Ring 'em Up

wood cleaner..? what about scuffing the black off the shoes? r-

just wondering what everyone uses to clean up their plate shoes. i bought a pair of NB 450's and there starting to get scuffed up a bit. ron-

Last night i umped Gahr & Warren JV's.. two pretty good teams. WOW.! What a game. Pitching duel mostly, with 2 great pitchers. Both teams parents probably were biting their nails. Gahr in the 3rd, had the bases loaded with 1 out.. and the pitcher for Warren proceeded to pound Gahr's batters with strikes.. no runs scored. in the 4th, Warren had men on 2nd and 3rd, when Gahr's pitcher pounced on the batters.. no runs scored. In the 6th, one of Gahr's batters hit a whopper to the fence and he made it to 3rd, and the next batter got on 1st. A blooper over the SS's head drove in one run. and that was it, as Warren's pitcher went to work and struck out 3. All in all it was really a pleasure umping this game..! ron-

interesting thing.. when doing a HS game, my knees never hurt. i'm thinking that at the lower levels, i have to crouch lower.. and my knees are working harder due to being so low.. a perfect example is last night, i did a HS JV game and i felt fine fine after the game, and now. ron-

in so cal., long beach unit, : $74 per game for one man. ron-

maineump: i see you have separated the bottom portion of OBR rule 6.08. this was not the case. The pitcher had delivered the ball, and the catcher jumped in-front of the batter before he had a chance to swing. therefore this rule would not apply. FED 8.1.1.F, clearly states: F2 may not catch the pitch until it as passed home plate. and if a HS game i'da banged it perfect. is there nothing in the OBR on this CI? if there is no case, or rule then anytime you have a R1 or R2, all the F2 would have to do is jump in-front of B3, and make the throw-down for the putout. imho, this is not a fair play, and the batter has been interfered from being 'able' to swing (wither or not the batter swings makes no difference. he was not given the chance to swing because F2 now has caught the ball 2 feet in-front of HP) ron- I totally agree - I am trying to find a case play for this, but nothing yet. Basically the batter needs a chance to hit the ball, and if the catcher takes that away, then no fair. I guess we all know the intent of the rule, just stating the specific rule for the discussion with the coach? Would this be the same intent? Not so much the squeeze, but the balk part of it? 7.07 If, with a runner on third base and trying to score by means of a squeeze play or a steal, the catcher or any other fielder steps on, or in front of home base without possession of the ball, or touches the batter or his bat, the pitcher shall be charged with a balk, the batter shall be awarded first base on the interference and the ball is dead. when looking at 7.07, the bolded portion definitely covers this. (specifically " the catcher or any other fielder steps on, or in front of home base without possession of the ball" ron-

maineump: i see you have separated the bottom portion of OBR rule 6.08. this was not the case. The pitcher had delivered the ball, and the catcher jumped in-front of the batter before he had a chance to swing. therefore this rule would not apply. FED 8.1.1.F, clearly states: F2 may not catch the pitch until it as passed home plate. and if a HS game i'da banged it perfect. is there nothing in the OBR on this CI? if there is no case, or rule then anytime you have a R1 or R2, all the F2 would have to do is jump in-front of B3, and make the throw-down for the putout. imho, this is not a fair play, and the batter has been interfered from being 'able' to swing (wither or not the batter swings makes no difference. he was not given the chance to swing because F2 now has caught the ball 2 feet in-front of HP) ron-

now that you brought that rule up, maybe the first sentence in Fed 8-1-1-e takes full effect on the CI. "the catcher or any other defensive player obstructs him" what about in OBR? Oh.. and great call on the award. ron-

when you twist your knee.. sigh ice and 800mg of ibuprofen ron-

Pony Mustang game: R1, F1 sets and delivers, when the ball is 10 feet from HP F2 jumps up infront of the batter and takes the pitch for the steal w/one foot on HP, R1 dives back to FB.. I called "SAFE..! Time..! Catchers Interference, R1 to SB, Batter to FB" I"ve looked at a couple of rules, but nothing definitively pops out.. Lookin' for help on this one. Ron-

