hill2933

Thanks guys. My game was in a Babe Ruth league supposed to be instructional even with older kids. No score drop dead time limit with kids playing up to next years level. Most kids is their first time on 60/90 and not many pro scouts in the seats. New pitcher almost every inning with ton of walks. If I called anywhere near my normal zone it would be a two inning game every night. When coach started arguing I just called the time limit and walked away. When I found out about the rest of the pushing and arguing I went to the league. When they didn't address I felt it was in my best interest and the kids to let someone else take the next one. I don't feel that it ever got to the point of an ejection before I was off the field but feel the league should have stepped in. As far as my sons game just chalking that up to "you can't cure stupid."

It has been one of those weeks I guess. Game I was working Friday night 15U Fall Ball, league does not even keep score, had a coach lose it because he felt I had the count wrong. And to make matters worse I had just announced "last batter" and his team was ahead. Since there is no scoreboard or book I always show count when there is any two strike or three ball count just so everyone knows next pitch could be out/walk. I call strike two on batter and coach starts screaming about it being three. He is diligently keeping a scorebook (for fall ball????) and there is no way he could be wrong. Ended up just caling the game since time was up and walked away. By the time I got to the car the coaches were on the field pushing each other. Coaches wife even went out to get in it. Off duty police officer there watching his kid play had to break it up. And to top it all off the same coach played second half of double I was supposed to be doing. Reported incident to league president and also informed UIC he was going to need another umpire. Tonight at my kid's game almost had fight between one of the parents of his team and the PU. Coaches had disagreed with a couple close calls (both were correct BTW) and gave up the lead. As time limit was coming up PU told parents he was going to let our team finish their half inning. League rule is drop dead time for Fall. Well of course we end up coming back and had tying run at plate when they called the game. Oh well! I was glad to get home on time. Couple of parents started whining as crew left field. BU walked past our team and kept going to his car (very professional as he didn't even acknowldge them.) PU went the other direction leaving his partner out to dry. Then after hearing the whining he decided to come back from the lot and get into a person dicussion with the biggest loudmouth. He told everyone he was on the league board and that this particular parent was no longer welcome at the park. OK maybe we can go home now! Nope.... PU decides to tell parent exactly what he thinks and ends up calling him a dummy and redneck. Now the coaches are coming running and end up in a heated "discussion" all the way into the parking lot. I really wanted to go tell BU that he had indeed got both questionable calls correct and had gone a great job all season but PU really made it hard to have their backs. How do you keep going back year after year dealing with this kind of stuff? It has taken everything I have to keep from posting all my equpiment on the for sale page (nothing gear junkies would want) and hang it up. This is my first year calling HS ball and absolutley love it but can see it wearing on me. Just ranting guys sorry! Wont be long and I will look like Steve Martin from The Jerk running down the street yelling THE NEW RULE BOOKS ARE IN!!!!!!!!!

Thanks I have learned a ton reading on here and always got positive responses to my questions. I think anyone can call balls and strikes and safe/out but when something strange happens you can tell who can umpire. Hoping to be able to get more experienced and go to some camps next year but will probably still be here asking dumb questions.

I am a new HS umpire and watch other umpires as much as the games I go to. My kid was catching so I am always concerned that may change the way I see things. I always like to go back and look up calls that I have questions about so I may actually get one right when it happens to me.

During game I was watching tonight had this happen. R2 two outs. R2 stealing on pitch B3 swings and misses. As F2 attempts to throw to third backswing strikes F2 in the arm and keeps him from throwing. No call was made and when questioned both umpires said no interference since it was not intentional. I would have called B3 out for interference and if it would not have been 3rd out sent R2 back. Both umpires let play stand and now had R3 and sore F2. This looks to me like it should fall under 5-1-2 in Fed and be dead ball out. Am I reading this wrong? I just don't see how you don't penalize the batter in this situation. I could see coaches teaching long backswings any time stealing 3rd if there is no penalty. This was the same crew that threw a new ball to F1 after a wild pitch with runners on too so not too confident in their decisions. It was interesting watching fielders chasing two baseballs around field while runners breaking for bases.

I have seen it on here several times but never thought i would see it in real life. Field umpire in my sons game the other day swept bases between every half inning. Actually used "plate" brush to clean them. I thought this was like the yeti or the easter bunny but I saw it with me own eyes! To make things worse he called time after every slide into a base to kick the dirt off them. This was a 12U travel league and there are always pick offs and "trick" plays to be alert for and he spent more time cleaning up than watching what was going on. It was bad enough that my wife asked why he was doing it. Is this taught somewhere or is this just some wierd form of umpire OCD?

