cearle23

Thank you fellas. We did not call it, I was on the plate and came up (too) quick and almost called the balk before realizing the pitcher was going to first, but the play stuck with me, so I wanted some clarification. @maven the quibble makes a lot of sense, touche, a right handed pitcher doesn't have to make a stop before he attempts a pick-off, why would a lefty? Thanks for simplifying that...

NFHS Rule Set Lefty on the mound with a runner on first, throwing from the set. First pitch to the batter he brings the hands together, then goes straight into his balance point and delivery and rolls right through even a hint of a discern-able stop, we balk him and advance the runner. Next inning, same situation - runner on first. He brings the hands together, raises his leg as if to pitch and throws to first again without a pause. Is this legal?

Is there a protocol for what color ball bag you wear based on what color shirt or pants you wear or anything of that nature? I overheard some guys talking last night about the topic but didn't hear the outcome, so wanted to check to see if there were any standards out there. Apologies if this topic has been discussed, I did not see it in the archives.

Welp, might have missed that one today. I gave the batter first on the play... in my judgment the catcher had a marginal chance to make the play as the ball was pretty much straight to the pitcher, and his contact definitely hindered the batter's progress and altered his path to first. That said hnnnad there not been contact the batter probably still would have been out at first... Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

No outs, no runners on, FED rules set. Right handed batter squares and lays down a bunt to the pitcher. Catcher comes charging out and collides with batter/runner in front of home plate and his contact causes the runner to drift well into fair territory before he can resume his path to first base. Pitcher fields the ball and throws to first to retire the runner. What's your call?

Fair point and I'm not saying I shouldn't have been watching the same play as my partner in all cases, but the force out at second was blatant, I was watching for a catch with a tag situation on third. I had tournament directors watching that made mention of the play later, the opposing coach referenced it after the game as being a poor call. I appreciate the comment and the feedback. Hopefully, soon enough the clowns will be a thing of the past!

In both cases, the coach came out to discuss with the BU, but he never came to me for help or interpretation, which is the reason I did not get invovled.

There was one very blatant force out at second base, bases loaded, one out, blooper to center so runners are hesitating to go, ball drops in, CF picks it up and throws to second. I can see foot on the bag, I can see the catch and the runner is just starting his slide. Guy calls him safe. Second instance, runner on second stealing with 2 outs, catcher throws a strike to the bag, 3B puts the tag down for runner to slide into, guy was in C position, but hadn't moved to get a better angle or cut down the distance between him and the play. It was a definite out that he ruled safe. Both plays hurt the same team, and while the first would not have ended the inning, they both prolonged the inning and runs were scored as a result.

I know that as a general rule of thumb you do not over rule your partner, they ask for help you give them the rule or interpretation of the play and then let them handle their business. I am not high school certified myself and have no formal training so I don't want to come off more high and mighty than I am. I spend more time than my boss should know on this site reading about mechanics, situations, and rules, I've got the case book and rule book on my phone for downtime, so I do spend a lot of time trying to better myself. I have invested in uniforms and my own plate gear to give off a professional look when I'm on the field, I take all the games from 8U to high school pretty seriously, to the point my wife may need counseling after I run down all the happenings of the games each night... I worked a lot of rec league games this past spring and with it being a rec league there was not a real in depth training session given, a lot of the other umps are high school aged or younger, and many show up in shorts and hats on backwards. I'm not trying to say that the way you dress ultimately defines you as an umpire but it's been discussed on here and other places, it's not a good first impression and invites skeptism from coaches and fans from the first pitch if you know what you are doing out there. I always enjoy working with experienced guys and getting tips, feedback, discussing calls, etc. I try to do the same with a younger guys that I work with if they are interested. Now that we are out of the rec season and into tournament season at our local facility, a lot of the same rec league guys are still working these games, I won't get started on how I feel about them not being in uniform, when a team has come from a far distance and shows up to the field and there is the umpire in his gym shorts and t-shirt... So here is the point of the post... is there a point when you over rule a guy that is simply there to get his money and be gone when he isn't hustling into position and is missing very obvious calls? Granted, a uniform doesn't make you hustle or get you in position, but it does give off a better impression than walking in shorts. I did not do it over the weekend, but had a couple of opportunities to do so, but didn't on principle of it being their call, they didn't ask for assistance, so I'm not going to overrule... I feel it reflects poorly on both of us in these situations, but wanted to get some feedback on if and when you guys would take these situations into your own hands...

