SteveJ

You do know that "he didn't go" is how many people are taught? While I agree with you that it *shouldn't* be taught that way... Why shouldn't it be taught that way? Three 'pro' reasons 1. If something happens that was nothing, we verbalize "that's nothing" or in this case, "no, he didn't"; 2. No verbal makes PU appear indecisive. Verbalizing tells everyone that you made a decision; 3. You're less likely to be asked for an appeal if you verbalize. Two 'con" reasons 1. its messy. one guy says "no, he didn't", his partner contradicts him and says, "yes, he did"; 2. partners are reluctant to appear to be contradicting their partner and don't give an honest appeal call. IMO, if #2 can not be overcome, then the practice should not be used.The other reasons are subordinate. If #2 can't be overcome then you need a different partner! There are numerous situations where an umpire makes a call, involving a mechanical and/or a verbal signal, and asks for help. -- are you saying that the umpire making the call should never ask for help?

You do know that "he didn't go" is how many people are taught? While I agree with you that it *shouldn't* be taught that way, I think you are reading way too much into it to not giver your honest opinion. Why shouldn't it be taught that way?

I honestly can't remember ever giving a second thought to a pitch that I called a strike on an attempted check swing. I might have thought that I should have called one a strike that I didn't. I disagree with any one that suggest that the PU should automatically go for help on every attempted check swing. You are paid to use your judgement to call balls/strikes -- don't be afraid that a coach or an announcer might get angry at you. If a check swing is "close" then I say, "No he didn't go" and wait for F2 to ask me to check with my partner. BUT if I have called it a strike -- I never have regrets because in my judgement it was a strike! If I ever hear a PU say "No, he didn't go," and then appeals to me as a BU ... then I didn't see the batter swing either. As PU, just call the pitch if you are unsure of the check swing. Why? My partner has already publicly judged that he did not go. He should not be coming to me if he has judged that anyway. If he calls the pitch a ball and says nothing else, then I (and everyone else) can safely assume the PU was blocked out or could not see the swing. BU is there for help/extra info, not to blatantly undermine. I honestly can't remember ever giving a second thought to a pitch that I called a strike on an attempted check swing. I might have thought that I should have called one a strike that I didn't. I disagree with any one that suggest that the PU should automatically go for help on every attempted check swing. You are paid to use your judgement to call balls/strikes -- don't be afraid that a coach or an announcer might get angry at you. If a check swing is "close" then I say, "No he didn't go" and wait for F2 to ask me to check with my partner. BUT if I have called it a strike -- I never have regrets because in my judgement it was a strike! If I ever hear a PU say "No, he didn't go," and then appeals to me as a BU ... then I didn't see the batter swing either. As PU, just call the pitch if you are unsure of the check swing. Why? My partner has already publicly judged that he did not go. He should not be coming to me if he has judged that anyway. If he calls the pitch a ball and says nothing else, then I (and everyone else) can safely assume the PU was blocked out or could not see the swing. BU is there for help/extra info, not to blatantly undermine. Every call we make is a "public judgement". You don't have to say anything. If you don't call a check swing a strike you are publicly saying that he didn't go. Using your logic an umpire should never ask for help on any play and if asked the his partners should never disagree with him. Before every game I tell my partner(s) that if I come to them they are to give me what they have...I do not consider that undermining me.

I honestly can't remember ever giving a second thought to a pitch that I called a strike on an attempted check swing. I might have thought that I should have called one a strike that I didn't. I disagree with any one that suggest that the PU should automatically go for help on every attempted check swing. You are paid to use your judgement to call balls/strikes -- don't be afraid that a coach or an announcer might get angry at you. If a check swing is "close" then I say, "No he didn't go" and wait for F2 to ask me to check with my partner. BUT if I have called it a strike -- I never have regrets because in my judgement it was a strike! If I ever hear a PU say "No, he didn't go," and then appeals to me as a BU ... then I didn't see the batter swing either. As PU, just call the pitch if you are unsure of the check swing. Maybe that's why my partners always agree with me......

I honestly can't remember ever giving a second thought to a pitch that I called a strike on an attempted check swing. I might have thought that I should have called one a strike that I didn't. I disagree with any one that suggest that the PU should automatically go for help on every attempted check swing. You are paid to use your judgement to call balls/strikes -- don't be afraid that a coach or an announcer might get angry at you. If a check swing is "close" then I say, "No he didn't go" and wait for F2 to ask me to check with my partner. BUT if I have called it a strike -- I never have regrets because in my judgement it was a strike!