This was basketball but leaving the field brought back memories. Running late for an early Saturday morning middle school girls game. Just got off working the midnight shift and was pushing it to make it on time. Got to gym right at scheduled start time, ran in said hi to partner and threw the ball up. After the first few trips down the floor I realized I had forgotten to take my backup gun off my ankle. Couple more trips and the ball goes out of bounds by the exit. I blow my whistle make my call then turn and run out the door. I threw my gun in my car ran back in and just put the ball back in play. Everyone was kinda puzzled but play went on until first dead ball when my partner came over asking what had happened. I told him I thought we had it under control so I locked up my gun. Can't imagine what would have happened if it had come out and went flying acoss the gym.

Had JV game last night R1 grounder to F6 throw to F4 covering but on the backside of bag. F4 stepped back to throw to 1st so running lane was clear but R1 never even made attempt to slide although he stayed in basepath. I don't believe he made F4 alter throw but I was turning for call at 1st and could have missed it (no way partner would have made a call on it.) Coaches didn't say a word about it but just looked like it should have been something. Maybe just assuming player at JV level would know better.

Sons team is playing in Disney Salute to Baseball tournament July 4th week. Have been looking forward to it for a year now (even though we expect a thorough beating.) Anyone work these tournaments? Just curious to see who may be there.

Had a HS freshman game go 1:25 for full 7. VT pitcher threw no hitter and HT threw only gave up three. Both hitting spots with good catchers. Outside corner at the knees and F2 never moved the mitt all day! Had to check with partner since there was no scoreboard because I thought I had turned an extra inning somewhere. Then heard parents talking about no hitter in the 7th. Great game wish they were all like that.

F3 was holding R1 at first and was standing in front of the baseline. R1 was a full step behind fielder. Partner didn't disagree that runner was behind fielder just that if runners gets hit he is out period.

I have actually coached about half this team at one time or another and was on the board of our local rec league with many of the parents. The school has very strong support from the community (since there isnt much else to do other than HS sports) but has a reputation for bad fans. I also do basketball and I am kinda glad I get to block them and the few times I have worked their games in tournaments the have given me an extra earful. This just seemed like something that could have been cleaned up easily very early on and would have been done. I have been thinking of how I would have dealt with it. There was talk early between F3 and bench so I think I would call time and clean the plate (which I hope would have been spotless at the time) and let F3 no I will not be hearing that again. Once the "scoreboard" comment was made I am probably letting the VT HC know he will need to warm up another catcher if I hear ANYTHING else from F3. PU game management was weak and mechanincs were worse but the crowd was more interested in arguing with each other and players than saying much to him. He allowed alot of this of build up without addressing it. BU actually met with both coaches between innings for what I assume was a discussion about the chirping. PU was standing at the backstop drinking Gatorade during this meeting so he probably didn't get much out of it. BU had to step in and correct a few calls when PU didn't call time on swinging strike that hit batter (twice in one inning.) Looked to me like BU was going to give his partner enough rope to hang himself.

I coached in a league a few years back that got very competitive between coaches. Basically ended up being all about the coaches and not the players. Bunch of grown men with their zippers down and tape measures out! My friend and I decided we had had enough and when we got to the tournament at the end of the year we never left the dugout. Kids made the line ups, coached the bases and even decided who pitched. The kids loved it! Our parents didn't know what to think but after a while they really got into it too. Hell we even won a couple of games like that. Still have parents that bring it up when I see them. I would love to see leagues go to something like this. Kids have to learn the complete game instead of just doing what they are told and it is amazing how fast they pick things up. nothing better than a kid calling time from the bench to go settle down his pitcher (and set up the hidden ball trick)

Took my son to our local high school freshman game tonight. Typical small town school where every kid goes to same school and everyone knows everyone else. My son hopes to be playing there in two years and several kids he has played with are on the team now. Son is very baseball smart and loves to discuss rules and situations. This game got ugly quickly with players chirping at each other right off the bat. At one point VT F2 turns and yells into home team dugout "scoreboard!" F2 was about three feet from PU and nothing was said. Son tells me that catcher will get hit soon. It went down hill from there and apparently almost had a fight break out between VT F2 and a HT player. We had just left because it was getting bad so didn't see that part. Didn't even make it home before phone started blowing up with people wanting to know umpires names and who to complain to etc. I am new to association and didn't know either umpire but there is no way I would give anyone's name out and told them the caches knew who to contact. Really took the fun out of just watching the kids play. I imagine it will be worse when mine gets there.

