ljvavs

Talk about "Is this a visit?" OBR Rec Pony Baseball game. Had a coach call "Time". I take off my mask and begin to brush the plate, thinking he was going out to talk to his pitcher. I look up, and he had called over his catcher, whispering some defensive strategy to get the runner out at 3rd. He took about 45 seconds and returned to the dugout. Does this count as a visit?

Sorry that I've been away from internet access for a while, gentleman. I appreciate all of your input. Senor Azul has been of help concerning the OI of the situation. Thanks. Also, Cav was helpful in finding the old OHSAA Bulletin that does almost verbatim cover this play. Thanks. I can see a benefit to adding a clearer definition in the FED rules of what constitutes changing from being an infielder to an outfielder, and vice versa. I'm sure that when baseball rules were written no one thought that teams would even consider having the left side of the infield completely open like they do today. For now, I'll embrace what noumpere said: I'm satisfied with the feedback I've received and from all I've been provided by all of you, the answer is determined from the TOT, C) Home and second since it was a play from an outfielder. Thanks again all.

Thanks to all who have put in their 2 cents on this question. I'm still a bit unclear, though. NFHS 2-13-2 states "The players who play left field, right field and center field are out-fielders" NFHS 2-13-3 states "The others are infielders" When I read these, there's an assumption being made by you, Cav, that's not clearly stated in the rules.Rule 2-13-2 doesn't explicitly state you can have more than 3 outfielders. If anything, it's limiting it to 3 because they're specifically listed by position. The way 2-13-3 reads actually is the catch-all I'm leaning towards since it states "the others . . ." which accounts for those not in the outfield (and not part of the battery). I'm intrigued by the OHSAA DOD Baseball Bulletin 15-1 you referenced. I checked my personal e-mail archives and couldn't find it. Could you post or send me a copy of it since you said it clarifies this issue almost verbatim? P.S.- Thanks to all who have thusfar piped in on my inquiry. I love perusing this sight and have learned much reading all these different posts. It's made me a better umpire, that's for sure.

Myself and other fellow umpires are taking the Ohio Baseball Veterans test and ran across a conundrum. Here it is: "With a runner on first base, a pull hitter is up and the defense puts on an infield shift. The shortstop moves behind second base and the third baseman moves into shallow right field. The batted ball is fielded by the third baseman who scoops it up and tries to get BR at first base. At the time of the throw, the runner from first had reached second base and the throw goes into the dugout. Where do you place the runners? A) Second and third since it was first play by an infielder. B) Home and third since it was a play from the outfield. C) Home and second since it was a play from an outfielder" What makes this difficult to answer is how to we consider the shifted 3rd baseman? Is he an infielder or an outfielder? We've been told that in MLB rules, shifted players should be considered IF or OF depending on where they were respectively placed before. Unfortunately, we cannot find a specific rule in place directing us how to treat defenders when shifted. When this question was posed to other veteran FED trained umpires, we got a mix of answers. Any thoughts or opinions from others? Is there a NFHS rule that clears up whether the shifted 3rd baseman is an IF or OF? Thanks for any feedback.

Was on the bases, C Position, 11U game, runners on 1B and 2B, top of 1st Inning. Ball hit to Shortstop, reaches out to tag the runner and I see him miss, making the safe sign then throws to 1st where I also call the BR safe. The Defensive bench erupts; Manager, Coaches, Players & fans "He tagged the runner at Short!". One of the Assistant Coaches is carrying on loudly with "He clearly got him, he clearly got him! He blew the Double Play!" (forgetting that I also called the BR safe). After the crowd deflated a bit, the inning continued. In the bottom of the 1st, runner on 1B, B Position, ball hit to Second Baseman, who reaches out to tag runner, misses him completely but I call R1 out for leaving the baseline. I hear the Assistant Coach cry out, "Not again", but no further complaints. After the inning ended, the Manager comes out to ask about the out call on his runner since 2B missed the tag, which I explained was due to his leaving the baseline. He appreciated the explanation, but then leaned over to my ear and added quietly, "By the way, I checked with my Shortstop and he said that he missed the runner when he ran by him in the previous half-inning." This answered why the Assistant Coach didn't complain so loudly about the out call on his player at 2B. What is pertinent to this topic is the fact that we officials are expected to put up with loud, boisterous questioning of our skills and calls all the time, but have to accept apologies and corrections on the low and under the table, so to speak. The lonely life of an Umpire continues . . .

