urout17

About 5-6 years ago I was asked to just call pitches for a college evaluation "game". 7-8 college scouts in the stands, all with clip boards and guns. Most pitchers throwing low to mid 90's. They were changing out pitchers and base runners every half inning. A few innings in there's a kid on the mound throwing right handed. Nothing special, mid 80's at best but threw strikes. I'm thinking why is he here? A batter gets a hit. It took me a couple of pitches to realize he is now throwing left handed. Equally as strong mid 80's, throwing strikes. At the end of the inning he's walking off the mound and I walk towards him and ask to see his glove. He had a custom six finger glove made to switch hands. Pretty cool.

But only been here a few years.......born and raised for 50 yrs in Chicago so no excuse.

Sorry I'm behind the times and my Oriental vernacular is not up to par yet...

Yes and yes and I hammered out, out , out three more times.

18U, R3, 2 outs, I'm BU. Slow ground ball to 3B who throws a wide of first. 6'-3" 1B has no problem doing the splits stretching for the ball, has his foot on the bag and makes a really nice catch and in my judgement maintains possession of the ball more than long enough (the throw was not in the dirt). As he regains his balance getting up the ball pops out of his glove but to me he was deliberately flipping it to himself. Of course the HC didn't see it that way and wanted me to get help. I told him I didn't need it since I was in perfect position and had a great angle on the play and told him exactly what I had. Again, he asks why can't I just ask and again I said I didn't need it so let's move on. He grumbles a bit but leaves with no trouble the rest of the game. I'd like to know how many of you appease coaches by going to your partner or do you do like I did and stick to your guns. Thanks.

8-27-1914 BOX CHI N Heinie Zimmerman Threw ball into stands Trevor Bauer syndrome....

Did you know Randy Savage played minor league baseball? A bunch of friends and I were at a restaurant in the mid 2000's when we noticed him sitting there. We left him alone but when he heard we were talking baseball he came over and bs'd with us for 20 minutes. He was a real nice guy.

Fed Rules, 18U, three man crew, R3, 0 outs, I'm in A. Pop-up in foul territory by the 3B dugout. F1, F2 and F5 converge. At the last second someone in the dugout yells "I got it". Of course the ball drops in between them all. U3 called the batter out. Are we calling the batter out AND getting a bench warning. Just wondering.

Hearing it once for the first time might be coincidental. I hear it a second time I'll shut that down.

Update... https://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/yankees-manager-aaron-boone-suspended-tirade-umpire/?fbclid=IwAR2Il4D7SPKS0_SFPsa2uz3fYybPa1IAPNv-Cn7pb3CP9kTJg3h1Fqt6CKk

Had a bird incident the other day. Pitch comes in just as a bird fly's across the field. The pitch nipped the bird (a few feathers came off) but continued to fly away. The batter took the pitch, which I ruled a no pitch anyway. Never personally seen that before.

IMO....I just don't like little kids mimicking adults...not on TV sitcoms, movies or this. I get what they're trying to do, I just don't find it funny.

I never understood how anyone can take 8-10 year old ball more than instructional. There's no sense in calling a "tight" zone at this age. They're learning the coordination of pitching and batters are learning to hit live pitching in a game situation. IMO, these games should be instructional for young umpires as well. HS kids looking to make a few bucks should be encouraged to try working these games without ANY comments from parents/spectators. I know this is easier said than done. Oh well....just my two cents.

18U game, I'm PU. Lead-off batter for the inning hits a ball down the RF line. He fly's all the way into third with a triple. After the 3B tosses the ball back to the pitch the catcher walks to the mound to have a chat with his pitcher. I hear a mom in the stands say "I wonder if he called time". Just as I hear that the runner breaks for the plate and scores easily. The catcher turns around to watch him score and has that dear-in-the-headlights look. Couldn't help but laugh inside.

Well that didn't take long...hahaha

Most of which they can't defend anyway.

Blame it on the K-Zone.

I had this happen in a game a few years ago. Bases loaded (of course) and the batter fouled off 3-4 pitches. He then got fooled on a breaking ball and stuck his knee in the strike zone, got hit and started up the first base line. Just as stated above, after yelling time and calling the batter out, I waited for the head coach (who was coaching 3B) to come down, which he did. I explained to him exactly what his player did. I was always taught when a coach comes out to question what happened you're now on a witness stand, say as little as possible but be clear what you have and don't demonstrate physically what happened. He didn't like the call but didn't put up too much fuss.

I absolutely have no problem with my partners' comments once I'm done. Common courtesy I guess.

A talented player with a cement head. The only thing I heard was blah blah blah....

How do you handle the partner who likes to interject during your plate conference? As the UIC (HS and above), when I'm done talking I'll ask my partner if he has anything he 'd like to add. I've worked with most of our members and 9.9 times out of 10 they have nothing to add. Has anyone ever brought this up to them after the game? Just wondering...

A pretty good read. https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/27000520/a-crisis-mode-all-levels-how-technology-put-officials-tough-spot

Will having a double bag at 1B eliminate most of these problems?

I guess not. I just noticed. Sorry