SSRock

As fun as it is to discuss how federation mechanics are mostly useless I believe what to talk about in a pregame is the whole point of this discussion. I like to run through things in order of responsibilities. Ball/Strike (including check swing, hit batter, uncaught third strike) Fair/Foul Catch/No Catch (Outfield and infield coverage, umpire going out) Safe/Out (including who is going to be where on what plays, rotations, force play slide, swipe tag, pulled foot) Tags/Touches Then anything else- pre-pitch signals, situation management, quirks about the field etc

Verbal Judo by George Thompson changed the way I handled every situation on the baseball field. I got in to the book six years ago and since then one player (tobacco use) and two managers (abusive language) have disqualified themselves from further competition in my games. http://www.amazon.com/Verbal-Judo-Gentle-Art-Persuasion/dp/0060577657 Not strictly an umpire book but you will use the concepts on a daily basis.

Whenever a pitcher is ejected for disputing an umpire’s decision or for unsportsmanlike conduct or language directed toward an umpire, whether while serving as the current pitcher of record, after having been removed from the game or after the game has concluded, his suspension will be for a total of four games. So it's not whenever a pitcher is ejected, it is when he is ejected for unsportsmanlike/language. The rule is in place deter pitchers from being ejected when they know they aren't going to pitch for the next few games. So basically it is four games instead of a one game suspension. The tricky part of the rule as it was explained to me is if the pitcher is removed from the mound to another position and then is ejected for unsportsmanlike it is back to just a one game suspension. This new interpretation may have closed that loophole depending on what Jim Paronto is using to define "removed from the game." And I believe post participation is the same, four games instead of one.

Umpires are way more prone to mess up a slide than they are a straight rotation.

I think the first picture in the original post is a bit misleading. Joe West, for whatever reason; age, health, stubbornness, has an exaggerated angle in his plate stance. When instructors talk about getting an angle they mean probably about a 10 to 20 degree angle from the pitcher. Your entire body, including your head, should point in that direction. I usually try to find a post on the outfield fence or a tree that I can line my belt buckle and my nose with to get my angle. Although I don't agree with it, there are arguments for being square to the pitcher, however, safety should not be one of them. The force of the ball will be greater hitting an object that is square in front than one hitting the object at a slight angle, especially on the head and neck. Also, why turn your head towards the pitcher (and put that extra strain on your neck) when you can have your entire body at a the angle you need? Why move your head to track a pitch when you can just move your eyes, therefore keeping your head (and the camera) still? Plus there's the idea when you're square you are looking through a three dimensional through just two dimensions. I guess the long and short of it is I'm not too sure being square to the pitcher is the best idea.

I know that this has turned into a "this is how we do things in our area" sort of discussion but I would be careful about listing association fees on a public message board. With just a little bit of research this sort of information can and will be used to undercut your current association by either another group or a league/school commissioner looking to save some money. As far as state mandated shirts, the next time two schools want to cancel a game because the umpires are wearing black shirts instead of dark blue shirts I would imagine will be the first time. (Obviously keep in mind who signs your checks and what they want, hopefully that person is not the state organization that mandates these rules)