renegadewolf

Sometimes it's the factors we don't generally pay a lot of attention to (for example R1 is a lot slower a runner than R2) that the teams playing keep very good track of that makes for plays we don't anticipate, Catchers and Shortstop always seem to be a trove of that sort of information, but I digress. Perhaps R1 left late or R2 got a real big jump and there was no way the catcher was going to beat him, stuff that is generally happening behind our backs which is why as everyone else has said, follow the ball it will tell you where it's going. Generally when the throw is being made we will have time to make a couple choice steps to get ourselves a little closer or at a better angle before we have to stop again, so look to see where the ball is going and move accordingly.

OBR you place the runner where you believe they would have ended up if there had been no obstruction, and that might keep them at first if they go back and you don't think they could have made it to second had the obstruction not occoured

Ain't being the boss grand?

Just enforce the rules as they are written, wether time runs out or not is not your concern. In OBR there are provisions for game management such as refusing to grant time. or enforcing the 12 second rule in 8.04, or throwing the ball to someone other than the catcher with no intent to make an out 8.02c however I would advise against becoming a control freak and trying to make the game happen. You are an impartial judge there to enforce the rules and make judgement calls, otherwise let the dice fall where they may

Of course one would have to see it happening, but as you describe, you have a caught ball making this a foul tip and a live ball which makes the fact he dropped the ball completely irrevevant. No doubt this will lead to a very "lively" conversation with the DC, but this will be resolved with your explaination that he intentionally dropped the ball in your judgement. Either he bregrudingly buys it, doesn't like it and walks away or you have yourself an ejection. I can imagine that this would be pretty hard to determine from behind the catcher as sometimes it's hard enough to tell if the ball was caught before it hit the dirt depending on the pitch, so I would have to be absolutely certain that was what happened before making that call. Not too sure how I would feel about checking with my partner about that one either... just sayin

Whoever sees the balk should call it. Both umps see it, both aught to be calling it. I had a partner call a balk earlier this year that I had very clearly missed, In a semi-throwing him under the bus manouver I greviously appolopgized to my partner afterwards for (fortunately i know him well and I think we are both pretty professional and very friendly towards each other), I said to him "I had him disengaging the rubber properly" to which he replied "I had motion to home before he stepped to first" at which point i thanked hi.m and went to my position. I missed the forward motion because I was too focused on the feet as I knew this pitcher had a very fast disengage and turn and sometimes if you weren't paying attention you weren't sure if he disengaged first.

I started out in Guelph 4 years ago, worked my first 2 years there, learned a lot and had some very good mentors. My wife and I split up and I found myself down the road in Kitchener and thought it might be moer convienient to call games in the town I livfe in instead of driving 15-20 minutes on the highway to call games every night. I was told they prefer us to not work in other areas, but I was flat out with them (as they were with me) because I wouldn't be getting many rep games here until they knew me here i was going to continue to call in Guelph when I couldn't get games here. I tried contacting another local association in the early spring this year and was told I would have to exclusively work for them if I wanted to work for them. I asked if I would be getting a game every day I was availible and if I would be getting high end games (for my level), to which of course I was told no. I asked him why I would possibly join his league and drop 3 others that would meet my desires of getting a game every day and higher end stuff, which pretty much ended the conversation (suffice to say I am not calling games in his association although i have gotten at least 10 emails asking me to cover some games for him because he was in a pinch (every time I was already booked with one other the now 4 associations I work with, so you know how quick I was to jump on the offers). I guess what I am rambling at here is you have to do what makes you happy. I take the first game that comes along for any given day, and when someone comes along with a better offer, that is too bad, I am already booked. One can remain loyal working for many people, and I have no problem with any of my assignors calling me up 2 hours before a game and if I am availible I will take it. My loyalty is about the promise I make first (accepting a game) not who pays me better, give me the better games although if I get an email the same day about taking a couple games I will generally take the higher quality (and usually higher paying) game first. I am sure this is of little to no real help to your descision making but all I can offer here is to go with what makes you happy. If someone else doesn't like what you are doing, that is their problem, not yours. As a good friend of mine once put it "don't worry too much about what other people think, they don't do it very often".

You should ask your local league about this because most of the times I have seen it it means "crashing into the fielder in an attempt to dislodge the ball" not a "swipe with the hands at the glove in an attempt to dislodge the ball." True that, I had jpperez's comment in mind about malicious contact when knocking the ball out, snd not the swipe tag apect, sometimes my brain doesn't work so good, especially lately and especially that early in the morning lol

This is why i keep a couple sizes of a couple different colors in my bag. In Kitchener the mandated "must have" color is navy, and in Guelph it is powder or black if you are a level 3 (6 years plus experience) or above. RCBL is more or less a beer league that doesn't really care what color you wear or if you match your partner (I always do, I think it looks more professional) and in the GHBL so long as we look pretty together with matching colors, take your pick. I have Navy, powder, black, cream and red. as you might be able to tell from the avatar, I kinda like the red, though not many umpires around here unless they have years and years of experience don't have red (which is why i have 2 of them and they are washed directly after every use)

