JimSmith25

Nice to hear that the announcers actually know the difference between obstruction and interference

3rd one looked like he didn't come set more than the first two!

I'd say he gained ground towards first, sure. However right before he throws, it looks like he does that quick little motion with his front foot to bait the runner into moving up. I think that'd be more of a balk than gaining ground.

'> I'm dying to see what brought this on!

I, for one, am a little worried this might make it tougher for the actual good umpires to move up to the Majors or AAA. I feel this might lower the standard for all umpires in the future, where getting challenged enough times will make you get the call right enough times as a guy who gets challenged and doesn't overturn it. We've seen in MLB already on a few homerun replay situations where, even though it was reviewed, we still held with the call even if that call was wrong. Who's to say this will still make us get the call right when it's challenged? I feel as if I'm not making a good point with this, but perhaps you folks will understand what I'm trying to say.

Why do we even have umpires for these kind of rules anyway. The people that actually know them say they're terrible!

http://wapc.mlb.com/play/?content_id=29593515&topic_id=0 It's much to early in the game for that kind of thing isn't it? I guess it's the 9th inning 'somewhere'

How do you umpires look or hear for one of these? I find it probably 'the' most difficult call to make, and base it solely off of the players reaction. If he doesn't run/limps/cusses I'm probably not going to call that fair ball. If this is a play that must be seen, then how do you umpires that can, train yourselves to not blink at a swing? Or a loud smack of the bat. I'm pretty good at watching the ball all the way to the glove without blinking, but once that bat 'whooshes' through the strike zone, I just can't help it.

You wouldn't believe how many calls I get for an out because the front foot's in the air or sliding to the left/right of the plate.

I've always loved the comparison of Bryce Harper to the Justin Beiber of baseball. I personally don't like his 'swagger' but as an umpire, it's our professional duty not to bring our personal preferences against or for players into a ball game. Both pitches were right on the corner of the plate. I've seen pitches another inch or two off called for strikes in the last postseason and World Series games. Those pitches weren't even close to being balls.

A few years ago, I was doing an 11u travel game. I'm all geared up ready to call a ball game, but for some reason, one of the teams hasn't taken their dugout yet, and were instead outside crowded around it. Asking the HC what was the problem, it appeared that there were two snakes curled up under the dugouts bench. I calmly walk into the dugout, pick up the first snake by the tail and take it all the way to the nearby woods and set it down. The second was a bit more bitey. I asked for one of the players bats, got it out, and released it as well. Needless to say, the snake handler got no lip out of that team the entire game

Doesn't matter what age...AA coaches tend to be the worst in travel ball.

Well I'm certainly getting Obstruction on both it would seem. I've been told by more senior umpires that I work with that it's not, and perfectly legal. Got shot down for even suggesting it. For situation 1 anyway

Forgot to be more specific. These are 12-18u travel ball teams. USSSA rules.

I'm still learning the rules on more specific things even though I've studied up and have been doing this for 7 years. On the first situation: F6 comes from behind R2 and attempts to block his view of the pitcher as the pitcher makes his motion towards second base (trying to give him that extra half second to get the runner out). Coaches want to argue that this is obstruction, even though no contact with R2 and F6 was made. Situation 2: Pickoff to first base. While the ball is in the air, traveling towards the bag F3 drops a knee and blocks the entirety of the base facing the runner, catches the ball, and tags the runner out. (I've had quite a few arguments with fellow umpires with this one. Some agreeing and some disagreeing that a part of the bag needs to be reachable.)

Certainly not new to the umpiring world, but was a watcher of the site before I finally hopped on the bandwagon. 21 year old umpire hoping to go far in pro baseball. Going to Windelstedt school this upcoming January and hope to start my career there! Other than that I've been doing 9-15 year old travel baseball games, and started umpiring High School baseball last season. Hoping to learn a lot here, specifically a day in the life of a professional umpire.