JP_blue

PU not only saw the swing, he gave the strike mechanic as F2 was moving to retrieve the ball. I guess with all the excitement, he forgot.

The runners did return to their respective bases (1B & 2B). And yes, the umpires did kick the count. The batter did swing at that ball on the INT call, but none of the four umpires saw the swing. U1 had a decent zone all game, but I think he knew they kicked the count and widened it for that last called strike. The thing I was wondering about was whether either R1 or R2 had reached their next base before the INT. I wonder if the umpires were watching for this. The announcers clearly didn't know this part of the rule and didn't show any replays that would have shown this.

I'm not sure if it's the same in every state, but in So-Cal, the Regionals AND Sectionals are now volunteer and my assignor is really having to scramble to schedule the 3-man crews for a 4 team Jr's Sectional. I know only a few states have Sectionals after Districts, but I'm curious if smaller states have volunteer umpires all through the state tourneys now. LL is moving in the wrong direction with this -- you do get what you pay for.

The throw took F3 into the lane just before the collision with BR. F3 caught the ball probably a half-second before the contact and didn't have enough time to make a tag on the BR. In my judgment, the BR had no chance to avoid the contact.

LL Jr's. I'm PU in a three man crew. R2, 2 outs. Ground ball to F6 and throw pulls F3 about 4' down the line and into the lane. BR collides with F3 (who is a real big kid) without tagging BR but knocks BR to the ground. U2 rules that BR touched the bag as he was tumbling. F3, after hearing his coaches scream to tag the BR, turns and tags the kid who is lying on the ground and shaken up pretty good. After a few minutes of OC attending to him, DC comes out to question why BR is safe. I had a discussion with U2 during the dead ball and asked him if he had the BR touching 1B, because the DC will be coming out. I was up the line during the play but knew I had to be close to HP for a potential play if R2 came around, so I only got about 15 feet towards 1B. I obviously saw the collision, but did not see whether BR touched 1B, as he kinda spun behind F3 after the collision and I didn't have a great angle. The DC argued that there is no way BR touched the bag, given he was laying about 5' from the bag after the collision. I know this is the prototypical HTBT play, but my question is if BR had never touched 1B after the collision, would the correct ruling be BR is out and this is a train-wreck, or can we call OBS on F3? BR was in the lane and F3 could not have avoided the BR while trying to catch the errant throw.

Sure it makes sense. In that scenario, R3 didn't advance. If you disregard the balk, then R3 stays put. If you enforce the balk, then R3 scores. You're absolutely right, and maybe I should have used a different situation to explain (which further complicates this rule, imo). If we have R2 only, the BB is not allowed and we have R3 after the balk is enforced and the BR still batting. If we have R1 before the balk, we would then have R2 and the BR awarded 1B on the walk. I'm not seeing why position of the runners should dictate why the balk is enforced here. If a pitcher balks and throws ball 4, the BB should be allowed or not allowed in every situation.

Hijacking this thread a bit, but maybe someone can explain the logic of this rule (8.06m - penalty). [Edit- rule 8.05m] On a balk, the BB is allowed (ignore the balk) only if we have R1 or R1,R2 or R1,R2,R3? But, it's not allowed with R2 or R2,R3 or R1,R3? We can only disregard the balk if ALL runners, including the batter-runner advance at least one base. With R2, R2&R3, or R1&R3, not all runners will advance (because they all wouldn't be forced by the base on balls). I do understand the rule but don't understand the logic of allowing the BR to advance to 1st only if all runners are forced. In other words, with R1 only, the BB is allowed. But if we have R1,R3, the walk is not allowed. This doesn't make sense.

Hijacking this thread a bit, but maybe someone can explain the logic of this rule (8.06m - penalty). [Edit- rule 8.05m] On a balk, the BB is allowed (ignore the balk) only if we have R1 or R1,R2 or R1,R2,R3? But, it's not allowed with R2 or R2,R3 or R1,R3?

Since this is my first year back umpiring after an 8 year break, I've had to replenish my equipment and wardrobe and am in a different position than many veterans here. I've probably spent close to $500 on new equipment and clothing. I have a backup mask, shins, and cp and enough clothes to last me for a couple seasons (except for some new plate PW's I'll need soon). I'm not a gear junkie, by any stretch (I look for function and safety and will never drop the $ for a Nike mask or post on the "mask porn" thread), so most of my future $ will go towards training and education.

What a great day! Enjoy the celebration folks. Me and my better half are heading to the South Pasadena parade -- kids, balloons, fire trucks, and VIP's riding in old cars. Same thing every year, but I ain't compainin'. Listening to "Stars and Stripes Forever" just never gets old!!

