BillKen

Remember...they have both feeds and sometimes other views that don't make the broadcast. They have more than one set of eyes on the play in most cases, and screens that blow yours and mine away. I am sure that they are not 100%, but I'm gonna bet that they had a look at this one you or I didn't see. It is only "old school" for guys with a MLB logo and number on their sleeve. For you and I, getting an out on this type of whacker moves the game to the next frame. I think we should be very hesitant to question the guys in the MLB-ROC. Its bad enough that they are second guessed by fans, players, and coaches...we know how hard the job is.

Wouldn't wear that if I lost a bet!

So when the 1B coach gives a safe call on a whacker at 1st I can now warn him and show him up! Sweet!

I don't work 1-man...and if I did I'd do it from behind the mound. But in my opinion, home plate and runs scored are a much higher priority than tags at 3B. I would stay at the plate and line up for the tag and time play and give up the distance at 3B. Chances are that I could get that call right at 3B more often than I could judge a whacker of a time play where I had to try and account for an out call at 3B then try to turn and look at HP and make a guess on the timing. If the coach can call it from the dugout like they do all the time, I think I could get it from the plate...and I wouldn't be much interested in any criticism either. 1-Man is such a disservice to all parties in a game. I can't believe that people really do that on purpose.

I think he was out just because it took him so long to get there! Shouldn't have been close!

Life on the road! Bags could have gotten lost/delayed by the airlines, drycleaning from the hotel could have been delayed, etc. Heck...one day I spilled shoe polish all over my cream shirt 5 minutes before a regional final playoff game. Things happen!

I can't tell much difference. Wool is hotter, but most of the new Richardsons that I've been getting aren't wool.

Lysol for me too...and never back in the bag until its dry. No bleeding or staining here.

I'd love to see a Benjamin for one game!

I had some cheap renters insurance about 17 years ago when all my stuff got stolen from my car. They paid me nearly $900 (minus a $250 deductible) for an itemized listing of all my gear and uniforms. I was able to get save enough with a uniform package deal and an equipment package deal to cover the deductible. I'm not sure if your insurance will cover a complex covered by a commercial policy, but it should. You'll be back in good gear in no time...and TW is turning around WV's in about 2 weeks right now!

The title of the thread says you think you botched it. What do you think you did wrong? The way it sounds, you were correct in not rewarding the defense by giving them a cheap out.

I had a bruise on my chest that suggested it was more than psychological after getting hit by an 86mph fastball while wearing my UE.

It is only a matter of time.

If they would add $3 worth of plastic plating to that CP, it might be worth $250.

Getting 2 here would be a solid case of picking up the bad end of the stick with both hands. OTOH, its always fun watching Hurdle get ejected...that might have been entertaining!

As you guys know, it isn't easy. Last January (2014) I was #312 and looking down the barrel of another baseball season with pants that were approaching a 5 as the first number in the waist. Despite me taking 2 meds to control my BP, it was starting to push into the danger zone once again and my liver was beginning to show the stresses of fatty liver disease. Enough already...I wasn't about to buy a size 50 pant and I kinda like living! So I started the Advocare 24 day challenge, bought a fitbit and synced it with MyNetDiary app on my phone and started with a 900 calorie/day deficit plan. I hit the elliptical machine at the gym when I didn't have games and just dedicated myself to changing what I ate, when I ate (late after a ballgame is bad!), and how much I ate (double cheeseburgers were out). I also dropped the beer consumption down considerably. In September 2014 I hit #242 the 1st week of football season (I ref fb). I bought new pants for baseball season this year (2015)...size 38. I've since gained about #15 back but have been stable for quite a while. I don't keep track on the diary any more because I know what I'm consuming in calories for the most part. I still use Advocare every day...MNS vitamins and Spark. These products have a solid effect on metabolism and allow your body to maximize nutrition and feel energized throughout the day. There isn't a magic pill or a single pathway to success. You have to know that nothing tastes as good as being thinner feels. You have to change you! Congrats to you guys above who have made the decision to walk a healthier path. It is worth it!

When you just take that sentence and not the context of the entire post it does sound horrible. But the entire point I'm making is related to one pitch in a game that means very little. Would I do that in a varsity HS game? No. Would I do it in LL Playoffs? No. Would I do it in collegiate wood bat league? Maybe! If a kid is ill trained or lazy...using one pitch to teach him a lesson or make him understand his role in working WITH us as umpires is worth it IMHO in a game that doesn't carry a lot of meaning.

I'm sorry...but this is summer league. I may be 100% wrong but I think this is our time to teach this level of kid. This is HS ball and the kid knows nothing about catching. So if the coach isn't going to train him up, I will. I'll explain to him that my 1st priority is to call as many strikes as I can get. If I can't trust him to protect me, I'm going to be jumpy and that is going to affect his team. When he drops a strike (borderline), I will call a ball and tell him that he can't have close pitches that he doesn't handle...it makes us both look bad! When he pulls a low pitch to the dirt, I'm going to tell him what he needs to do to turn that into a strike. When he doesn't take care of me (like lets one hit me that he should glove), I'm going to call a ball on the next pitch (unless it is perfect) and tell him why. I'm going to be friendly throughout the game and let him know that I'm here to help him improve and better understand the catcher-umpire relationship. I'm going to try and make him like me...if he likes me he will work hard for me. Fire away!

I just had a WVP retrofitted and I can tell you that I've never felt safer behind the plate. I have the DF harness on mine and it drastically changes how the CP forms to your body. I've had a lot of different rigs including the UE-F3 and I don't think you can go wrong with the TW retro or the System 7. I'm now trying to decide if I want to go back to the HSM...and if so, which one!

I wouldn't second guess either of those. Children who don't behave get sent to time-out!

I got to meet Pat Hoberg after the game last week in Seattle...great guy and an excellent young umpire.

I tell people all the time that there will be six umpires/referees carry me to my final hole in the ground. The bonds we build riding up and down the highways and going to "battle" with one another are as strong as any amongst fraternal societies. My best friends are sports officials and I am lucky to have them all across the nation.

Balk...start-stop. Pitch begins with first move after the set. If he wants to go to 2nd, it has to be one motion. If he wants to pitch, it has to be one motion. He can't disengage with his non-pivot foot in the air...that would be a 2nd motion. If you happen to think this isn't a balk, ask yourself this; If the runner was at 3rd and the pitcher did the exact same move (hop off while the non-pivot foot was in the air), and threw to third...would you balk that? How is this any different. You can balk to 2nd base...if you start and stop!

Thank you for your commitment to us and the site! Awesome on many levels!