpiring 3 years ago I always thought of this field when I was learning FED rules. This spring I was assigned a JV game on that field. AT the pre-game, the head coach of the home team was explaining the "over the fence ground rule". I mentioned that FED rules do not allow for him to make up that rule, and FED rules state anything over a fence in fair territory is ruled a HR. I also cited the casebook 4.1.2 situation B that says exactly this. I was met with "We've been playing with this ground rule for years...... ....My partner just shrugged his shoulders. We played the game with the "illegal home ground rules". I didn't think I was in a position to change the schools 6+ years of ground rules, especially if my partner wasn't going to back me on it.....When in Rome......? :shrug:

I do a fair share of LL both regular season and tourney. In the tourney, as stated earlier, I've got a lot of catchers who play travel ball and when they trap a 3K or it trickles away they instinctively pick up the ball and tag the batter. I don't see it being a big issue there. However, local games? UHG! I think we just added one or two outs per inning....maybe more :unsure:

Thanks again guys. Some great advice. You're all right. It was a strike. It was a strike in the 1st, and a strike in the 6th. I had a good game. Still wish I'd be getting back on a diamond again before next spring

While it is good to reflect on your performance, you can over do it and that's not necessarily a bad thing.

I do try and reflect on each game. Things I missed, things I did right, things I could have done better/different, etc. Next year I want to start a log book with all my games. I think that could help focus in on areas that need more work.

Talking about this game and getting some replies here has helped. Thanks guys. Appreciate the feedback.

Now, the spin on the rubber, explain that more. What made it an obvious balk?

From the set position he stretched and came set. Without disengaging the rubber, stepped and feinted to first. "Spin" was the wrong word to use there. Just turned his pivot foot on the rubber.

Sunday I had the plate for a 13u travel league championship final. I was having a good game. My timing was good, zone was consistent. Home team was up 2-0 heading into the 6th inning. VT gets a few hits, score a run on a squeeze play, then re-load the bases with 1 out. F1 inexplicably spins on the rubber and fakes to 1st base. Obvious balk. Tie game. Another squeeze, and they're up 3-2. The home team HC is obviously frustrated. Anyway, bottom of the 6th comes, 2nd and 3rd 2 outs, full count. Pitch s at the hollow of the knees, just catching the outside corner and I ring him up. Decent size crowd on hand for this game, plus even more because there was another game right after this one, so when I called strike 3, needless to say there was a a LOT a cheers and jeers from the crowd. HC, coaching 3rd comes in and, not loud, and very under control says to me as he walks by "You're killin' me, blue", and keeps walking. I let go. Like I said I know he's had a tough inning. 7th inning comes and goes, Home team goes down 1-2-3. 3-2 final score.

I can't stop thinking about that called 3rd strike in the bottom of the 6th. After the game, I asked my partner what he thought. He said "borderline, but you were calling that pitch a strike all day. Your zone was consistent all game." Then he adds, "If you you would have called it ball 4, I don't think you would have heard anything from anybody". SO ..now I'm thinking, did I blow it? Was it more off the plate than I thought? I've been running the pitch over and over in my head all day. Can't stop thinking about it. Sometimes I convince myself it had the corner at the knees, and 10 minutes later I'm thinking, maybe it was outside and I took a big scoring chance away from that team.

Worst part is, that's it. Season's over. I'm not going to get back on a diamond until March. Am I going to be running this pitch over and over in my head all winter? I sure hope not. It's driving me a little crazy. Sorry for the long post, but I thought maybe writing about might help me get over it.

Thanks for listening.