Mudisfun

Typically the 45 degree is for a LHP to determine if they stepped more towards home or first. I am having trouble envisioning a RHP stepping at 45 degrees towards home/first and making an across the body throw to 1st.

This weekend I had both coaches come out to me on field calls. First one, B/R is safe on an overthrow at 1st. He starts toward 2nd and I drop step to move with him. Only then do they realize F2 did his job and was backing up 1st base. F2 and B/R dive back to first, and I have a great view of butts and elbows. From my angle, it looks like B/R got his hand to the base just before the tag, so I come up with an emphatic safe call. DHC asks for time, comes out and asks me about the play. He asked a specific question, I answered it, he said I think we saw it differently and then he went back to the dugout. He never asked me to get help (which I would not have on this play) and we moved on. 2nd play - bases loaded, no outs. Ball hit to F4 who throws to F6 to start the DP. R1 comes sliding in direct to the bag and makes contact with F6 on the 1st base side of the bag. F6 makes the throw and they get the DP. DHC comes out, wants FPSR (pull the run off the board due to interference). He used the 'there is not contact in CIF baseball' to try and Jedi mind trick me... I explained what I had... R1 sliding direct to the bag, not over it, not popping up, just legal as can be, nothing there to get a violation. Both coaches were respectful, did not ask for 'help' and we went on with no issues. Often times they want you to volunteer to get help... and then you have opened Pandora's box for the rest of the game. If I do go to my partner for help, I make sure I ask specific questions. Did you see a pulled foot, did you see a swipe tag? Coach over there wants us to get together, so where are we grabbing beers after the game? You know... important direct questions.

This ^^^^^^ 12U can be a bunch of differing rule sets. For instance in LL Majors (12U) there are no balks since runners cannot lead off. The pitcher cannot deceive the runner, so nothing can be called other than an illegal pitch, if one so occurs.

I don't see anything in the 2021 rules pertaining to Intermediate or above, only Majors and below: Baseball Only - 6.08(a) – Allows a defensive team to “intentionally walk” a batter at any time during the at-bat in the Minor and Major Divisions of Baseball. 6.08 - The batter becomes a runner and is entitled to first base without liability to be put out (provided said runner advances to and touches first base) when - (a) (1) four “balls” have been called by the umpire; ball is live and base runners may advance; or, (2) Minor/Major Division: Prior to a pitch being thrown, The defense elects to “Intentionally Walk” the batter by announcing such decision to the plate umpire. The request may be made prior to or during the at-bat. NOTE 1: Such notification must be made by the defensive manager. The manager must request and be granted “time” by the umpire and then inform the umpire of the defense’s intent to walk the batter. NOTE 2: The ball is dead and no other runners may advance unless forced by the batter’s award. Four (4) The appropriate number of “balls” needed based on the count on the batter at the time of the manager’s request to complete the Intentional Walk pitches will be added to the pitch count.

The only difference, if you want to call it such, is the skill level of the players and what you define as 'ordinary' effort. Pee Wee kids? Camped under the ball might be your definition, 15U may be the kid on a jog, tracking the ball while moving. Other than that? The rule is the rule.

The article, at least for me, is behind a pay wall.

Well in that case

My concern with any form of wireless tech would be some smart kid finding a way to patch into it and monkey with the data during a game. The more doors we open, controlling the score board or integrating with score keeping apps allows avenues for attack. Although not seriously likely, I can see some smart HS kid figuring this out and trying to gain an edge... and don't get me started thinking about a coach who would try and hack this... there are already coaches out there shaving and rolling bats so we all know a percentage will do almost anything for an edge. Trash cans anyone? Yeah, I'm still looking at you Houston.