which i did.. r-

#cyclone: Yes DC #jocko: the infraction happened bang bang @ 1B, i waited until 'after' the action completed until i called 'time'. Ron-

i had my first hs-jv game yesterday, and it was a pleasure to ump teams that could play good ball. No one on base, F1 delivers a pitch, Batter, hits a high chopper (10 feet high) about 3 feet in-front of HP, BR takes off for FB, F1 moves to FB for the throw, BR moves into the running lane and F1 now is now turning and looking for the throw from F2. When F1 turns to look at the incoming throw from F2, F1 moved directly in front of FB (about 2 feet in front of FB), and blocks BR, then F1's hip/butt pushed BR 3 feet to the right of FB (this action was about 1 foot in front of FB). (i have no idea why the first baseman was not in position.. but he was almost in the outfield) i called out: "Time, obstruction by the pitcher, BR is safe". Of course the OC came out and wanted an explanation which i gave him and he said "but he didn't intend to do it", to which i said, "it doesn't matter weather or not the act was intentional or not, lets play ball". ron-

my son did not hear the discussion between the coach and umpire, so he's not sure wither or not the balk came from the feint to first or third, but he did say the umpire called balk 'just after' the feint to 1st ron-.

hi everyone.. my son told me that a pitcher was balked at his HS game last night with runners @ 1st & 3rd. F1 (RHP) at the set position, lifted his non-pivot foot, extended to third, feinted, (my son said F1 was disengaged from the plate a full step down the mound), and turned and feinted to first... "BALK". ron-

PU was wrong. This is a dead-ball strike. Runners return. . +1 from BigRed, I just went thru this 2 weekends ago. ron-

. Ok.. i went to and found the following at the layb.org site and this is the rule they use: A base runner is automatically out and subject to ejection if in the Umpire's judgment: (a) He/she fails to slide to avoid a hard collision at any base other than 1st when the ball arrives simultaneously with or before the runner. therefore, in 'my judgement' i make the ruling on wither or not the runner 'avoids', correct? if so, i still stand by my original call of safe. it was clearly obvious to me that the runner was trying to 'avoid' as he moved 2 feet out of the baseline 10 feet from the plate to 'touch the corner' and round HP. (which is exactly what he did) funny thing here, if the runner had slid, the catchers glove wrist would have been toast.. Ron-

. Pony site says: Play is governed by the "Official rules of Major League Baseball" i guess what i'm wondering is if rule 2-32-2-f, overrides rule 8-4-b-1 in this situation. My call was 'safe', there was no contact between R3 & F2 except from F2 applying the tag to R3's foot after it touched HP. it was obvious to me that R3 by going wide and rounding HP was in essence trying to avoid any contact w/F2. i ask this question because the OC ran out and said that R3 was out due to a forced slide rule, but when looking at the pony.org, i see nothing relating to a forced slide rule. ron-

Pony Game; bases loaded; hit to F6 who throws wide to F2 who is on his knees in back of HP about one foot on first base side. R3 is running in to score and runs a little wide to 'round' HP. F2 catches the throw backhanded, R3 is now one step away from HP and F2 swings his glove around for the tag. R3's foot touches HP, then the tag is applied. As i look at 8-4-b-1: Runners are never required to slide,but if a runner elects to slide, the slide must be legal. (2-32-1, 2). 2-32-2-f states: "a slide is illegal if the runner, on a force play, does not slide on the ground and in a direct line between the two bases. Therefore, R3 must slide in this situation? ron-

HBP. Using the bolded parts above, you judged it was an attempt to avoid getting hit, and it wasn't a strike. . . let me clarify: if the battor had not moved, the pitch "a curve" would have been a strike. by the battor lowering his head and leaning forward, he was attempting to 'not get hit'. this said, by leaning forward his head is now atleast 3" over the plate and into the strike zone. (my son is a pitcher only at his HS. he throws the exact same way this pitcher did.. the ball is released just to the left of battors head (right handed battor), the ball curves to the left, loses velocity and drops in for the strike). hence the reason this battor leaned forward, and ducked his head. as mentioned using 8.1.1.d1, wouldn't this be a dead ball strike? Oh.. and this happened in my very first game.. it was a scheduled 14 inning scrimmage ron-