Some "malicious contact" house rules do include a bit about intentionally trying to dislodge the ball from the fielder. For example in the GHBL league I call in, a deliberate attempt by the runner to dislodge the ball is declared out and ejected from the game

The only way o could even possibly think you could call an IFF retroactively in OBR is with this.... 9.02 c) If a decision is appealed, the umpire making the decision may ask another umpire for information before making a final decision. No umpire shall criticize, seek to reverse or interfere with another umpire’s decision unless asked to do so by the umpire making it. If the umpires consult after a play and change a call that had been made, then they have the authority to take all steps that they may deem necessary, in their discretion, to eliminate the results and consequences of the earlier call that they are reversing, including placing runners where they think those runners would have been after the play, had the ultimate call been made as the initial call, disregarding interference or obstruction that may have occurred on the play; failures of runners to tag up based upon the initial call on the field; runners passing other runners or missing bases; etc., all in the discretion of the umpires. No player, manager or coach shall be permitted to argue the exercise of the umpires’ discretion in resolving the play and any person so arguing shall be subject to ejection However in my mind this wouldn't fly since niether of the umpires had made the IFF call it's quite clear that niether of you believed it was an IFF at the time. There isn't much to be discussed as both umpires have equil authority to judge an IFF and no one called it so there would be no recourse to change the call.

The onus is on the defense to be aware of what is going on. Do not call time in this situation, I would however inform the Batter that he has only recieved ball 3 as I see him break for first, and as trout putit, what happens from there happens

What do you mean with this statement? I can't figure this one out. Especially considering a base substance is alkaline (they are the same thing), I think perhaps trout was going for acid and alkaline?

They see it on TV and think they are entitled to behave the same way. Especially with those jackass commentators (appologies to the commentators who actually understand the rules of baseball, but the majority do not) who cosign these rediculous behaviors as appropriate and "earned". Having said that I'm gonna stop now....lol

I had quite the weekend myself... 8 ejections, a possible reconcussion and one of the fastest, and one of nicest and ejoyable games i have ever called.... I know friday the 13th just happened, maybe the "bad juju" decided to make a week of it instead of keeping it to the 13th....

It's been a rougher than average season. A concussion from a pitch that took a funny bounce hitting me behind the ear missing my mask giving me a pretty good concussion, 2nd game after cleared to call plate again I take 2 fouls off the mask, the second one hitting hard enough it knocked the mask clean off my face, and the ball still went over at 24ft backstop and landed about 30 feet behind it, round 2 of concussion.... and I've also taken 2 very hard shots in the junk I might be worried I'd never have kids again if I hadn't had surgery to take care of that in the first place..... The first concussion and the 2 junk shots were on the same weekend as well. Throw ontop of that in the last week alone I've made 8 ejections in 3 games. Game #1 BR doesn't like the call at first spouts off a bit and as he walks to the dugout rifles his helmet over 2 fences... adios. Game #2 A pitcher who can't seem to hit the strike zone (balls crossing the plate at shoulder hieght or breaking out 3-4 inches off the plate) in the 6th inning asks me "where the f**k do you want me to put it blue, your zone is a goddamned postage stamp, you're f**kin terrible" ciao! 3rd game sixth inning of an otherwise very good, very pleasant game I make a banger call at first calling the BR out. The entire offence flips out I have the BR and first base coach flipping out callinjg me every dirty word in the book... #1, #2.... A guy on the bench decideds he needs to get off the bench come out of the dugout (only past the dugout) and tell me i am full of s**t and that I made a terrible call #3. now the 3rd base coach decideds on his way back in to his dugout how he feels about the call I made.... #4 and to top things off I have another joker on the bench who despite everything is still going off #5. While in all technicality my partner "helped me out" on 2 of these ejects I wrote up the report. So ya, happy it was only a hit in the arm

I am so glad things have changed tonight, i finally got hit in the arm from a foul ball tonight instead of the head.... either one of them

Once R3 leaves the field (dugout) he can no longer go back and touch the plate as well.

Try asking the coach his name? He might have that info. If he doesn't be sure to include that particular piece of info in your report. In a worst case scenario I find the other teams coaches to be a trove of useful information.

Sitch 1 you handled fine enough in my humble opinion, but your sitch #2 you opened the door on that one. Don't ask a question and get upset when they answer you in a manner you don't like. In some cases people eject themselves, in this case you are causing the ejection. Avoid this whenever possible (which is pretty much always) perception goes a long way in managing a game. to even appear to "bait" the pitcher then toss him does no favors for you or your partner.

