LRZ

Shaun, there is a difference between preventive umpiring and "appeasement."

This is almost always a questionable reason for doing anything on the field.

No material issues? Credibility rulings on a motion for summary judgment? Gil, do you know if there has been or will be an appeal? I don't see anything from Hernandez's counsel in any of the on-line accounts I read.

Tongs? Where is Razzer when you need him?

FWIW, I have made purchases from All Sports Officials in all three sports I work, and have never had a problem. But, I should add, I live nearby, so my purchases have been in person.

No, the email did not talk about credit for last season. This is what the email ends with: "If you have any issues, please give me a call when you can be in front of a computer." I sent you the two names and phone numbers in a message. Last year, I chose a refund--I'm getting too old and will probably retire from umpiring.

conbo61, go here: https://legionumpires.com/home/. If you want the full text of the letter--it's just a "how to register"--let me know and I can forward or copy/paste it to you.

I have no idea if Bucks-Mont, Lower Bucks and Lower Montco senior leagues have suffered attrition; there's not as much junior Legion here, as there are other opportunities for those ages in STBL (Suburban Travel) and ITL (Intercounty). PA Legion just sent out an email about umpire registration, so a season is anticipated--if the snow ever melts.

Wow.

Apply the Potter Stewart principle.

Give credit where due: see post #4, above.

Yeah, toss the coach.

BT_Blue, I think you may have misread what Shawn0331 wrote in the first post: "I DID NOT eject the pitcher even though it was an eject-able offense." I'm also curious why it mattered that the "pitcher (Offender) was sticking up for his catcher who also happened to be his brother...."

We do have a lot of guns this side of the border. beerguy55, if we ever get a chance to have a beer or two, I'll tell you the sad story about my application for permanent residency, when I hoped to retire to Vancouver Island.

"Horrible" is in the eyes of the beholder. Even in warm weather, I will usually wear a long sleeve shirt on the bases. I've had a lot of skin cancer issues the past 5-6 years, and I'm not going to expose myself to the sun any more than I have to, just because my partner has a contrary fashion sense.

As I'm sure you are aware, beerguy55, being a thoughtful person (I say this seriously, not sarcastically), this is a matter of opinion as well as local custom. Most leagues here (in all the sports I work) have sportsmanship codes that emphasize socially accepted behavior. I will repeat myself: around here, "f***" from a 12-13/ y/o, out loud and addressed to an opponent is over the accepted and acceptable line. How we address it--a caution, as you suggest, or an ejection--is likewise a matter of opinion and local custom. HS, ok, I can see that; below HS, not so much. I'd be dinged for not ejecting. Or maybe it's just the difference between Canada and the USA! It's a gross generalization, I admit, but Americans are probably a whole lot more moralistic than you Canadians.

Shawn, do you have automatics? If not, where do you draw the line on ejectable conduct? Lastly, since you admit the pitcher's conduct was an "ejectable offense," why didn't you eject him? What factors led to your decision not to eject?

FranklinT, you are correct. It was DeMuth. The thread, posted on March 31, 2014, was "Opening Day....first fashion faux pas."

Anyone remember a thread several years ago with a photo of Jim Joyce, working the plate, wearing a short sleeve shirt over long sleeves? I remarked, something like "He won't get varsity games that way." "My other pet peeve, and when I am working a game with a younger umpire in my HS association, I wont let them do this. Is wear a long sleeve shirt on the bases." There are days when short sleeves are not warm enough, yet a jacket is too much. No offense, wvumpire1984, but if you tried this with me (granted, I'm hardly a younger umpire), one of us would block the other on Arbiter.

I'm pretty sure I shared this story before, but it's always good for a laugh. Years ago, I used to work the local Catholic League HS, where we were taught this: when a kid cursed, we'd say to him, quietly, "Son, I don't mind that kind of language, but my partner's a priest, and it really upsets him."

I'm with JonnyCat, with one minor deviation. There are only two people whose opinion about this matters: you and possibly your assigner. And the latter only matters if it might affect your schedule or moving up.

U13, the f word, out loud, addressed to an opponent? Under his breath or to himself, ok, but loud enough to be heard by the PU and presumably the runner? This is not situational, IMO. I don't like automatics, but this is over the line. Kid, learn a lesson the hard way and take a seat on the bench.

I am an old man, not entirely comfortable or adept in today's digital universe. As a Ph.D. in literature and appellate lawyer (where I spent most of my days reading case law and records of trials), I prefer the printed page, so I hope that the governing bodies in the three sports that I work do not go all-digital. I find it easier to flip real pages back and forth. My iPad is 10 years old and I do not have a smart phone, so my access to digital rule books would be limited to my desktop. YMMV.

Carl, I'll add one minor suggestion: if you post about a play or situation, it helps if you identify what level or rules are in effect, as our discussions and answers will often hinge on the governing rule set. Yes, I did see that. That's why I was wondering about the "vicinity" language, figuring it must be an interpretation or in some manual. I anticipated that your library would reveal the source! By the way, if I address you as Mr. Senor Azul, would that be redundant?

Thank you, Senor Azul. Like the rule itself, the Wendelstedt interpretation addresses foul balls, but it makes sense to extend the principle to other dead ball situations, like in the OP.