ricka56

When the pitcher steps back (disengages) from the rubber, he is treated like any other fielder than threw a ball out of play. Two bases from the time of the throw. R1 becomes R3. Additionally, if he hadn't disengaged, it would be one base.

This place sounds like participants/spectators are out of control. And if they are targeting an umpire based on their gender that should not be acceptable. If management is not doing enough to curb their misbehavior, perhaps there are other facilities that would appreciate your work.

A different kind of software is a pitiful consolation for no flying cars. IBM did themselves no favor reminding us of that.

HTBT of course. Tthough MC has to have C (contact), UC (unsportsmanlike conduct) doesn't need contact. If he tried to hit F5 after the play was over, but didn't hit him as well as he wanted to, you would have been justified for tossing the hothead for UC. There are times when officials call this stuff more closely than others. For example, if there was bad blood and the officials wanted to keep the reins tight to prevent things getting out of hand, then one might EJ early to keep control of the game ... again HTBT. The other side of the coin is that you let it go and take the chance it doesn't escalate. If that backfires, you will be second-guessed for letting it get out of hand..

A better question to ask.

I always thought that lefties were allowed to cheat on that mythical 45 degree line to compensate for that form of mental retardation.

I don't think this sitch was handled well : 1. The runner was in a precarious position partly because of the field conditions. If he was in contact and he asked for TIME, I would have granted it...not the least of the reasons being that you avoid that $#!+show ...mostly because if he was in contact with the base, action was relaxed and there was no reason not to grant TIME. 2. Making the coach go back into the coach's box to request TIME is not going to calm the coach down (the reason given). This umpire has now shown up the coach (albeit he may have deserved it). If this umpire thought that he'd teach the coach a lesson by making retreat and then ask for TIME, I'd be shocked if it took...it's only going to make him nastier to deal with...this was avoidable.The umpire could have anticipated that the coach would want to talk to the umpire about what happened. I would have and called TIME for the coach to come out. I have seen umpires make the coach go back to and ask for TIME before granting it and discussing what happened. It never looks good. It makes the umpire look like an arse. And it doesn't have to go that way. Anticipate the need for the discussion, call TIME and lets get it on.

The OP eliminates the short "great circle" global route (1BL). He didn't take that one. The long way has him retreating past HP for an out and has him home in time for dinner.

That would depend on whether you need justification to for an out or that's nothing. I know of no interp that covers this reference. I suggest using the KISS reference.

Chess is Todd's game...not baseball

As others have stated, don't aggravate the situation. Keep your thought to yourself and GTF out of there.

You answered your own question (why is still not out?) in the bold type. A play has to be made on a runner for the 3 foot rule to be applied. "When" a play is being made (tag attempt) is a judgement call. I wouldn't use MLB umpire's criteria (tag attempt) for games below pro level.

The rule code does matter. In OBR if the batter leaves the dirt circle around HP, then he is out. In Fed, he's not out unless he enters the dugout. 1. if he's out of the base path trying to avoid the tag, he is out. 2. batter can run to 1B, the defense has to make a play on him.

Next batter gets drilled in the back...PU laughs...batter says, "Thanks Brad".

when you've got to pee...you've got to pee.

Think about how you (a junior assn member) are going to inquire and respond to their "policy". I would push back if they said that you should have gone to your partner...but I am a senior assn member...it might not serve a junior assn member as well. "So, even though I saw the pulled foot and nothing my partner could say would convince me otherwise, you still want me to go ask my partner to appease the coach ?"

You got it right for Fed. The arm motion is not required ... just like a fake to 2B.

I had the exact situation (except I was in A and saw foot/base daylight) a few weeks ago. Coach was under the mistaken belief that I had to go get help if he asked. I also had a partner that said that I should have come to him to appease the coach (he and F2 both saw the pulled foot). While I agree with your decision to keep the call (no partner conference), you might want to check with your assn. prez and ask him what he thinks. I think that it can make things difficult for umpires in future games if coaches get to expect to have partner conference granted at will, but some assn. are in the coach appeasing business. You ought to know that before you have another situation like the OP. Then you can decide if you want to say FU to the coach or your association.

Next weekend (April 28-May 1), the son of one of our chapter members will be putting on the 6th Annual Strike Against Cancer baseball tournament in the North Dallas area. If any of y'all are in that area and want to participate in this fine benefit, please contact the umpire assigner, Leonard Meyer 214-543-7578.

Refer to my previous Catch-22 post. Those MLB umpires judged that his sideways movement was done prior to any play (tag attempt)...actually they had to have judged that no play attempt was made at all. High school rules/interpretation is much more liberal on when a play is being made. The following was sent today to all TASO (Texas HS umpires). It doesn't address the issue you have with those plays, but it shows that HS avoiding an attempt at a play is interpreted differently than in MLB. The tag avoidance in the plays that you are talking about wouldn't be allow in a HS game. Snake in the Grass - ...This play is occurring again mostly when we have runners at first and third. The coach has his runner on first base take his lead toward right field, sometimes positioned on the foul line in the grass in right field. When the throw is made to first, the runner sometimes even runs to the outfield. The intent is to obviously distract the defense and thus score the runner from third. Many umpires want to immediately call the runner on first out when he takes his lead and/or eject him and the coach. The reality? It is not illegal; silly yes, but not illegal. We have no rule that specifies where a runner on first must take his lead. All we know is that when the defense makes a throw over to first, the runner, from his position at that time, establishes his base line from that point to first or second base, whichever base he now attempts to get to. If he moves out of that baseline, he can be called out for avoiding a play...

Baseball's Catch-22. To apply the greater than 3 foot deviation rule, a tag attempt must be made. To have a tag attempt, you have to be within reach of the runner (center chest to finger tip distance = 3 feet). So as long as you avoid the tag (stay out of reach of fielder with the ball), you can never be guilty of deviating 3 feet. This Catch-22 has made a mockery of the rule. Some of these plays are a good example why lower level umpires shouldn't emulate some of the things MLB umpires do.

The mobility challenged are allowed to stroll.

Typo ... This is not done at the HS level...if a team tried it, I wouldn't allow it...but I've never seen it. At the youth level it looks silly, but as long as no one is saying anything stupid, IDGAF

VT is ahead 8-0 and play 1 and play 2 go against him. And he's making two stinks ? Sometimes the path of least resistance is to go ask your partner to appease the coach. If I have an inexperienced, I don't have a problem with him coming to me. Most of our discussion is about how he is going to handle the coach on the wrong of a call. But you say that your "buddy who is typically a solid umpire" shouldn't be using you for a crutch and pulling you under the bus with him. I don't think you said what your partner had to say about calling you in for those plays. Did he own up that he shouldn't have done what he did? One riot...one Ranger

The level where I leave my common sense in the car.