blue23ll

I used to wear Honig's masks but I found that my neck always hurt after games. I don't find that with the Diamond. The real question is about protection, not comfort, in my opinion. So am I sacrificing protection by using the Diamond? I have a Wilson frame, but haven't used it.

I use the Diamond that Gerry Davis sells, and its very light. Is the Wilson that light?

In my experience with tournament ball, the scorekeepers for both teams would sit in a central spot, usually in a booth or area near the plate area. That way, managers and umpires know where they are and can communicate with them. They are not spectators, they are 'officials'.

Just curious, is the Wilson Dyna-lite that is so popular with MLB umps the same dyna-lite that can be bought for $50 - $60?

Sorry, but I couldn't even read this article. And the concept of not calling RLI because the defense didn't chose to throw inside/outside to me is quite a stretch.

Misread the OP.

Point of clarification please, was F6 on or in front of the base? I would have MC most definitely, crashing into the pivot on a double play, interference. If you see it, you call it, PU or BU.

I have adopted the 'point' strike call just for the D3K situation. You give the swinging strike mechanic (point), verbalize and signal 'no catch', clear the catcher and locate the ball, if a tag is made near the plate, signal the out (hammer). If there are less than 2 outs and a runner at first, I will point the strike 3, and verbalize "batter is out", while giving the out mechanic. As the BU, I will give the open-close fist signal with my right hand, to assist in whether the ball is caught or not.

Assistant coaches are to be seen and not heard, certainly if they are complaining or continually making noise. Particularly in little kids ball, deal with the manager and shut the assistants down very quickly. Summer/select/daddy coach/paid coach, its a circus out there, and if you throw out the loudest clown, the rest shut up.

The batter is out. Torres told Servais, "don't come out"....he came out...bye bye. The announcers whined about the 'hesitation' on making the call, which I didn't see. BTW, I will never pay to see the Mariners play, nor watch them on TV. I'd rather watch the Everett Aquasox.

"That's your (insert appropriate number) trip, (insert coaches name).

Some of my best games were during the tee ball world championships

I use the McDavid hex pad tights, why would I want to change?

"We aren't going there...(insert coach's name), nothing more to discuss"...and walk away. You don't have to get into a discussion, you don't have to warn or debate. If you keep re-engaging him then it looks like you want to discuss calls that are not open for discussion. Remember, they can never use what you DON'T say against you.

As I understand it, we are supposed to say, "Coach, this is a written warning and you are restricted to the bench". Right? Now, in NFHS, if we eject an assistant, the HC is automatically restricted to the bench, does that include a written warning as well?

No, the red zone would have been if he had moved to his right. He stayed where he needed to be, in fact, there was no where else he could have gone. Sometimes caca happens.

Umpiring is a lot like politics. I paraphrase a quote from Tip O'Neill, "The key to successful umpiring is keeping the 50% who know you are lousy, away from the other 50% who are undecided."

I'm thinking you got lucky, because the situation could have escalated quickly. As people have said, once an F bomb is let go, you got to dump the person who said it. Once the first monkey is sent away, the others quiet down. I have learned a long time ago, being lenient isn't doing anyone any favors in the long run. I had a game where both teams were jawing back and forth, coaches, players and parents ended up getting into it. It escalated to the point of one pitcher being ejected for throwing at a batter. We don't want it to get to that point.

I had a nice pickle with a sandwich this weekend.

That sounds like a slow pitch rec league rule. In the game I had 8 ejections, it was between two teams.

Sounds like a bit of tension at the ball park. I once tossed 8 players in one game.

Even in FED ball, I still don't call time immediately. By rule, if you call balk the ball is dead. It's just too damn easy to get in the "Time,Balk" thing you will end up doing it during an OBR game and really become unpopular fast.

This thread gave me a headache..OUCH

Hey, sometimes caca happens. For me, it is usually in these kind of kids games, where focus and concentration can be lacking. The coaches are generally not very knowledgeable and they can do and say things that really throw you off balance. What can we learn from this?? 1) "Coach, get your players on the bench and those bats put down." Don't debate it, don't answer why. 2) What rule set is this game under? If it was OBR the ball is alive for a balk, in FED its not. Losing the count is not the end of the world, ask one of the scorers. 3) The contact was malicious or not. Rule on the play. Not sure how the coach thought the runner should be called safe. 4) R2 and my partner is in A? I am calling time and getting him where he needs to be, and you realize that. We need more situational awareness. 5) How did the batter react to the pitch? Was he acting like it really hurt him or was he looking for an Academy Award? Did your partner kill the play? Calling strikes is a good thing particularly in youth ball. I realize how frustrating bad games can be, because we always strive to be perfect. Fight the urge to quit, be anxious to get right back out there and do better.

Having had my own "get help" situation this year, I understand this 100%. We don't get help to appease coaches, we do it to get plays right. IF you got the play right, own it. Going to your partner on a call that you need to own sets a terrible precedent, and its why coaches think they have a right to getting help anytime they feel like it.