Coach Joe

No sir. Only meant to say @MidAmUmp appeared to be a superior specimen since he saw the situation just like me...lol My main reason for posting was to get many opinions from an expert site. The great variety of opinions confirms that the situation could have gone many different ways.

How exactly do you think us coaches pick the players?

Very logical way to look at the situation and pretty much summarizes my thoughts as a coach. This is the type of reply I was expecting and finally got it from an experienced, well qualified, and well grounded umpire that knows how to apply the rules while maintaining a perspective of the situation. Reading on this website and being a little more educated now on HP umpire position and movements, the BU in the balk video did the plate in the Semi game. I had a look at that video and he was setting up outside on the lefty batters and directly behind on the righty (over catcher). He seemed to spend an inordinate amount of time eyeballing the dugouts and stands. Very odd mannerisms. I'm afraid we just drew a bad assignment that culminated in a horrible finish.

Until I watched the video of it the next day I had no idea what happened. Explanation from the BU to both coaches was that the batter was out at first on the throw from third. Our instruction to the players in a situation like that is to tag everyone and let the umpires figure it out after time is out. No not OK but how many times have you seen a coach defer a call that has gone for him? Just like the other coach probably thought "wholly crap we just got a game ending balk on an IBB, what a way to win a game." he sure as hell did not turn the gift away. (don't read into "gift") My thoughts were really, the throw beat the runner? During the play my eyes were on the runner I figured would be rounding second on the throw from 3rd to 1st, but he was not there (on way back to 1st).

If a mod thinks this would be better split into 3 topics to avoid confusion or change the topic to something like "One Friggin Whiny Coach" please go ahead.

I went ahead and put up the waived off balk I mentioned earlier. Explanation was that the HP umpire called time before the balk was called. Looks to me like his hands go up well after the balk call and actually the batter stepping out may have thrown off the pitcher. I asked the HP who called for time he said no one that it was his time (so the batted did not request).

Ok here you go.

You could make this argument about every call in a game. Ball/Strike, Fair/Foul, Safe/Out. The call was made, not a single person in the facility was anticipating a Balk Call except the BU. No way the other team would argue for a balk on an IBB. Anyone want me to post the video of the phantom triple play that went our way in the previous inning? We could have a field day beating that one to death...lol

Thanks for the invite mstaylor and thunderheads. I'm in.