In a dead ball appeal in NFHS rules (8-2-6) it is said that any coach or defensive player, with or without the ball, may make a verbal appeal on a runner missing a base or leaving a base too soon on a caught fly ball... So the coach can simply say "Mr. Umpire, your majesty, the runner left third early... we would like to appeal?" and the ball does not go live again and does not even need to be thrown to the bag?

This particular game was under NFHS rules. Had he not gotten his non-pivot foot around to step directly towards second would you have been inclined to call the balk? Thanks for the knowledge, I'll know for next time...

Had a similar situation the other night.... R1 took off from first and RHP steps with his left foot towards second to throw from the set position, never stepped off with his pivot foot, had not committed to the plate yet. He did step directly toward second with his left foot, however I balked the pitcher for not stepping off, got no argument from anyone, however I am looking for a little reassurance that that was the correct call. Reading this post has me questioning the call a bit, as he was throwing to an unoccupied base to drive the runner back, however the step to second as opposed to third is different... let me know what you guys think....

I appreciate all the feedback fellas! I'm going to go with some combo's for now, a lot of the games I'm doing are on a time limit, with start times backed up so that there is little to no time in between games, so that does not allow a lot of time for changing so that seems like the best route for the time being.

I've been working on borrowed time with some of my gear, I've got a good mask and chest protector, but my lower half is a bit vulnerable with the equipment I currently have. I have some very small (childrens) shinguards that I've been using that leave the inside and outside of my shins exposed, fortunately no injuries to report yet, but as I move up in the level that I am working I know my time is coming. As a former catcher I have a couple sets of shinguards that I can use until I'm ready to purchase some umpire leg guards. I would like to purchase some plate or combo pants in the meantime to fit over those guards, currently my regular charcoal gray pants fit over the smaller guards just fine so that is why I have been using them up to this point, but they will not fit over the bulkier catchers gear. Have any of you used a pair of "regular" shin guards with combo or plate pants? Main concern is that there be enough room in the knee area for the added bulkiness of the guards.... Smitty pants have either a 24" or 25" so wanted to know if there was any feedback available. I know it's a stubborn argument, but I'd rather continue to take some short hops off the shin than ever consider putting the guards outside my pants! One day I'll be ready to upgrade it all but until then I need to keep a professional look at the lowest cost possible.... Any advice is appreciated...Thanks in advance.

From what I can tell, according to some parents... legally I shouldn't be allowed to drive on city streets!!

Hello brothers in blue - I've been visiting the site for a few weeks now and started a membership last week. I played throughout high school and college, but as I saw on a "bumper sticker" recently my eye sight went bad a couple years ago so I became an umpire! I'm in my second year calling rec league and travel ball from fourth grade up to high school level. Hope to take things another step by next year and become certified through the state association. Until then I'm enjoying learning from everyone on here through the various forums and posts about different rules and situations!

Thank you. On the flip side.... what are you looking for from a batter when you call him back to the box after getting hit? No attempt what-so-ever to move? If they roll their front shoulder to take the pitch intentionally? Does the pitch make any difference (fastball vs. off speed)?

In a high school rec league game (NFHS rules) recently a right handed batter on an inside pitch started to bail and in the process removed his left hand from the bat, the pitch then hit him in the hand not contacting the bat, the pitch was out of the strike zone at the time of it contacting the batter. Is this a HBP or should it be called a ball? Rule 7-3-4 does not allow a batter to permit a pitched ball to touch him. Penalty being the batter remains at bat with the pitch being a ball or a strike, but the movement did not seem to be an intentional action, so is it judgement if the batter "permits" the ball to touch him? The rule does not say anything about intent... Thanks in advance.