“Non-competitive†baseball -- that doesn't sound like much fun to me.

I understand what you are saying -- My priorities are a little different, I am more "into" helping develop the next generation of umpires -- I guess I should say my grandchildren generation of umpires. In the league I work for all "senior" umpires are required to "work down" to help mentor the new guys/gals. The boss says, "If you want the college games and other higher level games you've got to work an occasional lower level game". Starting in August, when the new umpire training program begins, the lower level games will account for probably 90% of the games that I work -- Myself and a few other guys ask to mentor the new umpires -- we enjoy it. Luckily the new guys I work with only work games with "time limits" so I am spared the grueling marathon games. Come to think about...the longest game I ever worked was a college game years ago with two very experienced partners.....the guy who worked the dish is a umpiring legend.

That's what we recommend around here. As you all know learning how to be a good plate umpire is a lot more involved than just calling balls and strikes -- it's about total game management. The sooner the "newbies" learn good game management the better it is for them and their partner(s). So I like to get the new guys I'm mentoring behind the plate as often as possible.

Now I'm gonna say it -- It must not have looked close to Rackley -- and his opinion (judgement) is all that matters in this situation.

I've heard that an umpire's reputation is made on the plate and lost on bases.

Thanks Captain Obvious! Colonel Obvious please...... I have the plate tonight so I'm going to inform my partners that I'm not going to rule on a single check swing -- one less thing I have to worry about -- I like this new mechanic While your post is funny, and I enjoyed it, I must add ..... If you're rocking a 4 man system, there's no reason NOT to ask if there's any question, right? What does it hurt? I'm probably going to get gruff from this, but I don't really care .... it's an opinion, etc, etc........ 2-man, 3-man, 4-man, or 6-man -- The main reason not to go for help on all check swings is that it's the plate umpire's responsibility to call balls & strikes. But IF you're not sure then you should ask for help.

Thanks Captain Obvious! Colonel Obvious please...... I have the plate tonight so I'm going to inform my partners that I'm not going to rule on a single check swing -- one less thing I have to worry about -- I like this new mechanic

Obviously he didn't feel that he needed help!

How to know when it's time to hang it up??? My answer might sound a little corny. I do not want to reach the point where I embarrass myself and my partners on the field or hurt this game that has brought me so much enjoyment over my lifetime. At 63 years of age, bad knees from a lifetime of baseball, racquetball, and distance running, I no longer can perform consistently at as high a level as I could 30 years -- and I don't try to. Can I still have a consistent strike zone at higher levels? Sure, It's always seem effortless to me.... BUT -- I can no longer get out from behind the plate and make it to the 45' line at the higher levels. I'm slower getting into position when I'm on the bases and have to take "short-cuts" some times because of the pace of the game. And I definitely rely on "angle over distance" much more than ever before -- more distance than I would like sometimes at the higher levels of baseball. I recognized my increasing limitations and work down to a level I feel more comfortable at. You can still find me working intra-squad scrimmages at the university -- but we're usually 3 or 4 man. And I still occasionally work a lower level college game when needed -- think I had 2 or 3 this year (Sun Belt Collegiate League). I still work HS varsity level baseball when needed and all levels below down to 10U. I no longer work tournaments where I'm expected to do 6 or 8 games per day. In fact 1 game per day, maybe 2 depending on the level, is all I want and only 2 or 3 days per week. If I get that I'm as happy as a fly on a fresh pile of s**t. And apparently I enjoy writing long rambling posts -------------

We are assigned our positions by the league assignor. When we receive our assignment it states who has plate/bases If it's a 3-man game the assignor lets us decided who is U2/U3.

#2. Umpire interference is not the correct term. It should have been called umpire obstruction, which of course does not exist. Maybe the BU saw the NCAA crew call it a year or two back and thought it is a correct ruling:) BTW, how many umps on crew? I would expect more than 2 in a state event. If so, busting in seems strange. There were 3 umpires. I have no idea what 3-man mechanics on a small field are suppose to look like. I would expect U1 in A and U2 outside in C. Sounds like these guys had no idea what small field 3-man mechanics are either.... I want to ask a small field 3-man mechanics question. If I understand correctly in 2-man mechanics the plate umpire has all catches in the outfield - how does it work with 3-man? Is the field divided between the 2-base umpires? There was some mix-up on a play in the same game last night. The BU that I thought should have made a call on a fly-ball didn't, he thought it was the PU's call so neither was watching. Luckily the other BU saw the catch and they got together to make the correct call.