The reason most of us are not in favor of the 'feel' good part of the story is that it makes it much more difficult on the next official when he/she follows the rule and ejects the player. Now everyone is confused, because 'last time' that other umpire did XYZ... It places doubt in the mind of the coaches, players and attendants that the current umpire knows the rules and is correct... or is this one making stuff up? Don't get me wrong... I am heavily involved in LL baseball and truly believe that there is a time and place for education of the players (and at that level the managers as well). I have used the 'disqualified from the game' approach before in this situation when little Johnny just does not get the message. Benching him/her for the remainder of the game seems to work wonders in bringing the message home, and again this depends on the level. If we're talking Majors and above, I most likely am not disqualifying (sitting the player for this game) but actually ejecting him/her... that also removes him/her from the next game as a penalty. As for a delayed dead ball call... basically we allow all playing action to finish and then enforce penalties or awards as required to 'fix' whatever the issue happens to be. In your throwing the bat scenario for example, the 'fix' is to eject the player after the warning. This is why it is delayed: Batter gets a hit, throws the bat and we immediately eject him as he takes 2 steps out of the box... Want to bet EVERYTHING stops right then and there? But this is a live ball, the hit was legal, as you mentioned there was no interference with the catcher and depending on the runners and the hit, the defense may get a few outs. If we jump right to ejection, we just stop everything. Let the play end. Call time, call the coach over and inform him that that player is EJ for throwing the bat, again and get the appropriate sub on the bases. Get the game moving and play ball.

Not sure if it is just in the wording, or if the sequence of events is exactly as you penned, but the appeal should have gone something like this. U1 from the C position makes the call at first. When play ends, manager asks for time and when granted proceeds to U1 to inquire about him possibly seeking help on the call for a potential pulled foot. U1 should then, if so inclined, tell the manager to return to the dugout and meet with the PU. The PU, if he has information should relay that to U1 U1 then decides if he is going to change his call. If so, call runner safe and put back on the bases. I'm not sure in the sequence you described why the PU was overturning a call nor why he then overturned his overturn and recalled the runner out. Once the PU called the runner out, you (or manager) should have asked why. When he used the abandonment excuse and would not change his mind, you only have two alternatives to continue. Accept it and play on, or lodge a protest for a misapplication of the rules. Look up 4.19 in the book on how to follow though with a protest. Since his calling the runner out for abandonment was based 100% on the initial call of out at 1st, which then was changed, the abandonment should not apply. This is not a judgement call and should be protested. Since this game already is in the books, I would reach out to your league UIC, not to complain, but so that he/she can work with the umpires and use this as a teaching moment.

In So Cal where I am, we are a chapter of the CBUA (California Baseball Umpires Association) which as the name implies is mono-sport only. Several of our members do both for the separate HS associations, they pay two sets of dues, have two assignors, etc. As someone mentioned in a different response, we are paid directly by the school, but we as the individual umpires are not directly contracted by them or assigned by them; that all comes through our local association chapter. I know the fees are different by a couple bucks per game, but considering 95% of the time if the SB guy and the BB guy start a game at the same time, more often than not, the SB guy is home drinking a beer by the time the BB guy gets off the field.

The ball may be live, but no so much the animal... Poor birdie!

One from the plate, 2 from the field.

Ugg... those fees are horrible! We don't get a travel fee in Orange County, CA but at least our fees are better: Sub Varsity per game if I recall is $81/game and varsity is $84/game. Sad part is the JV game is twice the work since it is solo....

I think this is my new favorite post. You made me chuckle... I have said the same thing to my kids.

I don't disagree with you that on a small field, often two guys is overkill, be it a paid gig or volunteer. However, this is the level where many of us got our start, and limiting the number of officials will actually cause an inverse reaction where we see less umpires entering the ranks. For my league, we ask for 2 per team... that means we should get 40-50 umpires per year into the system. How many of these will actually move forward, maybe 4-5, but if we cut that number required in half, then there is a good chance we bring no new people into the system who will continue on. Plus... a big chunk of why I do this is the comrade and friendships I have built over the years working with various umpires. I am already my own best friend and working solo does nothing to make me more of my buddy :-) I enjoy working with partners, and the money is not why I am on the field. I actually lose money umpiring... owing a Real Estate business and being on a field on a Saturday or Sunday means less time showing houses and marketing. There is no way umpiring is making my house payment... The cash is just to buy more gear that I do not need.

Same here in my neck of the woods... but the issue is not the Umpires... I can on almost any day put out on our LL message board that I'm work a game 2 man, or even 3 man and just state that we would love to work with an extra umpire. My inbox will flood almost immediately with guys wanting to come out and play... The issue is the leagues which think they are saving somehow... I would much rather work a 7 inning Pony, JV or Travel game 2 man @ $50-$55 an official than work that same game solo @$60-$70. So much easier on the officials, better for the players and better for the coaches. So many of their arguments would go away... and don't forget the mentoring opportunities for the officials as invariably one of the umpires is going to be more experienced and can actually provide some feedback.