This should cover the appeal/protest quite nicely OBR 6.08 The batter becomes a runner and is entitled to first base without liability to be put out (provided he advances to and touches first base) when— (a) Four “balls†have been called by the umpire; Rule 6.08(a) Comment: A batter who is entitled to first base because of a base on balls must go to first base and touch the base before other base runners are forced to advance. This applies when bases are full and applies when a substitute runner is put into the game.

Had runners on 1 and 2, batter his a short looper between 2nd and 3rd. SS had to make a herculian dive to attempt to catch the ball (which he barely missed). Neither my partner nor myself signalled for nor called an infield fly (not enough height and not ordinary effort) and nobody on the offence moved assuming it was an infield fly. SS picked up the ball tagged the runner on 2nd, touched 2nd base then threw the ball to first. Bang bang and bang

Worked a double header yesterday, and the first game was a game that falls into the catagory of "game from hell". 1pm start time 95 degrees, 100% humidity clear skies and intense UV rating working the plate with the #1(home team, undefeated in the season) and #3 (2 losses in the season) teams in the division (also the 2 chirpiest teams teams in the division) First inning and a half were uneventful if not staggeringly hot. Bottom of 2 took a foul ball off the mask, it wasn't a particularily hard hit and I didn't seem to feel any affects from a previous concussion. Third inning I took a monster foul ball off the mask that ricoched off and went over the backstop fence and 30 feet behind the fence and knocked the mask clean off my head (thanks to the people in the past who advised wearing the mask loose likely saved me a 2nd concussion) I still ended up getting a headache and stiff, sore neck and I was worried I might have reconcussed myself. From the second inning right on through to the end I endured relentless jeering and taunting from both teams fans. No body seemed to like the strike zone, though the catchers were saying it was fine and I only had 2 pitches framed by the catcher. Home team pitcher was especially unimpressed, he had been throwing the ball 4-6 inches off the plate or at the shoulders constantly (this is a mens league, top division in league) and has been showing he isn't happy with my calls from the 4th inning. 6th inning home team is up by 2 runs, no new inning time is getting reasonably close and the pitcher has walked the last 2 batters he just can't seem to hit the zone when he gets the ball back from the catcher throws his arms up and and says "for F*#Ks sake", I take my mask off to wipe my brow and give him a look, he thenrather loudly asks me "where the F*#K do you want me to put it blue". I tell him that is enough and to knock it off. He then flips out with "It would help if you god damned zone wasn't a F*#King postage stamp. It's like a F*#Kin twoonie (a two dollar coin we have here in canada maybe an inch in diameter) this is rediculous you are a F*#Kin joke" Suffice to say he was ejected. New pitcher. first batter loads up the bases. 2nd batter strikes out, 3rd batter hits a stand up triple to take the lead. At this point I am stupidly hot, frustrated want nothing more than this game to be done, people going on about the time and now the visitors are trying to use delay tactics to stretch out the time, asking for time, stepping out of the box, taking thier time getting to the box which I am doing my best to prevent. The 4th (and last) batter is up first pitch it a good 6 inches above the batters head when I look back towards the home teams crowd who have been mercilessly chirping and quietly say "was that one a strike?". Now I've gone and made things a lot worse in my own head. I call time turn around and say to the lady it was directed at who seemed to take my chirping back at her as some kind of victory, "i need to appologise, that was un called for, unprofessional and totally inappropriate. I am very sorry" turned back and continued with the game. We get to the 7th inning with 3 minutes left before the no new inning after rule. Visitors are up and down and home team comes to bat. with 7 minutes left till the "drop dead time" of 3:25 (with the second game suppose to be starting at 3:30). first batter gets walked, second batter doubles 3rd batter strikes out, 4th batter hits deep center with a sorta close play at home for the runner at second resulting in a safe call which the visitiors decided they needed to get all chirpy about. game over, go get changed and send in ejection report. I did get a piece of advice from my UIC that "I suspect he shouldn't have gone the 6 innings before being ejected". In retrospec I suspect I might have had a less stressful game if I had taken care of that problem before i did Thanks for letting me rant

I was finally back behind the plate again tonight (Friday the 13th no less) for the first time in a month or so after getting a concussion. I felt I had a pretty solid game with the exception of losing the count once and the second last pitch which i totally botched. I called the pitch a ball. Everyone including the batter saw it was a clean strike down the middle of the plate a bit above the knees, the batter looked at me funny (the teams coach no less) and says "dude, that was a strike". I admit the first inning i had some nerves and in the 6th I had a fast foul fly a few inches to the right of my head, but all told i think I got back on the horse pretty good

The only argument I have with you here is from "C" position on a grounder to the left side you are somewhat limited to how close you can get because you have to consider the position of the fielder and his throwing lane. Most first basemen put their foot to the side of the bag, pressed up against it. On any low throw and thus stretch there is going to be a chance of the foot leaving it's contact point with the bag, and you CANNOT see that . You can see it if it moves substantially but it could barely lose contact and you would not know. If I am in C the plate ump had best be watching whats going on at home, not at first.... just sayin