nicshow

I finally ordered the Gerry Davis 11.5 bags and they work very well for softballs - they are not quite as deep as others and therefore softballs are easier to pull from the bag quickly. The hems on the beltloops are not tacked or sewn inside and so when I thread the belt through, I sometimes have to push the folded under pieces back in. Nic

Can anyone recommend a ball bag that works well for softballs?

Just discovered the Velcro on my Wilson memory foam pads are doing this to all my shirts

JV baseball tonight - one catcher doesn't have a clue about catching the ball and I took a fastball directly to me forearm. I staggered and went to my knees for a couple of minutes and then finished the game. My wife/nurse thinks I may have fractured it. I'll find out more in the morning but I'm curious if anyone has worked with a casted left arm? Nic

I think I discovered the source of the snagging. I believe the velcro ends of my hask harness are catching and pulling on my shirt fabric when I hold my mask. Time for the gaffers tape!

Since it's on the left side on every shirt, it's got to be where the harness on the West vest is sticking out or something like that. Funny thing is, though, none of my navy baseball shirts have it.

My powder blue shirts are all pilling on the left side. It must have something to do with my West vest and my left arm when behind the plate...and more righty hitters than lefties. Anyway, just wondering if there are any shirts that are less prone to pilling. I have it happening to Honigs, Smitty and Cliff Kean. Nic

I wear combos behind the plate with no problems whatsoever. If plate pants are even bigger and roomier, I don't understand the insistence on wearing them over combos.

What IS the difference between combo and plate pants?

Can anyone tell me if the Honig and Smitty pullovers are sized differently or pretty similar? Nic

And yes, the slide was legal and F4 dropped the throw

He had achieved 2nd. He was getting up in an effort to achieve 3rd when he was unable to take a step because F4 was on top of him. So, I'm thinking that he probably should have been awarded 3rd by rule.

R1 & R2 as B1 hits a ground ball to F3. F3 throws to F4 who takes the throw at 2B. The runners slide knocks him off his feet and onto R1 who attempts to get up and advance but is unable to do so because of F4 laying injured on top of his legs. I called obstruction and the play came to an end with no further action. We then called time and partner and I agreed to leave R1 at 2B given the fact that F4 was injured. I know, by rule, we probably should have awarded R2 a base but wondering if this was the right way to handle the situation? Nic

And whether or not the offense leaves the field has no bearing in this situation? Nic

I am in C for a put out at first to end the inning. All players leave the field and coach comes out to ask me to get help from my partner. We got together and my partner tells me and the coach that he saw him pull his foot but it was too late now for an "appeal" because all the players have left the field. I'm trying to find rule/rules that cover this situation and find that indeed this is not an official "appeal" but just a "get help from partner situation." I'd like to feel more sure about this situation the next time it happens. Once the players have left the field, is there any recourse to this situation? Nic

2 outs if intentional?

Interesting and helpful. Thank you. The string is connected to the adjacent fielder and not parallel to the basepath? If it's connected to the 2nd baseman who is playing deep, the batted ball hitting the runner could still be a dead ball?

I need some help on the rule about a batted ball being dead when hitting a baserunner. The wording says that the ball is dead unless it 2. touches a runner after passing through or by an infielder and another infielder could have made a play on the ball, NFHS (2015-11-04). 2016 NFHS Baseball Rules Book (Kindle Locations 683-684). NFHS. Kindle Edition. Through or by an infielder...? Does that mean that it can pass by 15 feet to the right of the first baseman who is playing in, hit the runner and not be dead? Or is it only not dead if it passes by the 1st baseman who might have a chance to play on the ball? I hope I'm asking that clearly.