If you called it a ball, why did you call the batter out? That doesn't make sense to me. I also question your mentors response and what he would have done. No batter is ever getting awarded first base if he gets hit in the strike zone. It is a immediate dead ball and a strike. If strike 3 he is out. . my mentor was not there, but the instructional chair was there from our unit, he (and my mentor after i called him) told me the correct call was to call out " Time | Dead Ball Strike | Battor was leaning over the strike zone | then give the hammer for a strike" i never called the batter out.. if you look, you'll see i was 'calling out verbally'.

Thanks for the responses...! i'll never forget this rule now.. ron-

i had a case yesterday during a HS JV game: F1 throws a curve, B1 thinks its going to hit him and moves to keep clear by leading forward, and ducking his head.. his head is now 3 inches over the plate where where the slow curve bounced of the 'top' of his helmet. I called ball and called out "batter leaned forward" ... well of course the coach came running out, and i told him what happened and he said "that's a first..! " i let it go and walked back to the dish, and started the game back up. If the batter had stayed in the batters box, and not moved... the ball would have never hit him. my mentor said that "i would have let him take first", but after i mentioned that if the batter would have not leaned forward he would have never got hit, he said "well then it's a judgement call" Your opinion? Ron-

Hi everyone.. it's been awhile since i've been here, but with all the honey-do's, studying, looking for a truck and everything else i just have not had the time to post here. i've been going to my clinics and had my first inning during a JV scrimmage game. TALK ABOUT NERVOUS..! (haha) during the first half of the inning, i had lead weights on my feet and i didn't move around to much, but in the bottom half i started to move. (these were two man games) What i noticed from my second game: i had tunnel vision.. probably because i was so nervous (at one point in the bottom half of my inning, i looked at my indicator and it was totally soaking wet due to my hands sweating so much). at the end of my inning, both my mentor and the instructional chair in my unit said i did fine for my first inning and that my timing was spot on. my second game was yesterday morning at 10a.. a JV scheduled 14 inning game that had 4 umpires moving in and out of dish and base. totally innings: 6 behind the plate 6 as a base ump. this time i was not so nervous, and the tunnel vision went away..! we were told that even thou there is a base umpire, the plate ump was supposed to to the single man mechanics.. i found that i was moving about correcly for calling outs at first, second and third. also, it seemed that i could 'see' the ball much better for calling balls, and strikes. i missed a call thou... in the latter part of the game i'm behind the dish, where R1 is on second, B2 has 2 strikes, 1 ball, and B2 bunted, and it went foul. yes i know the batter is out.. and stupid me.. i studied that rule on friday night. After the ball went foul, and i did the mechinics for 'foul', the coach of the opposing team called time, which i gave him and he came out and mentioned the rule (i say mention.. because he didn't come out screaming.. instead he walked over and quietly talked about the rule).. i reversed my call, pointed to the batter, and called out "batter is out for bunting foul on second strike" then gave him the hammer. DARN IT..! well i won't be making that mistake again.. over all i thought the day went well. starting next saturday, there will be 3 games on saturday, 4 on sunday, and 1 game monday - friday that are scrimmages. i'll be making as many as i can to get more exposure behind the plate. Ron-

when my boy was playing at this age level, it was about the fun.. not the work! (he's been playing since he was 6) my gawd, can't this be about 'learning', and mixing in the premise that baseball is a sport, and when playing.. you should be having a good time at this age level? when you first started the description, i was thinking u11 or u12, but u8 is definitely not the age to start bringing down the hammer. (at least as you described) pushing at this age level i believe would stress the boys out too much, and after a year, some might just quit, who otherwise might have been great players if only their parents wouldn't have pushed so much. (pushy parents = unhappy players) i learned that early on.. so starting at age 11, my boy has made all of his own decisions regarding any baseball items.. Teams, leagues, pitching practice times, J.O. club invites.... blah, blah, blah... ron-