maven

Right, I remember. In fact, my research suggests that the FED interp is based on the pro interp for these plays. That's not a good choice, because the pro rule for when to get 2 outs is different from FED's: for FED, since a DP is possible without INT on a foul pop-up, there is a rule-based reason to get 2 outs here. The rule is different in OBR, which is why it's just 1 out for interfering with a fielder on a pop foul, and the BR resumes his at-bat.

Brad Meyers. Viewer discretion is advised. http://m.mlb.com/video/v31568447/?game_pk=396223

Not sure about the HS ruling (not too familiar with FED) but the Pro ruling requires you to keep the ball alive after the INT until you determine whether the ball is fair or foul. If the ball becomes foul (or if caught in foul territory) the batter goes back to bat because the IFF doesn't apply. The runner is still out. Nothing after the INT matters however, except whether the ball becomes fair or foul You're right to point out that enforcement will vary depending on whether it was in fact an infield fly. I interpreted the OP to be saying that it was in fact an IFF, in which case there's no need to wait. Good point on leaving it live if you don't know whether it is fair or foul. Again, in the OP, the fly ball was touched, so we'd kill it immediately.

Not sure about the HS ruling (not too familiar with FED) but the Pro ruling requires you to keep the ball alive after the INT until you determine whether the ball is fair or foul. If the ball becomes foul (or if caught in foul territory) the batter goes back to bat because the IFF doesn't apply. The runner is still out. Nothing after the INT matters however, except whether the ball becomes fair or foul If the ball is caught in foul territory, the batter goes back to bat? Yes. FED is the same: 8.4.2 B.

Matter to whom? The kid who has a perfect fielding percentage? The R3 who's going to sneak home while the defense ignores him? Everyone who's bored because the score is 27-1? The rules prohibit runners from interfering with a fielder playing a batted ball. There is no "it didn't matter" exception. Keep it simple.

INT. The runner is out for the INT, BR is out on the IFF, the ball is dead, other runners return (if there were no outs). The fielder dropped a dead ball. Same in all codes.

Not to pile on, but we should avidly enforce safety rules. Compare: F1 uses hybrid stance, plunks B1 in the head, B1's lawyer uncle sues the umpire and a host of others. CLAIM: umpire should not have allowed F1 to use hybrid stance. Judge laughs aloud before dismissing complaint. F2 uses unapproved helmet, gets hit in ear by deflected foul ball and sustains injury: F2's lawyer uncle sues the umpire and a host of others. CLAIM: umpire should not have allowed F2 to use illegal equipment. Nobody laughs; lawyers for insurance company settle for an undisclosed sum; state association revokes PU's license to avoid further liability. Guys who ignore the jewelry rule are also liability time bombs.

He can wear a mask and helmet, but the helmet must cover his ears. Edited to add: the reference is 1-5-4: "The catcher's helmet and mask combination shall meet the NOCSAE standard. Any helmet or helmet and mask combination shall have full ear protection (dual ear flaps)...."

...and the conference does not negate the right to appeal. I'd guess the umpires made up a rule: runs scoring before the base was missed count.

That's what fist-bumps are for! I use them all the time for pre-game in basketball. You never know where those teenagers' hands have been...

Legal windup in FED, which determines the windup solely based on the feet. "Facing the 3B dugout" might contravene OBR's requirement that "The pitcher shall stand facing the batter." 8.01(a) However, I don't know anyone who would address this particular infraction, unless he was clearly facing more toward 3B than HP.

Excellent examples of deception. More proof that when all you've got is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.

Lance was one of my instructors at JEAPU. He was 18, I think. Great umpire.

What gives you the right to demand that he remove his jewelry? The rule prohibits him from playing with jewelry, not from wearing jewelry. Well if he's in the batter's box he is most likely playing. So tell him to go back to the dugout. Duh.

Maddox kept hitters off balance with speed and movement. Many of his strikes were right over the plate. Now with Glavine you might have a point... :)

What gives you the right to demand that he remove his jewelry? The rule prohibits him from playing with jewelry, not from wearing jewelry.

Doesn't matter that much, if you and your partners are all on the same page. Issues would likely arise only if you left the state and claimed you were working FED mechanics...

That's not the FED mechanic. P. 40 of the FED 2013-14 Umpire manual: "This position [C] will be used in any situation with runners occupying bases other than first base in the two-man system." They don't mean quite that, however, since with R1/R3 they have the BU in B (p. 56). So I'm not sure where this mechanic comes from, but it is not the FED manual.

What you've got is basically right, but I think you've included things that are nearly impossible (R3 scores before pitching motion starts) and buried the crucial information that comes up all the time. Raising issues about INT, catchers INT, pitch touching runners, etc. seems to stray even further afield. You're not giving an entire rules clinic, after all. I recommend instead simply focusing on 4.09. 98% of coach questions about scoring — including those in the OP — can be answered with that one rule.

Sez who? In my state, we have to use FED mechanics, which put the BU in C whenever runners are on base, except when a steal of 2B is possible (R1 only, or R1/R3). Pro mechanics put BU in C with R3 only and R2/R3, when no steal of 3B is possible. Not sure whose mechanics you're looking at...

Best part of that post.

Disagree. If the defense doesn't want a run to score, they shouldn't balk one in. I didn't balk with R3.

If they want to know who was there, you could have the umpires sign the book before the game, as we do in basketball. That's not a certification of a final score, but why would you want umpires certifying the score anyway?

You wait for the game to end? Hmmm... Matt, I'm pretty sure you confuse people with your invisible smileys...

Right: that I would allow. The difference from the OP is that in this play the starting F2 has re-entered, so sub S1 is done for the day. He can use a CR for the catcher, but it's going to cost him the sub who pinch hit AND starter F2's re-entry privilege.