If every announcer who said "foul tip" after a foul ball lost their job, there'd be a lot of empty booths.

I guess the folks in Ann Arbor influence everything in Michigan.

This is an urban legend. Cold drinks absorb slightly quicker into your system than warmer liquids, which is a good thing when you're sweating.

I thought the same thing before using it the first time. But, it holds perfectly snug inside that jock. I guess it's the shape of the cup. I hope I never need this baby's protection, but I'm 100% comfortable that it won't dislodge before it's needed. Never had a cup shot? For me it seems to come sporadically at times. Last year I had four shots to the cup in two weeks! I ate good that week from all the bag of peas I thawed out! I washed the peas good before cooking btw! Not a shot in 4 years of umpiring but I have seen other umpires and players take some and know there's a 100% chance it will happen. That's the reason I upgraded to a NB this year...why tempt the fates?

I thought the same thing before using it the first time. But, it holds perfectly snug inside that jock. I guess it's the shape of the cup. I hope I never need this baby's protection, but I'm 100% comfortable that it won't dislodge before it's needed.

When we're sweating a lot, we need water AND liquids that replenish electrolytes. I've been a runner for years, and swear by two products...Accelerade and Cytomax. Neither use sucrose, like Gatorade (too sweet for me anyway), so it's better. Both come in powder form, so just mix some up the night before and keep it cold. Another trick is to mix some about 24 hours prior and freeze it in ice cube trays. Throw the cubes in a Ziploc and bring in a cooler to mix with your already mixed liquid. Bananas are good for replenishing potassium, which helps prevent cramping. As for food, anything with salt...nuts, trail mix, etc. GNC sells Accelerade and Cytomax is available at REI (stores and website) and most running stores.

OBR - absolutely nothing. All youth leagues - mandatory for ALL coaches and managers to attend minimum of 8 hours of umpire meetings before the season starts.

Scully on the radio is something everyone needs to hear. This is where the true magic happens. He's obviously slowed down over the years, but still ain't nothin' better. Gotta put a plug in for Chick Hearn too...the greatest basketball announcer ever, and it ain't even close. About 15 years ago, Scully, Chick and Bob Miller sat down together on a local t.v. sports talk show (Carl's Jr Roundtable, I think) and talked about their careers. At that time, they had about 120 years of experience between them. The highlight was watching Vin and Chick compare championship rings, while Bob Miller showed everyone his wedding ring. Probably the best 30 minutes of television in Los Angeles sports history Also, heard an amazing stat the other day...there are something like 24-25 MLB Hall of Famers who weren't born yet when Scully started in Brooklyn.

That only happens in World Cup soccer.

I believe the announcers mentioned this, but there is just something fundamentally wrong when Mike Scioscia appeals that a catcher was guilty of obstruction. The NY war room had to have been laughing as they made their ruling.

LL Jr tournament game last week. VT manager, who I've seen before, is a loud and vocal guy who spends the majority of his time yelling at his kids and rarely compliments them for making a good play or good decision. My opinion is that this guy shouldn't be anywhere near a youth baseball team, let alone coach them. Ironically, he's never given me any problems on calls. On this day his team wasn't playing well early, so his switch is on early. Finally, around the 5th inning, he's coaching third and he's all over his player at bat because he couldn't get a bunt down. Well, his dugout coach (1B dugout) starts screaming at him across the diamond "Let them play! Just let them play!" He starts screaming back at his coach, delaying the game for about 30 seconds. I'm at B, stunned, trying to figure out what to do if these guys start fighting. Luckily they shut it down, but I've never seen this before and wondering if anyone has had to deal with friendly fire like this?

Hank Aaron hit his career high HR's when he was 37. What kind of duck is that?

The greatest hitter I've ever seen in person, and an even better man off the field. Tony Gwynn had a true passion for the game. Saw him play many times at the Murph and when the Padres came to L.A. We've lost one of the all time greats, for sure.

I have worn a 6-stitch, but have gone back to a 4-stitch simply for safety reasons (which are common sense to me). With my mask on (Diamond iX-3), my 6-stitch has no more than 1/4" (probably closer to 1/8") clearance from the inside of the mask bar, meaning that a hard shot can easily compress the mask into my cap bill, which then goes straight to my forehead, and give a more noticeable head shot. The 4-stitch gives another 1/2" of clearance behind my mask. The additional 1/2" brim may give more sun protection, or look better, but I'd rather keep all my remaining marbles for a few more years.

Nope. This was my fourth game at that field, second behind the dish and it has never come up by umpire or coach. One of those situations where the veteran umpires I worked with assumed everyone already knew, I guess. And what's that they say about "assuming"? Glad the ball came down inside the kid's jersey.