ERW27

I think this will start a good discussion. http://m.mlb.com/shared/video/embed/embed.html?content_id=34110303&topic_id=6479266&width=400&height=224&property=mlb

I see American Federation of Umpires. I used to belong to them before I moved. Good association

Welcome. Have you ever heard of AFU? I used to belong to that association when I lived in NY. They are a good bunch of guys and can get you soem good training and high quality games.

My issue isn't just what example I had this weekend, more a general question with a specific example. I have been umpiring 10 years. From LL to High School to few cups of College games. I have had one ejection last year. I have always chose to ignore to play deaf when it comes to a player/coach not happy with me. Not cause I'm afraid to toss, but felt ejections are always preventable unless they just really cross a line. I have learned this year playing deaf sometimes could mean I'm really green and don't have guts to stand up for myself and open to more criticism. I have also seen partners who I felt was looking to get into with coaches/players and could have avoided situations by playing deaf. I am trying to find that happy medium. Don't want to be a prick that you can't approach and have quick hook, but don't want to be walked on.

Try your best not to snowball what already happend. Missed a call first inning dont take it with you all game. Try to just make best call every play. Snowballing can make a bad game worse.

This is one game management aspect I really struggle with. My feeling is if I have to turn around to a coach/player or ask what did you say, I should let it go. Thats having rabbit ears. What happend this weekend really bother me and I dont think I handled properly. 5th inning. R1, lefty pitcher with a decent moves picked the runner. Using the same move all game finally got somone. Coach comes out to argue he went past 45 line (working in B 2 man system). I explain I have been paying attention and he did nothing he hasn't done all game long, we are not having this disucssion starting in the 5th inning (he is losing 5-0 saying how huge this play is). Everything ends and he goes back to third I go to A. BR walks. As I trot into B I hear "I will give you $100 if you balk him this time!" I just ignore him. Few seconds later I think if this kid balks now I am screwed. The other coach is going to be all over me. Should I have handled that and dumped him for it? Would that have been rabbit ears? Where do you draw that line. Just to finsh the story after the inning I go out to RF and his team is 3rd base dugout (current 3rd base coach). He starts walking to the mound assuming to check cleat marks. My partner tells him you touch that mound and your done, he then meets him and turns him back to the dugout. They lost 5-2 and he didnt say another word.

HS rules. He said the catcher was in baseline waiting for the throw which is why contact happend. How would you call that play? assuming all contact was legal and just a baseball play. Catcher has hands above head would you said with contact it was good enough for the out or call him safe. what if he dosent touch plate cause catcher is laying on it? These were things going through my head after the play.

I had a play this weekend I am still sure if it was handeled correctly. I am BU. Play at the plate, where contact is made. The issue is I saw the catcher move to make the catch over his head as contact was made. The runner put his arms up, but did not extended his arms so I thought he was bracing himself. My partner called him out on a tag, the coach wanted him to get help cause the arms were above his head catching the ball how could he be out, there was no tag. I moved twords pitchers mound waiting to help him, but heard him say this is 100% my call and I cannot ask for help. He then told me after the game the catcher set up behind the plate and moved up into the baseline to catch the ball. I said that should have been obstruction. He agreeed with that. He never did see a atag and assumed with the amount of contact (both were on the ground) a tag must have happend. Should I have stepped in knowing he was wrong? If we got together and he gave me that explamation during the play we would have changed the call, just from what he told me, not even getting into the no tag situation.

As temperature is warming up what do you guys eat during the day when you are working back to back games ALL DAY LONG.