To Cyclone, I appreciate your feedback about not needing to inform the Coach about the reporting and the suspension, however she was appointed prior to the game to be the Official Scorekeeper as well. The league usually provides their own, however they were short staffed that night and just went ahead and appointed the Home Team's coach to take care of the Scorekeeping. It would have been her responsibility to report the ejection being the Official Scorekeeper. I wanted her to know that I was aware of her prior game appointment and that she had the duty to report this to the league as the Officla Scorekeeper. Otherwise, I would have let this go and let the powers that be handle it. Vavs

This issue has come up twice in one week for me, different leagues. Want to hear how some of you have handled these scenarios. 1) Boys Rec Ball, 15U, with a female coach. Bang-bang play at the plate. Runner from 2B slides into home and touches the plate before the Catcher tags him. I call him safe, checked on the batter's location and call time to clean off the plate. The Catcher all the while is screaming at the top of his lungs, "I tagged him! I tagged him! I tagged him!" I remained silent, brushing off the plate during his little tantrum, which lasted 15 seconds or so. His Coach is 3 feet behind the fence from him, not saying a word. I was about to address his inappropriate reaction calmly, when he vigorously tossed the ball to the pitcher and yelled at the top of his lungs, "SCREW IT!" I tossed him immediately and informed his coach that she needs to suit up a new Catcher. (fun fact: this ejection dropped their team down to 8 players). After the half-inning ended, I went to remind the Coach that when the ejected player's position comes up in the lineup, it becomes an automatic out. She told me, "Fine, but I want you to know that he has Turrets Syndrome!" Without responding, I returned to my spot and finished the game. At the end of the game, I checked the rule book and found out that ejected players have to sit out 2 additional games due to an ejection. I informed the coach of this matter, and she said again that he has Turrets, and that “she’s had to deal with it for 5 years now because it was my son you ejected!†I didn’t say another word, but walked to my car and drove away. 2) Boys Rec Ball- 12U. Batter hits the ball and throws the bat in a way where it spins and hits the Catcher square in the back of the head. I call time, check on the Catcher, and per the league rules warn the player and the team not to throw the bat. At the end of the half-inning, the violator’s coach come up to me and says that the Batter was Autistic, as if to imply I should let it go. I emphasized that he still shouldn’t be letting go of his bat and his team still has an official warning. My basic reason for this post is to hear how you are all dealing with what seems to be a phenomenon of having players with limited skills for whatever reason expected to be given passes on basic rules of the game that can also be detrimental or injurious to other players, if not also adding to a bit of mockery to the game. Vavs

I think he was asking the 1st Base Ump if he wanted to meet after the game at Fudruckers!!

Responding to sdix00: Question- I'm confused as to what I'm supposed to call out if the pitch is an non-swung at strike? Yes, I called out clearly "Batters out!" a few times, but once again the fans were proclaiming their coaching hints and assessment of the play ensuing rather than listening to the PU. I'm getting a general impression that most input is suggesting let what happens, happen and end it with making sure the BR is out. Thanks for all the input, gentlemen!

This has occurred with me behind the plate three times this year alone. I’m still not sure I handled it correctly. In both a LL (x2) and HS game, runners on 1B and 2B, less than 2 outs. The Batter gets a called strike three, which then gets by the Catcher. I clearly motion and loudly call him out, however with everyone screaming a plethora of commands (“Run, he dropped the ball!â€, “He’s out!â€, “You call that a strike?â€, etc.) the Batter-Runner takes off for first full speed and the Catcher gets the ball and throws it past the 1B. Chaos ensues: the Runners don’t know what to do, so they’re advancing (albeit hesitantly), the defensive coach is yelling that the Batter-Runner distracted his fielders by running when he was out, and the offensive coaches are yelling out contradictory commands to the base Runners (“Run!†vs. “Get back!â€). One of my Field Umpires called time and ruled it “Distraction†saying that the Batter-Runner caused the chaos in the first place, and he sent everyone back to where they were (except the Batter). Both coaches seemed pacified, yet I asked him after the game where that was in the rule book, and he just mumbled something about being fair to the spirit of the rules. What should I have done in these circumstances?

Did an 8th grade CYO game last night. Late innings, relief pitcher came in. Kid was throwing from 54' in the upper 60s. Ball bounced up between the catcher's feet and nailed me square in my Buddy. My first hit ever "there", so it took me by surprise, but no pain whatsoever. After the game, upon removing my cup, the blow must have hit so hard that my supporter was sticking to the Nutty Buddy like it was glued to it, but no dent or impression on the cup. What a worthwhile purchase that was.