renegadewolf

I have to respectfully disagree with the clean slide argument. looking at the way he positioned himself , moved his body in the slide and the timing of choosing to slide there is no doubt in my mind that was an intentional take out. Awful easy to play armchair umpire however, as we all know being out there in a pressure situation we need to make snap judgements, so i shall certainly not seek to criticize a pro doing his job.

A picture from April 7, 1977. The Blue Jays first home opener. This is why we don't play ball outdoors in April in Canada...Yes it is snow

Tigers beat the Giants in 5

Nowhere did Trout claim that his tattoos made him a "badass". And what about a young guy, who is a badass ? Why does it have to be "an old geezer" ? The first part of you post is absolutely correct, but the second part of your post screams TROLL. JMHO... You see a troll, yet you feed it.... They are just like those big red buttons that say "Do Not Press" you know damn well you are going to press it once you see that sign just to find out what it does. This is the principle people like Howard Stern, Rush Limbaugh, Al Sharpton, Tim He-who-shall-not-be-named and Ken Harrelson make their livings from. (hopefully we can add a "successful troll is successful" to this post

I offer a friendly amendment to your quote that would change the wording of "Sometimes" to "Most times"

the criteria for a catch is the same regardless, once the fielder has control of the batted ball and voluntarily releases it (or displays it as he did). Under OBR there is a section in the detached equipment rules that states if the force of the batted ball knocks the glove off of a fielders hand that it is not to be considered detached equipment (and it wasn't), and it would be no different than any other time that a ball bounces off a fielder and is subsequently caught before the ball touches the ground either by that fielder or another fielder, same result, caught ball, batter out.

When the chirping reaches a level that it has become abundantly clear that coach is making a show of this, leaning over the fence and such, I choose to shut it down with a simple "are you arguing balls and strikes coach"? they make it very easy to deal with at that point because they either shut up on their own, or they shut up because they won't be involved in the rest of the game. I'm certainly not advocating this as a how to deal with the early stages of chirping, but as i mentioned once it becomes abundantly clear coach wants to be sure to make an issue of it, employ the rules, which are rather clear about arguing balls and strikes

once the pitcher steps on the rubber and comes to set, as long as his foot makes motion towards the plate and he has come to a pause it's all good. I've come across pitchers who don't do the whole leg swing after coming to set and I don't see anything wrong with it as long as he goes home with the throw. He stands in set lifts his front foot up and goes forward. Carry on nothing to see here, other than a pitcher who isn't getting nearly the power behind his pitch that he could with a full windup.

Sorry, didn't have the rules infront of me when i posted it, it's if the runner was not attempting to reach the base but dislodge the ball (ie run the catcher down in hopes he drops the ball)

A lot rec leagues I work that have an MC rule include little details like the runner must attempt to avoid contact (a rather widely misunderstood aspectn it doesn't say no contact, they only need attempt to avoid, even if unsucessful) or if the runner is attempting to dislodge the ball (in the umpires judgement of course) then it is an automatic EJ.

During a provincial tournament I had a coach who was going on about balls and strikes, and without thinking too long or hard about it I asked the coach "are you arguing a judgement call coach"? Funny how fast it got quiet.

MLBUM 8.05(a) The pitcher shall be charged with a balk if, while in contact with the rubber, he throws to the first baseman who is either in front of or behind first base and obviously not making an attempt at retiring the runner at first base. However there is no violation if the pitcher throws the ball directly to first base in this situation. Also note there is no violation if the pitcher attempts a pickoff at second or third and throws to an infielder who is in front of or behind either of those bases.

The stupid.... it burns especially closer to the end....

In OBR if the pitcher balks while attempting to appeals it negates their ability to appeal as well (included in trouts etc)

End of ball is just around the corner here too, I'm not involved in any fall ball or H/S ball yet (Generally around here they want a level 3 Ontario Baseball Certified ump, which is at least 6 years experience for H/S) but I am oddly not feeling the usual "dear god it's almost over" feelings yet this year. It has just been a year of learning, growing and opening new horizons, so I don't want it to stop. I suppose it's because we haven't been hit by the fall weather yet... you know, cold, wet miserable, dark early mushy and generally bleh feeling in the air.