This is a question on my Fed test: R1 on third R2 on 1st with 1 out. As the pitch is released R2 attempts to steal. B3 hits a fly ball that is caught by F9. R1 tags up and attempts to score. F9 throws the ball to F3 who touches 1st before R2 returns to the base. R1 touches home plate prior to F3 touching 1st. A. When F3 touches first base it is a force out for the third out of the inning. R1's run does not count.* B. When F3 touches first base it is a force out for the third out of the inning.* C. This is considered a time play. R1's run does not count.* D. This is considered a time play. Count the run by R1. A & B are eliminated because this is not a force play. I THINK the correct answer is D? Nic

This was my 9th varsity game this year. I did about that many last year. I did at least twice that many JV games last year and probably 3 times that many this year. As I have been reflecting, I think one of the problems with that game was that I've been working with an expanded or liberal strike zone for all those JV games and most of the Varsity games. And I've had little criticism because most pitchers need a bigger zone. But, in this game, they were not loving my zone. I think I would have had little problem had I called a zone closer to the book and I'm open to dealing with that issue. I think the point that has been raised is a good one - about jumping into Varsity games before one is ready. There are far more games than umps but I need to be much more careful about what games I accept. Nic

@Specks it was a HS varsity game. Thank you so much to all of you who have offered advice, support and encouragement. It's very healing. And all of your comments have been very insightful and appropriate which I very much appreciate! Nic

Coach was debating balls and strikes from the dugout which I tolerated without addressing for quite a while. Inning ended on a back door curve ball that was clearly a strike. 1st base coach came to me as he was returning to dugout and said "You have to fix something." I asked him to repeat it which he did and I told him that was enough. He continued on to dugout where head coach was, in similar ways, questioning that pitch and my strike zone in general. I warned him by saying "that's enough coach, I've heard enough" and pointed my palm in his direction. He replied "really, is that enough, you've heard enough?" Again I said "that's enough coach." He made one more comment in response (which I do not now remember but I do know that it was directed at me) and I told him he was gone. It just went downhill from there. The crowds on both side were uttering their stupid comments "that was a strike against us last inning" and other general, inane comments. I finally heard a "you're a dumbass." I called time and turned around and told the crowd that if they continued they were putting their team in jeopardy and I warned the coach if they didn't settle down, he would be restricted. He immediately told them to be quiet. Then, something happened (a passed ball I believe)and I second-guessed whether I clicked my indicator so I asked my partner for the count. 2-1. 2 more balls and the batter just stood there and told him that was 4 and people went nuts. I met with my partner and the coach and expected that my partner would say that he had the same count but he just hung me out to dry. I'm not sure it's worth the $50. Any advice, critique, suggestions? Nic

I had some softball games yesterday with hard-hit balls right down the 3rd base line. Balls that stay in the air and land foul aren't too bad, but the ones bouncing down the line are really hard to see especially on the small field where there isn't time to get out from behind the catcher in order to get a good view. Is there any trick to making a good call on those? Nic

I was behind the plate in a varsity baseball game Saturday. Both teams were playing pretty well with lots of action. I was keeping busy behind the plate when a routine ground ball was hit on the infield with runners on base. The throw to first went high and right into a dugout for a dead ball. But then it came time to place runners and my partner and I weren't sure where runners were at the time of the throw. Does one umpire have primary responsibility for immediately looking to see where runners are at the time of the throw? What mechanic am I missing to be ready for this kind of situation? Nic

I'm in my 2nd season of doing varsity baseball and softball. I've still got a lot to learn and a lot of seasoning to do but I'm generally pleased with my progress. I've worked hard to develop my strike zone and have received affirmation from partners, coaches and assignors. Tonight I had my first chirpy coach - varsity softball. His pitcher was terrible and very slow. The other pitcher was decent. From almost the start, I was hearing moans and groans especially when his pitcher came anywhere near the plate. Then, from the slot position a pitch that was thigh high but coming for my left hip to a right-handed batter which I called a ball. He said "that was right down the middle." I was mostly amused but it was getting under my skin just because of how ridiculous most of it was. Finally, he was in the 3rd base coaches box and I called a borderline, high and outside pitch a ball. The next pitch came right to the same spot but just looked slightly better to me so I called it a strike. "Just some consistency is all I ask for." I took off my mask, called time and took 3 or 4 steps toward up the line and asked the coach if he had a question to which he replied "no." He was quieter for the rest of the game. Should I have just ignored him? He never did say anything personal so I didn't want to elevate the situation unneccessarily. The game ended with his team losing 13-0. Nic