Thanks Rich. I knew the answers but I didn't know if things were done differently in LL -- again, thanks!

#2. Umpire interference is not the correct term. It should have been called umpire obstruction, which of course does not exist. Maybe the BU saw the NCAA crew call it a year or two back and thought it is a correct ruling:) BTW, how many umps on crew? I would expect more than 2 in a state event. If so, busting in seems strange. There were 3 umpires. I have no idea what 3-man mechanics on a small field are suppose to look like.

I was watching a LL State Playoff game. I think the level was 10-11, but that doesn't matter. Situation #1: F1 had "BIG" hair -- cap fell off numerous times when he threw the ball. Hard hit ball toward F1, ball hits off his glove goes almost straight up and comes down landing inside F1's cap (that had come off again and was lying on the ground). F1 quickly grabs the ball and throws the slow moving B-R out at 1B. The umpire lets the out stand -- was this the correct call? Situation #2: Ball hit -- Runner on 1B going to 2B -- BU is busting inside -- R1 suddenly stops and the BU runs over him almost knocking him to the ground -- Runner is out -- BU rules "umpire interference" and places the runner of 2B. Was this correct?

I think the nature of youth baseball has changed during my career. Less respect for umpires by players/coaches/fans -- don't have an answer for it!

Just for my personal education -- how far up/down does your oval go? Where is it only 21" or 20" or 18"? At what point does it go back to exactly 17"? Right at the knees? What about the upper portion? Would you call an oval strike zone in a college level game? I do not call an oval -- I call a generous rectangle (depending on the age group) extending from the mid-point of the batter's shoulders and the top of the batters belt -- down to the hollow of the batter's knees! At 16U level if a pitch comes in at the knees, any part of the ball crossing the rubber inside -- even just grazing it (in the black) -- I'm calling it a strike all day. And I'm hoping the F1 lives down there or on the outside corner where the batter's can't hit the ball very easily. But at 16U level there's not a lot of hope for that to happen. STRIKE STRIKE STRIKE -- I love saying that word -- I even enjoy typing it --

IMO, you've derailed yourself already by arguing with the coach. Start with: "Coach, I'd be happy to answer a question if you have one." Then he'll ask how he could be out if tagged late. "Coach, I had a tag before the runner reached the base." Then, he'll want to argue. Don't permit it. "Coach, you might well have seen it differently. I have to call it based on how I see it. Anything else?" He saw something different, and wants to tell you about it. If you're between innings, it might be mildly entertaining to listen. "OK, coach, we saw it differently. Now let's play ball." Don't discuss judgment. Your ruling is rules + judgment. If he has a question about rules, you can explain it in 25 words or less. Never argue. Coach doesn't have to agree with you (and usually won't). You don't have to convince him, and you don't have to listen to him. What he said ^^^^^^

At this level? 16U game? 1/2 ball inside, at the knees? STRIKE!

Obvious to me isn't obvious to you and vice versa. I'd balk a kid if he fell off the mound, or if he dropped the ball while in contact. Other than that I'd probably do quite a bit of preventive umpiring on mechanical stuff. It's 12 year old baseball. Talk with the coaches. They aren't gaining an advantage at that age. They aren't cheating. They can barely walk and chew gum at the same time. They're just starting to come into their bodies. Sing a verse from Frozen and let it go. 12U baseball is different everywhere. Around here, they play year round and many 12U players have been pitching with open bases since they were 9 or 10. Some of these kids are very crafty and experienced and should be held to a higher standard than kids that can barely walk and chew gum at the same time. You see the difference when working majors versus AA in USSSA tournies. Those 12U majors kids can flat out play. Same here -- Our youth leagues are well coached and very competitive!

Relax and enjoy yourself! The higher the level the better quality of play (usually) -- the better quality of play the easier it is to officiate (IMHO) -- I'd rather work the plate for a D1 game than a 12U game Good luck!