Probably would have taken it if it was still available since it was down to less than two hours before game. Hate to leave someone hanging. We got email few days ago looking for people to unblock this weekend for some games that were uncovered. I already had a games but emailed assigner that if I could take another to help out I was available. Ended up getting another pretty good rivalry game that should be a good one. Wife would not have been happy daughter could probably care less. Already have HALF day blocked for her graduation in a few weeks anyway.

Just got phone call from my daughter that assigner had left a message at my house trying to fill a varsity game tonight. It wasn't the usual assigner, who normally calls my cell, so I called him back as soon as I found out only to find out game was filled. Probably good thing since my daughter is having her senior awards ceremony at the same time and I would have been in the dog house for a LONG time if I took it. They must have been getting desperate! Working varsity in first year is probably not a good idea but it was cool to be asked.

Thanks great example! Don't feel like I will miss that one again.

Thanks looking back I probably would have changed it. It was a very slight step but it was difinatley there.

R1 gets picked off first and gets caught in run down. I rotate up to 1st and have good angle down basepath. After a couple throws R1 is attempting to make it back to 1st and F3 after making throw is in the path. R1 turns and runs past F3 without making contact although he does have to make a slight step to get around F3. R1 gets tagged out easily at 1st. Coach comes out wanting obstruction. I clearly had no contact and told him I had no obstruction. Would you call obstruction if there is no contact? If so how much would it have to affect runner? I think if he would have had to stop or even slow down I may have given it to him but didn't have that here. Just been second guessing myself.

Hello everyone. First year high school umpire from Louisville. I have been umpiring in a local rec league for a couple years with no training. Everything I learned was from YouTube and reading posts on here. Now doing high school games and really looking forward to moving up and getting better. Right now biggest struggle is staying motivated since I am not working many games. Usually only a day or two per week. I have had some really good games though (plate for freshman no hitter and plate for JV extra innings close one) hopefully that will change as weather warms up. I am a police officer here and will be going back to midnight shift soon. I expect a lot of 4AM posts on here after the bars close. I will be eligible for retirement in a year and a half and would like to find a way to turn umpiring into my retirement job. Thanks for everything you guys have taught me so far and thanks in advance for answering all the stupid questions to come.

We got together and changed the call and he asked me to explain the call to coaches. I kinda felt like I was stepping on his toes on it. How do you prefer to handle it when you reverse a call like this? Coach handled it really well. He acted like he had never heard this rule but once I explained it he never said another word about it.

I am a police officer and have been working a desk job for the past few years that is pretty much normal business hours. I am getting ready to go back on the street and will be working the midnight shift. Anyone else work other than normal hours and how does it affect umpiring games? I like the idea of being able to take my time getting to games and not feeling rushed making it from work but early games on the weekend can make for some long days.

He said he was told any time runner is hi by batted ball it is an out. Not sure if it was not explained clearly to assigner.

First off new here and new to HS ball. Had this in a game the other day and still not sure if we handled it right. Tie game in 7th R1 and 1 out. F3 holding runner and playing in front of baseline. Batter hits a hard grounder down first base line that goes past F3's glove and strikes R1 in back foot just a step or two from base. Partner points to R1 but makes no out call (don't know if he said anything or not.) F3 recovers ball and makes play on BR and partner gives safe signal as BR beat throw to the base. Partner then calls R1 out for being hit by batted ball. Coach comes out to him saying that ball had passed F3 and that R1 should not be out. Partner comes to me and I tell him I had R1 behind F3 and ball was clearly past him when it hit runner. No other infielder had a play and I told partner I think it should have been live ball. We end up changing the out call and have R2 R1 with one out. Of course the kid that got hit comes around to score what would be the winning run and we get an earful on the way out. Talking about it after the game I was confident we got the call right and partner said he was going to call assigner and check with him too. Partner called me later and said his original call was right and runner should have been out. Been rereading the rule book and still feel like it should have been live ball. Since ball passed infielder other than pitcher and no other infielder had play on the ball it is live right?? Does it make a difference if partner killed the play when runner was hit?