NAUmpires

Um, you still have to touch your awarded bases. If the pitcher steps off and throws the ball over F3s head into the dugout, the ball is dead, and R1 is awarded 3b. But, R1 still has to touch 2b on his way to 3b, does he not ? FWIW, I thought on minute inspection of the replay that Craig DID in fact touch home, if ever so slightly, just as he was being tagged. Or, he came SOOOO close to touching that I'd have to think REAL hard about sustaining an appeal there. This video has all 4 angles: http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/24143822/gif-cards-win-game-3-when-umps-call-obstruction-on-middlebrooks Check out approximately 1:41 in the video:

HC: "Where's your strike zone ?" Me: "I dunno, around here somewhere. When I find it, you'll know, my right hand will go up like this..." HC: "So, where's your strike zone ?" Me: "I dunno. I hope I didn't leave it in the car." Yes, these were in my local league at 11-12 Majors and 13s Juniors games where I'm well-known, but I don't know either of the HC very well. Wouldn't do that with someone I didn't know outside of the local league. Most of the coaches locally listen to the little 5-minute "How to talk to umpires" training class I give at the drafts, or read the Manager's Guide to the Rulebook I put together here: http://www.eteamz.com/naumpires/handouts/#2232586, so they know NOT to ask that question in the pre-game, but some guys...

I've done some assigning, and I can tell you that nothing will get you dropped from my list faster than taking an assignment from me, and then giving it back, especially to take another assignment. Once you take the assignment, you own it. Now, if you come to me and say "Look, I just got offered an opportunity to do this great assignment, but I haven't confirmed it yet. First I went and reached out to guys I know you use, and UMP X is available and can take my assignment, are you OK with that ?" - then NO PROBLEM. But, email me or call me and tell me "Sorry, can't do it now" and later I find out you dumped me for something that came along later ? You are on the list, and not the good list.

Hello, new member from MA, board member of MVUA (www.mvua.org), UIC and VP baseball for 13s-18s in North Andover, MA (www.nayouthbaseball.org), started and still run one of the largest youth umpire programs (www.eteamz.com/naumpires , coached a 16-18s in the spring, a 14-16 team in the summer, run 3 leagues (local spring 13-16s, local spring 16-18s, summer regional 13-16s), and play in an over-30 league (www.otbinc.com - #25 Indians, your 2013 champs. Not my fault) . Other than that, no association with baseball whatsoever.