Couple years ago, pre-season I did 3 games solo... Game 1 at 8AM, game 2 which was scheduled (small tourney) for 11:30AM but started around 12:45-1PM and game 3 which was for 2pm but started around 3:30PM. Saturday starting temp for game 1 is +/- 70 degrees. Ending temp close to 76. Game 2, starting temp is close to 83... so it is warm and dry; you have to love February in So Cal. Game one goes off fine, ends on time and I head over to the 2nd game. Get that game in, which went extra innings... one of the teams from game 2 advanced and was playing for game 3. The games were running late (roughly an 1.5 hours late, each) and both coaches, no kidding, almost as quickly as the 3rd out was recorded were walking up wanting to immediately start, because you know, after 10 innings I just did solo, I should, without so much as hitting the head, be ready to start another 7 inning +/- 2hr game. Told them I needed 25 minutes and that we would start at so and so time. Get this game going... around the 3rd or 4th inning the cramps start... and yes, I'm hydrating but 500-600 deep knee bends into the day, the body will only take so much... Starts with fine motor muscles and then is starting to move to larger groups. By the time the game ends, I am worked, cramping all over and in pain. My drive home? My legs were cramping so bad that I was almost standing in the driver seat trying to keep my legs straight and my hamstrings from cramping. Shower, hydrate and laid on the bed for a couple hours fighting muscle cramps. Bottom line? Three solo plate games in one day, basically back to back with no recovery time is a joke. Just don't do it.

All of our JV, with the exception of one league is Solo... Must be nice to have being solo on a JV field be a novelty!

Are you sure this was a trained umpire, and not just a dad who was co-opted to let the kids play? Often times, especially newer officials, which at the younger levels you are very likely to come across, you can watch them and know for certainty that they saw something happen, they know it is something but they just don't have the full grasp to go to the next step which is to call the infraction and enforce the rule. This can be from lack of rules knowledge, lack of confidence or any other combination of issues. Most likely the official knew there was a violation but did not want to appear foolish so he took the fork in the road... do nothing/say nothing or say something to the batter only but avoiding being embarrassed by making what he may feel is an incorrect call.

If the batter is taking a defensive action, then I am ruling HBP and sending to 1st. If the batter preps himself for that hanging curve and is turning into it, then I'm keeping him in the box and calling the pitch as is. In the past 10 years, I think I have kept 3 batters in the box... most players are not that interested in taking it for the team. The ones I notice more willing? The batters who come to the plate attired in more protective gear than what I'm wearing as the PU. I think we are way overthinking this one. Kind of like the definition of Porn... I may not be able to define it, but I know it when I see it.

My buddy actually produces the podcasts. I'll ask him if there are any more on the way.

In my neck of the woods, all Fall sports were delayed and pushed back until the state decided it was OK to begin. So currently Water Polo is happening. My kids team was able to get a whopping 8 game schedule with it about 1/2 way done so far. Baseball starts in a week or so and I believe Football is also starting at the same time. I know several BB programs which scrapped their season due to dual sport athletes who chose FB over BB thus causing them to have too few players. We have a serious shortage of umpires already and that is being exacerbated by several of them also being on FB crews causing them to split their availability. We also have officials opting out until vaccines are more prevalent, or until they can actually see how the game protocols are going to work. In our meetings there are a lot of 'we don't knows' and 'we'll have to figure that out' replies to questions being asked. It is great that the state is trying to get the kids on the fields, but it sucks that the road map is very unclear.

I'm stealing this line.

First off, thank you for sharing this. Revealing when we messed up, taking responsibility for it and then basically exposing that to the world for comment takes guts. I recall a partner asking if I wanted feedback once and my reply was yes, provided it is intended to make me better and not just boost your ego. I think you will find this group will help you get better. Over the years, I have learned a lot from those wiser than I who post here, and rarely have thought any feedback was not offered with the best of intentions. The one piece I will give you, especially in TB where there are little to no consequences to the coaches other than removal from todays game, establish yourself quickly and do not let them cross whatever your line is. You already lived the result of your omission to act and there is no reason you should be subjected to that level of stress for a kids game.