It was previously block by catcher going towards pitcher. His bat changed direction sending to backstop Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Varsity hs game with a pitcher going to D1. Bunt attempt, ball hits him in the heart. Never pull bat back and tried to use bat to shield him. After a few minutes to make sure he was still alive they walk him to first. They finally appeal the attempt which I said he offered. Coach comes blazing at me saying you got to be kidding me. That pitch was 92mph. My response "and" Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Tossing bat but hadn't released it yet Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Situation 1 out with R2 and R3. Batter strikes out on ball in the dirt. The catcher blocks it and the ball goes out in front of Homeplate as the batter finishes his swing his backswing/tossing bat away makes contact with the ball and the ball goes to the backstop I initially said the contact with incidental and let the play go live BR reached first R2 and R3 both scored in confusion. Once play ended I got together with my partner and agree he he is out and put runners back. Not a word from either coach What we didn't know was what was the correct call. Is it obstruction backswing interference? Since he was still in contact with the bat. If it was in the air or on the ground that would have change the call to detached equipment and left everything live. Am I correct. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I was talking with College coach this weekend during some weather delays. He pulled out his phone and said the lightning was so many miles away. I asked about it and he said it is the only NCAA aprroved app for lightning dector. Does anyone know what app that is?

I recently tried changing some of my plate mechanics to look more professional and had my wife videotape me. OMG I am a mess. two major issues I need some advise in. 1) My knees are over my feet. At the end of the games my knees are KILLING me. I know proper way to stand (sitting in a chair), and when not in the middle of a game do it perfectly ever time. Come game time I throw that right out the window. Is there a tip anyone has to help me notice as I set up for the pitch the I am in right position or wrong and need to fix it. I think my issue is I'm focused on pitch comming up/watching for balks etc... that I am being lazy. Its very fustrating since I know what is right but can't put that knowledge onto the field. 2) I have worked on staying down between pitches (hands on knees) and then drop to lock in a TOP. I used to walk into every pitch, but was told this looks more professional. Well I worked this weekend and even this morning my wrists are killing me from being hands on knees so much. Same thing any tips here? I appreciate anything you guys can offer.

That to me seems like a valid question. Just like a coach asking if that pitch was high/low/in or out. If you are asking a valid question I will answer it. No need to volunteer that information every time. It can get you jammed up the one time you do not do it. Leads to are you sure, cause you changed something makes the paranoid coaches think you missed sometihng.

Thank you guys.

This has always bothered me. I go back and forth. Can someone give me an hard and fast rule I can always use regarding this. INT vs. OBS. A fielder moving up and sets up in the baseline has not obstructed, but if runner keeps running and does not move its INT. Who gets initial protection and what changes it to the other team? Fielder has a right to the ball, but a runner has a right to the next base especially if forced so cant the fielder be causing OBS while having the right to field the ball. (I know there is no baseline rule here).

This has happended to me this year to. Dang First Base Coach waited till ball was about to hit the line and jumped on the line (photobombed me). I tried to get a read step but missed it. Did nothing. His reaction was too look back at me and his face said that was close please call it fair. Watched F9 who slowed down and acted like it was foul. Took it all in and called it foul. Had I not had that information I would have left it alone and let it be fair.

Stupid question. Had this happen last night. Obvious Batter interference. Right handed batter who took two steps and was straddling home plate. Catcher went to throw to second but made contact with batter as arm was cocked and ready to fire. He held on to the ball. Coach said can't have interference without a throw. I disagreed. The BI caused him not to throw. Does there need to be an attempt of a throw though?

I've had this happen to me. As long as the pitcher has not made an attempt to start his wind up. I have stood up (like a balk) and said he now has second. This lets everyone know Time of pitch he has second. Hope that helps. The level of LL that I have done this with there is no leave early. It is OBR rules.

Isn't this similar to RI at first for out of baseline. The catcher could just drill him if he is out of the baseline to get the out? I have BI here. He needs to get out of the way of the throw, or at least a good attempt. Him running up the line is what caused this issue so he needs to avoid the throw.

Thank you. That answers my question.

Are you awarding the base he missed. either he gets home (third and home) with miss of second (what do you with an appeal of second) or He gets third. (annouce he missed second so I'm giving him second and third).

R1 between second and third and BR between home and first.