MRG9999

YES. Foot was on the ground CLEARLY out of the box when contact was made or I would not have called it. It was a YHTBT call. Remember the age of the kids in the OP. The pitches were being lobbed in and there was time to see everything that was going on. I hope you are not questioning my ability as an umpire.

I noticed as he was getting in the box his left foot was on the line. After he hit the pitch was able to see ball going to outfield and since the kid does not do anything fast stood there for a few seconds. It was so obvious that others commented afterwards it was plain as day.

Was the pitch the batter hit a strike or ball? regardless if it was a strike or ball, his foot was out of the batter's box when he made contact with the ball. Fair or foul, the batter is out.

Joe West just suspended for one game without pay for grabbing the jersey of Papelbon.

Sorry for the long post ---- I had this exact situation happen last night in a 9/10 yr old fall ball game. Batter was instructed by his daddy/coach to put his foot on the chalk line up in the batters box. I would not have even noticed if the daddy/coach hadn't called time to instruct his son. After the daddy/coach went back to his 3b coach box, I mentioned to the batter to move back towards the plate because if he should step out of the box when contacting the pitch, he will be out. Batter just looked at me and never moved. Light bulb goes off in the head. Two pitches later, he hits a line drive to right center and ends up on 2B. At moment of contact and seeing his foot and footprint outside the box, I wait until play is completed, call time and call batter out for making contact with ball with foot outside of batters box. All of the daddy/coaches start screaming and go nuts. After I explained to them that I would not have noticed it if the 3B daddy/coach had not have instructed the batter to do it. I even asked the batter to move back towards HP. Still did not simmer them down. The daddy/oaches said this is Fall ball and is instructional. I responded, Yes it is instructional but the rules still apply regardless if Fall Ball or not. Batter goes to bench crying and daddy/coach responds that is not on you, good hit. At this point, trying to bite my tongue, but one out later/end of inning, called game due to darkness. Parents were starting to gather around gate near HP, usually exit the 3B home bench area, to stop me or question me. Never gave them the satisfaction and left field via the 1B bench area and straight to car. Left field within 2 minutes after game. HTHC sees me in upper lot on other side of park changing and stops. He comes over and says that he looked in the rule book and saw in the Batter section rule 6.06(a) the ruling. Offered apology after asking why I called it. The batter has done it all year. My response, I asked the batter to move back towards HP and never moved before the 1st pitch and if he did it next year in spring ball and tournament ball, there will be alot more riding on the call than tonight. Better to learn now when the games to not mean anything than next year when they count and the issue would be magnified more. His comment, I guess we need to start reading the rule book better.

If the INF is dropped, runners do not have to retag their bases. It is like any other drop of a fly ball except that the batter is out by rule as per @maven and runners may advance on their own. If they are put out, they are out. .

stay out of it and start taking numbers for ejections for your report.

Agree. Stand back and let the coaches handle it. Start writing down numbers and eject. You never know what those crazy parents might do if they see you pulling or pushing their 'innocent kids' on the field. Next thing you know, you will be getting sued for putting your hands on their precious babies.

What is the call in this situation: 1. A line drive hits the pitchers plate and rebounds back to the catcher standing in foul territory ? I say it is a foul ball. If runners on bases, they return to their bases at time of pitch. 2. Same line drive but the catcher is in fair territory ? I say it is a fair ball and the out needs to be recorded at first or some other base if possible.

Protest was denied

Instant replay is going to break this game. Too many appeals and finger pointing from these so called millionaire babies who act like babies when calls go against them or their team.

He looked good early on, but lost his strike zone as the game went on. Very inconsistent on pitches on the corners and at the letters.

I agree Rolo, very inconsistent in his calls.

I never saw that happen before (do over). It's a foul ball. These guys are starting to make a name for us.

Was at the game last night and from my seats, looked like he was banged out. Surprised he was called safe. IR got it right even though it was not even close.

Attended a MLB game tonight Pirates and Tigers. Guess who were the umpires..... Barrett and Schrieber with Hamari and Marquez. Thought of you when they were announced.

With that said, Fall Ball is a time for kids to work on their weaker aspects of their game. Come next spring, it's "game on". They won't have time for improvement.

The leagues may say "low key" but the coaches are still doing what they do during the spring and summer, being PITA'S. To me there is no difference in how I call a game. Strikes are strikes, balls are balls, outs are outs, .... Same rules apply.

I would not touch this one. Just ignore and do your job on the field. He is obviously being ignored by the assigner since he shows up at the fields with no game assignments waiting for someone to not show.

Agree with what is being said.

No one's saying anything different. And that speaks to my point exactly. A pitch a half-ball in at the knees is neither hittable nor in the zone. Depends on what we mean by "half-ball in". If it means the ball is on the edge, with half in and half out, that's a strike. If the closest edge is a couple inches from the edge, then I agree it's not in the zone. This is what I interpreted the OP to mean.

Any pitch touching any part of the strike zone regardless if it is inside, just below the knees is a strike. You want strikes!

why in neutral with parking brake. granted I don't drive a manual shift. I may be missing something.