urout17

Hmm....had this happen a few years ago. 18U, OBR, R1 and R2, one out, infield playing back. The BR pops one up right over the pitchers mound. The pitcher instantly bails on the play. The SS comes racing in from deep short, trips over the mound and falls, never touching the ball. The ball hits the front end of the mound and ricochets into foul territory half way between HP and third base. I had the plate that day. Once I saw the pitcher bail I thought to myself, Ok, NOW who's gonna make this play? No IFF was called. I called foul ball and the next thing I have is a HC coming out asking why the IFF rule wasn't called. I explained the whole rule which he didn't like but walked away. It seems a lot of people don't realize there's more to the IFF rule than just runners on base.

We were working a regional final on Wednesday night. Three man crew and it was my turn to be U2. Of course the setting sun is right over the head of the pitchers, BOTH who happen to be pretty good left handers. It was tough for about two innings.

If I'm the HC, I know I'm getting tossed.

R1 and R2, no outs. Batter swings and gets interfered with the catchers glove however the batter makes solid contact with the ball and singles thru the left side, driving in a run. I know it's a delayed dead ball and since everyone acquired the base they were entitled to, the interference is ignored. My question is, being the PU, how is that call made without everyone stopping action, just with your left arm extended without verbalizing? This was a HS JV game and nobody said anything about it but it got me thinking what about a higher level game where the catcher or coach feels/hears the interference? I'm assuming you'd just explain what you had after the play stops and time is called.

If that is the case I think they could have worded it a little better.

Hahaha....what the hell does that mean?

Oh, I didn't hate it. It was pretty good actually but just a little preventive maintenance.

I'm working a varsity HS game at the Toronto Blue Jays spring training home in Dunedin, Florida. Close game vs two pretty good teams. LF batter comes up and hits a monstrous HR to RF which hits a pedestrian walkway roof and bounces out of the stadium. Had to be one of the farthest balls I've seen hit in the last five years. The batter is jogging up the 1B line admiring and of course, here comes the bat flip. After he crossed HP I casually make my way over to his HC and tell him of the warning I gave the kid (kid?...he was about 6-3). He understood and didn't have any problem. Just about then the home team called for a pitching conference at which time I made my way over to their head coach. I proceeded to tell him of the warning I placed on the other player and he says to me..."That's fine, no problem, but did you see how far that ball went?!"

Just asking here, let's assume two man system where U1 is in "C" with a runner on 2B only. How can we call what we don't see, even if glancing back quickly?

You had me at "Funny story I heard in Poland".

I'm just catching up on some reading on this site and came across yours. How is your family doing?

Yikes! After moving from Chicago, the only ice we see now...

This is a random video I came across. I was too young to remember this series (or play for that matter) but it did raise my eyebrow.

Thanks for your comments and kudos. As all of us are taught, slow everything down before making your call. It's easy to get caught up in a play like this to bag a runner out quickly. I think my reasoning for making a call like I did was that I had time to see this play develop with the slow roller off the bat and both first/third crashing on the play, not the case on most plays but this one seemed to work out (at least I thought so). I agree, less words on a quicker play is always better. I had some really good instructors years ago and their words of wisdom stick with me to this day.

Funny thing is that the field we were on has a setting sun directly down the 1B line. This was the first game we've had there since Covid shut us down earlier this year but we've both worked there many times over the years. We pre-gamed this exact situation just to remind ourselves, not that that had any bearing on my call in this situation.

Fed HS fall league varsity game. Bottom of the first. Runners on first and third, I'm in B. Slow roller towards 3B. 3B charges in, scopes up the ball and makes a play at first. First baseman was breaking in as well on the pitch so the 2B was covering first. 2B was at first waiting on the back side of the bag for the throw which was high. 2B had to jump slightly to grab it, I'd say 3-4", but CLEARLY came down on the bag BEFORE the BR. I yelled "I HAVE THE FOOT DOWN ON THE BAG BEFORE THE RUNNER, HE'S OUT". To me it really was an easy call that I was 100% correct. Of course the 3B HC comes out asking me to get help on the call, saying that he missed the bag. I politely said "Joe", I was exactly where I needed to be, had a perfect angle and I clearly have what I called. I don't need help with this one". Of course he didn't like that answer and that I was now stubborn to not even appease him. I let him babble for about 20 seconds (nothing ejection worthy) before I said "Ok, let's get back to playing" Believe me, if I didn't see what I saw so clearly I would ask my partner. My question is, how many of you would go to your partner just to keep him quite? I was always taught to own your calls and only go for help if you absolutely need it. Maybe I'm old school and don't measure up to this PC world. Thoughts? Thanks guys.

Hahaha...nice. In my playing days yes but now I only wear a cup when I have the plate.

I'd take getting hit in the head on the base path any day over any other part of my body. It's the only place I have protection.

Just an observation. I was watching a game this morning and the HP umpire stayed in this position for all right handed batters. When a LH came up, he setup up straight over HP and didn't move. I was waiting for him to get bit but luck was on his side.

It's good to hear Fox might be adding former MLB umpires to the booth for postseason games so we don't have to listen to asinine comments from uneducated announcers.

I agree but the problem is these fall ball games. They're looking for a few players for next years team so they're constantly moving players around and in/out of the lineup. I'll see two or three different catchers throughout a game. I do like the comment that @Maven suggested and will use that in the future. ("Why? Don't you want to get an out if they try something?").

"This is just like the infield wanting “time” to throw the ball back to the pitcher. Not happening on my field." I totally agree, My assignor did call last night to talk about weekend availability and I did bring it up.