Sounds like any other union gig to me..... that or a university professor :fuel:

9.02 (a) Any umpire’s decision which involves judgment, such as, but not limited to, whether a batted ball is fair or foul, whether a pitch is a strike or a ball, or whether a runner is safe or out, is final. No player, manager, coach or substitute shall object to any such judgment decisions. Rule 9.02(a) Comment: Players leaving their position in the field or on base, or managers or coaches leaving the bench or coaches box, to argue on BALLS AND STRIKES will not be permitted. They should be warned if they start for the plate to protest the call. If they continue, they will be ejected from the game. He argued, saying it was high, he left his position in the box, he was warned, he continued. According to the rule that's "worthy" enough Maybe I am just too literal with the rules, I am open to that possibility

True, god knows when you have a boy like Fielder or Cabrera barreling down the line you don't want to get in front of those mac trucks. In my case neither was I calling an MLB game (I did after all say no I wouldn't cause I'm not good enough in that other thread) nor was F3 at any point in contact with the base. I will concede that perhaps I was being too literal on this but in fairness when you can see a discernible gap at 15 feet away, you have to give me something better than that. how close was the timing? Do you allow the "neighborhood" at 2b on a DP? I've had job interviews less intensive than this..... I wouldn't call it a banger play but the BR wasn't touching first seconds after the fact either, about enough time for F3 to pull himself out of his stretch after the ball hit his glove. I've never called a level of ball that allowing the "neighborhood" would be appropriate. While I do call mens leagues that has higher level players in it, the best of them WERE semi-pro (as in are no longer playing at that level) and others have played ball at American universities/colleges, admittedly not too shabby for a guy closing out his 4th year as an umpire (I'm nothing if not ambitious and studious when it comes to this game) I don't believe the "hood" is appropriate for these levels. Further I am a self starting people person whos greatest flaw would be that i care too much about... oh crap.... right this isn't a job interview.... nevermind

True, god knows when you have a boy like Fielder or Cabrera barreling down the line you don't want to get in front of those mac trucks. In my case neither was I calling an MLB game (I did after all say no I wouldn't cause I'm not good enough in that other thread) nor was F3 at any point in contact with the base. I will concede that perhaps I was being too literal on this but in fairness when you can see a discernible gap at 15 feet away, you have to give me something better than that.

He was stretched towards second with his left leg back towards the bag. His foot was pointed down towards the ground with his toes being the point of contact on the ground. The bottom of his foot was far enough away from the bag it was pretty easy to see the gap between his foot and the bag. If i were a betting person I would say he simply misjudged the position of his foot for being the cause of not having contact (seeing as we are being philosophical and all....) Is that what you are looking for or am i answering this wrong, I am trying to be helpful

3 umpire playoff game tonight I'm on first, no runners on. 1out. Batter hits a ball that bounces off the ground past the pitcher and is fielded by the second baseman. I move just inside fair territory to get my 90 degree placing myself 15 or so feet behind the bag. F3 is making a stretch to make sure he gets the ball before the runner gets there. When F3 caught the ball i could see a gap between his foot and the bag and he stepped away from the bag so as to get away from runner. Runner crosses the bag and I call safe, off the bag and of course the stuff hits the fan. Coach comes out and very nicely asks about the call, and I explain that F3 never had contact with the base therefor no out. He then tells me I can't be making calls like that can change the game like that, the game isn't about me. I told him sorry, but the last time I read the rule book F3 had to touch the base with control of the ball for an out, and I wasn't going to call him out simply because he didn't like the call. Something about putting a piece of plastic mounted on a piece of wood with a little piece of metal on it engraved with "champions" that makes people go batSH*# insane.... Honestly, should I be making the wrong call because no one likely would have argued about it or make the right call? I think I have made my position pretty clear, anyone else have any input?

Had it happen twice with a pitcher today trying to do a pickoff to first after a foul. I give the count, he steps, throws, nothing, ball gets thrown back to the pitcher who steps on the mound and in a very loud voice say "PLAY". funny he didn't get it after the first time

I hate to hijack the thread but is this the mechanic you guys usually use? With a runner on 2nd base and a fly ball to the outfield, the BU should have the catch, the tag up at second and the susequent play at third. The PU stays home. At least that's the way we do it here and it makes more sense. If there is an overthrow at third base the PU is already in position and does not have to hustle to the plate to make the call. Comments? Depends where the fly to the outfield is. Strictly speaking if the fly is to the far sides of either field (outside of the "cone" area in the middle" that is the PU call and BU has the runners. Even when the fly is into the cone BU still has call on the tag up at 2 .

but, . . . nice spin move! the "Thriller" Actually the "Thriller" is something much more deviant than that spin move, but there are decorum rules here and I won't expound upon it.

did you see the episode I was working base with a ball bag, clicker and steel toe shoes?