Bumps

In no manner, way, shape or form is this a legal slide. Utley does not even BEGIN his, so called, slide until he is at the base, which he never actually touched. This was a hard slide, meant to take out the opposing player. Did he mean to hurt Tejada, probably not, but only Utley knows. if Utley had slid BEFORE the base, then there would be nothing. The crew blew this one and Joe Torre is Reviewing the play further. There will be something that comes out of this. Unfortunately for the Mets, this play has probably cost them not only the game, the series.

I use the Diamond with stock pads for HS games I do. Have taken a few different shots. The pads are fine, they just won't last as long.

Thanks again to all for thoughts. I have decided that we are going to use refereeschedule.com Less expensive than arbiter, easy to use and has many of the same reports available. Looks like for this league, I will schedule around 250 - 275 for the fall, plus a Holiday tournament in early December and then schedule around 300 for the spring season. Will report back mid fall as to how it is going.

Understood, but this was DEFINITELY NOT happening before, which is why I want to make sure no party involved (me, League, other umpires) has liability. Just want it done correctly. As I talk this out, arbiter and Refpay seem the way to go, as all those reports are available, for a nominal fee. Thanks again for the help, advice, guidance.

Thanks, I was thinking arbiter and Refpay, as that is the way I am assigned for HS. The previous assignor just did a 2 week spreadsheet and paid the guys out of his own account, after he was funded by the league. I feel like I want a little more accountability with something like Refpay, but the guys are not currently paying anything to get games. I also believe most of them are not claiming this revenue at tax time.

Jeff, I did a search and could not find info on this question. I am taking over the assigning of a moderate size recreation League in town. I know the board members and have been involved with the League for many years in various roles, the last few as "just" an umpire. My question is, for those of you that assign games, do you use a program or do you use just a regular old spreadsheet? It will be 4 divisions, with up to 7 fields and will have about 20 umpires on the primary crew. Rarely will all 7 fields be used at once, except at tournament time at seasons end.

If I had to guess, I would say kids. I would hope and pray it was not fellow umpires.

Nothing stolen out of my barracks, some others. I was in 40B. Multiple phones were taken, one iPod as far as I know. One of my barracks mates loaned his extra phone to a fellow umpire.

Well it was here and gone before I knew it. Had a great time for my first visit. I met a great group of guys. Most of the "veteran" CDP Umpires were really nice guys. No one was a real a-hole, at least I did not meet any. I only had to work 2 games a day, even Wednesday. Our crew of 5 just did 2 each day. Our crew chief decided we really did not need to work 3 or 4 man crews early in the tournament. So all in all a VERY easy schedule, 1 plate and 1 base assignment per day. This allowed me to watch multiple games of the team I came up with as well as another team from my hometown. The games were okay. Most were run rules until Wednesday elimination and then there were still some high scoring games. The food was good. It is not great, but who was expecting a 5 star meal. The power strips were a good idea. The dollar store just up the road is your friend, from drinks to cleaning supplies, it has just about everything you need. Got into town for beer and food with most of the guys from my barracks. This was just a good night with some great friends. I would do it again in a heartbeat. As a matter of fact, they are VERY short of umpires in week 13 and trying to see if I can fit that in my schedule and get a team. Some of the bad. There were things stolen, but not mine. Having heard these stories, my stuff was always locked up or with me. Parents fighting with coaches. There was one story going around where Coach saw a kid with his pants down, shirt untucked and hat on backwards. When Coach asked him to fix himself, the kid said to him, "who the f@&k are you?" Waiting for the dad to say or do something, Coach asked the kid again and this time the dad replied the same way. Well Coach called for security, the dad was suspended for life and kid was only suspended for 2 games. I was a little surprised that the kid was not ejected at that time. I only had a thin blanket. It got real cold one night and I was miserable. Be sure to bring or get a warm enough blanket for those nights.

Haid, the simple fact that they did not call it, says to me they missed it. Yes, my opinion, but they missed this one. We all miss one here and there. If this was not interference, then nothing is and a runner can and should run wherever they want.

8.01(a) The Windup Position. The pitcher shall stand facing the batter, his pivot foot in contact with the pitcher’s plate and the other foot free. From this position any natural movement associated with his delivery of the ball to the batter commits him to the pitch without interruption or alteration. He shall not raise either foot from the ground, except that in his actual delivery of the ball to the batter, he may take one step backward, and one step forward with his free foot. Reading the last sentence, except that in his actual delivery of the ball to the batter, once he lifts his leg and goes to first, it is an illegal pitch and should be a balk? Not sure how any of the scenarios are legal, need some more explanation from the senior members.

I still respectfully disagree. F2 had to alter his position and the play was not made. This really seems textbook and what the rule is for. If this is not interference, then not much, if anything, is.

Understand what you are saying, but still have the same question, what is the point of the rule and the lines if the BR does not have to follow the rule? The simple fact that F2 had to alter anything says BR did interfere and running lane interference should be called?

If nothing, then why have the lines or the rule?

None of these were the cars, BR out...

Bases loaded, ball hit to F1, F1 throws to F2, BR is running to 1B, but running in the dirt on the fair side of the line, F2 throws to F1 ball hits glove, BECAUSE F2 can actually play and hit his glove. Ball deflects out of glove. Hope you are remarkably clear now...

Most definitely. F2 had to come way inside, Br almost on grass inside, ball hits F3's glove. Really almost a text book (smartphone) call.

Coach Mainieri basically calls out umpires in mid inning interview, says they had no explanation for him.

Changing the sitch, fed rules. R1, R2--0 out. B3 hits fly to F7, R1 & R2 take off thinking it will get in the gap, upon realizing the ball will be caught both runner retreat to their bases, except R1 had crossed over 2B and upon the re-touch on the way back collides with F4, who has no reason to be there. Both runners make it back to their respective bases safely. What's the call?

BR in inside fair territory on a 1-2-3 double play. Umps got together and still missed it. Pretty obvious on live, but even moremobviousnon replay. Not an LSU fan at all, but they took it in the shorts on this one...

Depends on who you ask. :-)

I took the girls gymnastics questionnaire, as I know as much about that as FED does about any of the sports.

I am going week 2 and have also heard nothing but good things about the instructors and the clinic itself. Looking forward to it.

We also get a hard copy of the Fed Book, so no real need to download. If we stop getting the book, I would probably download.

Relatively boring game, 12 - 6 final score VT wins. Sun behind home plate. every ball hit in the air toward the line, i would look up and lose it in the sun. There was one I totally lost and felt like an idiot stuck outside, because it was too late to go in and pivot. 2nd inning I go to partner and say I can't see anything hit in the air toward the line, if okay with him, I am just going to come in and pivot. He thought this was a good idea. Had a straight steal to 2B, R1 slid outside the bag, not far but outside. F6 tags on the hip, R1 never touched the base. I signal the out, VT HC tells me it is a terrible call, I just look at him and tell him I had the out. He continues across field without any further comment. Had a sitch in top 6 where I am in C, ball hit in font of plate, I come across for the angle at 1B, throws pulls F3 down the line and he swipes the tag behind him. I can't see a tag and look and point to PU, he says nothing. I now call safe, I can't call out because I did not see a tag. Coach comes out and we need to get this right, I tell him I have no issue going to the PU, I got blocked on the call, if he has a tag, I will call the out. Talk with PU, he does have a tag, I signal out. Get back in position and VT 1B Coach calls me and says great job. In post game, we discuss the play, PU says I should have just called him and loud and asked if he had a tag. I did not call him verbally but looked and pointed, thinking I was asking for his help. Just another learning experience. Felt good with timing and real confident in calls. Happy to get this one in the books.