baseballfan

I did a brief search in the history here... seemed like most of the discussion about umpire pants when it came to fitting was about the width. I am also concerned about length. Since you have to fit shin guards under plate pants, and since they will "ride up" a little bit around the ankles when you get into position behind the plate, should you still get the same length as you would for normal dress pants? Or should you go an inch longer? Do you all get the same length on your base pants as you do your plate pants? Thanks!

PBUC Manual 6.10 says, "If a batted or thrown ball inadvertently goes inside a player’s or coach’s uniform (or lodges in the catcher’s face mask or paraphernalia), the umpire shall call “Time.†He will, using common sense and fair play, place all runners in such a manner that will nullify the action of the ball going out of play. Any outs recorded prior to the ball going into the player’s or coach’s uniform (or lodges in the catcher’s face mask or paraphernalia) will stand."

That was fascinating!! I personally like going by the book like Tim McClelland does.

this is very helpful! Thanks guys!

Haid....I think you are thinking about 7.11( the vacate space rule that Maven referenced) 7.08g is applicable to the situation.....it helps determine which offensive player is out because of the interference involving a batter and runner in the same play. Yes, you are correct 7.09(d) can apply to on deck batter, for example... there is a play at the plate and the on-deck batter interferes whith the catchers play while telling the runner to slide. However, the batter is also coverd under the basic premise of 7.09: "it is interference by a batter or runner...." It all depends on how the batter of record interfers during the play. For example, If the pitched ball gets away, F2 chases it and secures it and the batter just continues to stand in the box between the catcher and the plate hindering F2 from making a play at the plate, then i have 7.09(d). Now... if the ball bounds away from F2, he secures it, and while he is attempting to make a play at the plate, the batter still in the area of HP intentionally or unintentionally makes contact with, steps in front of the play thus interfering with the play I have 6.06(c ) So, is there a difference in the penalty that would be applied if it was 7.09(d) as opposed to 6.06©? Either way, if PU calls INT, the runner is out, right?

I have the New Balance All-black plate shoes, and the New Balance Black/Silver/White base shoes. What's the best way to clean these? I've heard some different things such as Scrubbing bubbles and Armor All.

OBR 7.09 (b) It is interference by a runner if he intentionally deflects the course of a foul ball in any manner. The PBUC Manual says in 7.25: "...While picking up a foul ball or otherwise touching it may not, by such act itself, actually deflect the course of the ball, an umpire may judge such act as deflecting the course of the ball if, in the umpire’s judgment, the ball might have become a fair ball had it not been touched."

Pretty strange play today in 11-12 year old game... No runners on base. Batter hits a little flair to the right side about 20-25 feet down the 1B line. The ball drops, and the pitcher is coming towards it. The spin of the ball is clearly taking it towards foul territory. Just before the ball crosses into foul territory untouched, the BR runs into the pitcher, who I couldn't really tell whether or not he was going to try to make a play on the ball or let it go untouched. Anyway, it went untouched, and I called it foul. At the time, I decided the foul ball took precedence since I couldn't tell for sure if the pitcher was going to try to get the ball before it rolled foul. Is this the right call? I know OBR doesn't say the ball has to be fair in order for there to be offensive interference. In fact, 2.00 Definition of Infield Fly says that if offensive interference is committed on an apparent IF, and the ball rolls foul, the runner is out. So, I think I may have made the wrong call, but am just not sure.

I can't speak about the plantar faciitis. I am sorry to hear that and hope you can correct it! But I can tell you from speaking with reliable sources that height will not be an issue. I am about 5'8" and was concerned about height as well. But Jerry Meals and Mark Wegner are both MLB umpires at 5'8". I say go for it!!

yes, and by "in the box," we mean that any part of the foot must be touching the lines of the batter's box. OBR 6.03 and 6.06 (a)

Do you wear that HSM on the bases too ? good point

I avoid all hat issues by wearing a hockey-style mask

Thanks to all for your helpful remarks! It sparks my thinking! TexasManny, I should have been more clear in my original post. The coach never said he thought I was out of position. He just pointed at how close I was to the play and was shocked at how I could have missed the play. But to give you an idea of the coach I was dealing with, he told me before the game that a batter is automatically out if he makes contact with the ball while any part of his foot is touching the plate, EVEN IF HIS HEEL IS TOUCHING THE BATTER'S BOX LINE. And I should probably also add that two of the organization directors were standing about 200 yards away looking pretty much down the 3rd base line when the play occurred. And they both thought I got it right.

First game of Fall Ball for me yesterday, working a 1-man system for the Bronco division of PONY (ages 11-12). Situation is R3, 2 outs. A pitch comes in, and R3 has strayed a little too far off 3rd. F2 throws down to F5, and a rundown seems to be developing. I start to move a couple feet down the line, and F5 throws back to F2. R3 continues running towards home, and F2 poorly handles the play and ends up attempting a swipe tag. I find myself in the unfortunate position of 1BLX. I did not sense there was a tag on the play, so I call the runner safe, and the defensive coach goes crazy. He comes out and points where I was standing and says, "You were right there, you have no excuse to miss that play! You are the only one here who missed that call; you must have been asleep during the play!" Yes, I know I should have tossed him for such degrading comments. But nonetheless, I believe this was a legitimate drawback of the 1-man system. Looking back, I don't think there is any way I could have been expected to wheel all the way around to 3BLX in that short amount of time. The only thing I maybe could have done was keep moving to the right a little bit and "peek around" the catcher and runner as the tag attempt was being made. But if any of you all have tips for a play like this, I would love to hear them!

Okay, but you will see guys in MLB with technically illegal motions as part of their pitching motion every time, particularly with relief pitchers who always go from the stretch. Yet MLB umps won't call the balk. So, where do you draw the line here between balking the guy and not balking the guy who does something "illegal" every time?

Enjoy every moment of college! It goes by fast!

As funny as this video is, does anyone think the BR here should have been called out for being hit by a ball in fair territory? http://wapc.mlb.com/play/?content_id=29775987&topic_id=9780550

How is this so? I must be missing something here. Either way, whether they appeal to 1st then to 3rd, or 3rd then to 1st, won't the ruling be the same? No runs score on the triple play?

Can anyone help me out with how to interpret 6.05 (g)? What's causing my confusion is the link below. Specifically, I am talking about the 2 pictures at the bottom of the page and the explanation to the sides of them. http://www.baseball-rules.com/batterbox.htm When I read the rule with its cross reference to 6.03, I interpret it to mean that if the BR has one foot out of the batter's box, he is no longer in legal position in the batter's box. Therefore, if he gets hit with the ball in fair territory with one foot out of the box and one foot on the ground in the box, he should still be out. But the website says he is fine. Thoughts???

I used to work international games in St. Louis with teams from Japan, Australia, and Europe. The foreign teams were always so much more respectful than the American teams, it was pathetic. But nonetheless, it was a blast. UmpJM is right on with his description of the Japanese teams. They play the game of baseball with dignity.

Rich Ives is right. In the PBUC manual, it gives an example of a play in which the runner is between 2nd and 3rd when the throw is made after the catch, but he has to retouch first. Initially, on such a play, you are award the runner home. If, however, he realizes his mistake and goes to retouch 1st before he touches 3rd base on his way to home, then you "correct" the award and now give him 3rd instead.

A textbook application of OBR 7.04( c) tonight during the Blue Jays-Angels game. Jose Bautista hits deep fly ball into LF with R1. Shuck makes the catch, robbing Jose of a homer, but falls into the stands in the process. Umpires awarded Maicer Izturis 2nd on the play. Saw the highlight on MLB Gameday just now.