baseballfan

Right, but 5.10© says an umpire should call time for an accident that incapacitates a player or umpire; then (h) says this is one of the 2 situations in which an umpire can call "Time" with a play in progress. So, in light of that, I have to disagree with you here that a ball can be kept live during any and every injury.

Found this quiz online today and have been intrigued by questions 4 and 33. It says that even if a player is knocked unconscious during a play due to a throw, for example, that play must continue, and the player can be tagged out. What do you all think of this, especially in light of 5.10© and (h) in the OBR. Plus, if you have any situations you have come across with players being injured during a play, I would love to hear them. the link to the quiz: http://www.bostonbaseball.com/whitesox/baseball_extras/makecall.html#mc33

I called a similar play in a 13-14u pony game. BR reached first and ran past it on a single. As he ran up the baseline past first, he made a very slight juke towards 2nd and then started walked back to first. Defense applied a tag, and I called him out. Even the first base coach agreed he made a move towards 2nd. If I got by calling that in a 13-14u game, I think Diaz is justified calling this... especially at the MLB level, no less. Diaz did the job of an umpire here.... calling it objectively by the letter of the law. What's also funny is that on UEFL, most people agreed with the call. Amazing how 2 umpire sites can differ so greatly on one play...

That is sick!! I never thought about standing outside after a game to catch the umpires. Wish I had before now!

If ever there was an umpire fail blog... this would be on there

Don't know about FED rules on this one, but by OBR, if the pitcher drops the ball while on the rubber, it's a balk.

I've seen plays similar to this, but never called anything. It has always bugged me: No runners on. Dropped 3rd strike. Batter doesn't start for 1st right away, but he has not left the batter's circle around home plate. He then breaks for first in a line straight towards first and is running outside the running lane. Catcher picks up the ball, and in an effort to throw around the batter, he throws it away from 1st. Do you call running lane interference on a play such as this? What if the thrown ball hits the batter? Does the batter have to get into the running lane, or is he entitled to run outside of it on a play like this since he did not break for 1st right away, and his direct line to the bag takes him outside the running lane?

Over all the years i've been umpiring, there are a few things that stand out: PAUSE...READ...REACT!! You will hear this a lot here, but make sure you slow down the timing of your calls. It's very hard, but never assume the outcome of a pitch or play at a base or while you are working the plate. Make sure you pause and get set into a position where your head is not moving... then read the play and replay it in your mind... then make your call. On close plays, sell your call. It is much harder for a coach to come out and argue if you appear very confident when you make your calls. For one-man mechanics, i'll save that for the experts on here, but I think there is a good YouTube video explaining them. Enjoy umping!

Also, just to throw something else out there... let's say it's not an infield fly... it matters whether the catcher touched home plate and then the BR, or the BR and then the plate. If it's the former, then it's a double play. But if it's the latter, then the force is removed once the batter is tagged out, meaning that R3 must now be tagged.

Welcome! I'll be at TUS in January and hope to see you at PBUC if we can both make it! Don't be afraid to ask questions on here... people are generally pretty good at responding quickly with some help.

PONY District Tournament game today in the Pony subdivision (13-14 year old). Close play at a steal on 2nd, and I call the guy safe. The coach comes out for a mound visit, and after the visit, as he is walking back to his dugout, he says, "Hey Blue, what happened on that play?! All my infielders are saying the guy was out." I got kind of annoyed by his statement, and I said, "Well of course they are going to say he was out! They are on your team!" Then he said, "Well, don't try to tell me that my players would intentinally lie to me!" After the game, the coach says to me, "Hey you called a good game, but I have been umpiring for 35 years, and what you said to me about the steal at 2nd earlier was unprofessional. Next time, just let me know he got under the tag or something." What do you all think about this? Was I out of line? Looking back, I can see how maybe I should have just said he got under and walked away. But at the same time, announcing for everybody to hear that all his infielders disagree with me seems like showing me up; and, in my opinion, he should know whether or not he wants to argue based upon what he saw. He shouldn't have to ask his infielders.

I have officially signed up and received the enrollment contract! Can't wait to meet all you guys who will be there!

OBR 2.00 Definition of a Fair Ball: "A fair ball is a ball that...touches first, second, or third base, or that first fall on fair territory on or beyond first base or third base..." Sorry, but I have fair ball based upon this description.

Thanks everyone for your help. I definitely did see the pitch all the way in and did the typical mechanic for a steal at 2nd (turn with the throw as it goes by you). I think I just out-thought myself and figured there was a chance the pitch could have been a strike. Next time, I will have a call in my head and just turn and make sure the pitch is ball 4.

Hello all, I am a pony umpire out here in SoCal at North Valley Youth Baseball... actually the same place where MiLB umpire Ryan Goodman grew up umpiring (though I don't know him personally). I've been doing youth/pony baseball for 6-7 years and recently decided to attend The Umpire School in January 2014. I have been browsing this site for awhile now and decided to become a member. Look forward to continuing to learn from you all. Here's a brief video of my work, and I hope to upload more in the future. Any suggestions would be great! Personally, I feel my right arm is flared out a bit far here, leaving it more exposed to injury. Plus it just doesn't look good, imo. IMG_0219.MOV