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Well..good to know...so a swinging bat that hits part of the hand and part of the bat at the same time and puts the ball in play is just a dead ball strike..I then have a half dozen calls to regret.Two bunt pop-up outs that hit the finger/bat ..a couple of dings down first that went for outs aftering hitting a swinging bat/hand..the other two are a bit foggy.Well..I just learned something...been selling goods that I do not own.Thanks.

Well...this is what we call a "train wreck" down here.Something wonderous,exciting to behold...everyone full speed all out trying to make a play....Call the play ...no one at fault...no penalty.I have found out that when one train wreck happens ..that game will have another.

Well...the batter/runner and baserunner non-action pretty much made this a play that the umpire must call time at the end of playing action.Award of the balk was the only course of action.I agree that the ruling should be made right after time was called...If time was not called...maybe the coaches would wake up before the cows come home...not likely.

Well...I see this happen quite a bit...Batter swings on a pitch that hits him..it is a dead ball stike.The vast majority of the time.But if the pitch strikes BOTH part of the hand and the bat at the same time and goes into play without touching any other part of the batter..you can hear the difference,the ball is in play.You then call what happens.I have had a boy break his index finger on a swing that hit both his finger and bat at the same time.He wound up on first...D coach wanted a dead ball strike called until I "SOLD" the fact that it also hit the bat.

Well..new to forum..been fortunate to be in an area where games are everywhere..high school..select ball..Cal Ripken..LL..you name it.I have tossed just 2 coaches in over 2300 some odd games...both bottom tier "Metro " select coaches.My personal stance is that you have to work hard to keep a coach in the game...hustle..good mechanics...strike zone straight..rules memorized...I have seen many fellow umpires pull the trigger far to soon.I figure I will have a year once where I will have to toss them like horseshoes..but I do not look for trouble..

Hello...first time poster.. Been calling over fifteen years for TASO and select outfits.Call a lot of games from mid Jan.-Mid Dec. down in the corridor between and in San Antonio- Austin-Houston.As many high school games as possible that a full time job allows..and select ball of all ages is played all year all over down here.Very fortunate to have taken many "shots" foul balls and quite a few catcher/pitcher cross-ups where the fastball goes untouched straight off my mask.You feel it.. but ..I swear by an old school low profile Wilson mask..heavy..but used to it..that really does give great views.You feel it... but with it sitting loose that mask just spins around and the game goes on.Good pads of course are paramount..but the sheer heft of the mask must have something to do it's ability to absorb/deflect energy...Well that is my story and it is the one I tell my fellow umpires when they pick up my mask and give me that"you gotta be kidding " look.

Hello...first time poster.. Been calling over fifteen years for TASO and select outfits.Call a lot of games from mid Jan.-Mid Dec. down in the corridor between and in San Antonio- Austin-Houston.As many high school games as possible that a full time job allows..and select ball of all ages is played all year all over down here.Very fortunate to have taken many "shots" foul balls and quite a few catcher/pitcher cross-ups where the fastball goes untouched straight off my mask.You feel it.. but ..I swear by an old school low profile Wilson mask..heavy..but used to it..that really does give great views.You feel it... but with it sitting loose that mask just spins around and the game goes on.Good pads of course are paramount..but the sheer heft of the mask must have something to do it's ability to absorb/deflect energy...Well that is my story and it is the one I tell my fellow umpires when they pick up my mask and give me that"you gotta be kidding " look.