Cav

Someday, you should ask about my 1/2" strike zone that I used to call (indeed admonished to call by some pretty good mentors in the day) during a blowout game. I'm not so sure the shadow you mentioned above is the ball, but I am pretty sure that the thin shadow just above it (towards F2; Narvaez?) is the catcher's glove. On initial contact with the ball and F2's glove, the glove's shadow is still in line near the inside corner. And, given the trajectory from the lefty's release point, I have strike three.

I didn't see it that way. I can't decipher (px -1.350, pz 2.842) and I have little confidence in the display. Over the plate or when caught? I presume you're interested in my zone width: It's as close to 23" wide as I can make and keep it. I hope yours is too. Any number of things happen when a catcher comes to bat. I try never to ring up any hitter on a pitch in the box. I'm guessing you, too, are good enough to avoid doing so. I've had some interesting conversations with catchers. I believe, based on anecdotal evidence, that catchers, as a group, make better umpires than other current or former players. HS and up. LH-er Rodon's release point is maybe 12-24" to the 1B side of the pitcher's plate. Smarter people than me can come up with the trajectory of his heater, but I'm declaring that pitch was one that I would strike in my games and a good hitter, already with 2 strikes, would be swinging at, even if it were to just waste it. And, Bryant as a hitter is fully capable of all that and more. Perhaps that was the catalyst for his uncharacteristic outburst. I tracked the pitched ball by frame (about 6 total) from release point (@0:03) to F2's glove (#0:04). Perhaps you may wish to try it. Back to real time: Strike three!

Strike all day long in my games. I like it. I like it a lot. I spend a lot more time with a catcher than I do with any hitter.

That EJ was barely 90'.

Who wants to talk about the 130' EJ?

Good call; screw the displayed zone. I try very hard to call that strike all day long. (It's just one of several reasons I get so many greeting cards from pitchers during the holidays.) In my games, I seldom, if ever, see a Maddux and a Jenkins on the hill, although I've worked several with Billingsley back in the day.

We have one HS league assignor who posted our games back in April for...wait for it...2019! He's taking a heck of a chance assigning games to me at my age.

Emphasis above is an important consideration.

2010 NFHS Interps SITUATION 7: B1 lays down a bunt that is fielded by F2 in fair territory a few feet in front of home plate. As B1 is 60 feet from home base, he is running outside the running lane with one foot completely in fair ground and not touching the lines of the running lane. F2 fields the ball and (a) attempts to throw to first but throws high into right field as he tries not to hit B1, or (b) does not attempt a throw. RULING: B1 is required to be in the running lane the last 45 feet to first base when the ball is fielded and thrown from an area behind him. In (a), this is interference and B1 is out and the ball is declared dead. In (b), since there was no throw, there is no interference. F2 is not required to hit B1 to demonstrate that B1 is out of the running lane, but a throw must be made for the interference to be declared. (8-4-1g)

I've got RLI if it were a NFHS game.

8.3.2 SITUATION K: F6 fields a ground ball and throws to F3 in attempt to retire B1 at first. The ball is thrown wide. As F3 lunges towards the ball, F3 collides with B1, knocking him to the ground prior to possessing the ball (a) while the runner is short of first base or (b) after the runner has contacted first base. RULING: (a) Obstruction; (b) legal. Expanding on the OP and in regards to the collision in (b), I would still call obstruction after the collision if F3 doesn't "possess the ball" and the contact "...hinders a runner or changes the pattern of play" after an overthrow; such as, F3 may be judged to delay B1's recovery to advance while F2 or F9 chases the errant throw. I still have to judge that B1 had a viable chance to successfully advance or else it's nothing in NFHS. OBR's two different obstruction criteria (1/A and 2/B) would be useful here in a NFHS game.

And Yogi said, "If the world was perfect, it wouldn't be."

Someday, player contracts will include negotiations on each individual batter's strike zone dimensions: Rookies get the rulebook; someone with <5 years seniority gets an inch up and two balls above the belt; someone with <10 years seniority gets mid-thigh, belt high and one ball diameter in from both sides; and, someone with >10 years seniority gets to call where he wants each pitch...oh, wait, we already tried that back in the day.

I have used for many years an all leather (which is important for durability and flexibility) Wenger (www.wenger.ch) that fits in my back, pants pocket. It holds a Wenger note pad, a Pilot Precise V5 RT pen, a laminated card listing prohibited bats, and will also hold and keep dry a game check or cash during the sweating season.

Thanks, umpstu. I've been a NB aficionado for a long time. My 950s finally gave up. New 950v2s are inbound. I was concerned about the v2's partial mesh exterior, with dust, dirt and my inherent laziness being what they are. I don't want to be "that guy" out there with dirty shoes, but I also don't want to have to revert back to my memorable military days.

Can anyone give a report on the performance/maintenance of the NB950v2?

Either or, depending on how he wants to take R1 into 2B. Personally, I like deep C.

HTBT. 1. I would need to know if R2 ran "into the shortstop" before or after U5; and, 2. If before, I would need more info, particularly about R2's path to 3B in order to "...run into the shortstop who was moving over to back up the play..." What did you have? I offer you this case play wherein R2 was DOA with or without the obstruction: NFHS 8.3.2 SITUATION D: With one out, R1 on second and R2 on first, B4 hits ground ball directly to F1 who throws to F5 for force on R1 at third. F5 then throws to F3 in time to put out B4. F6 holds R1, preventing him from advancing to third. RULING: The umpire will call obstruction when it occurs, and then call time after runners have advanced as far as possible, which in this situation would probably be second for R2. R1 will then be awarded third. Because of the obstruction of F6, the out at first stands. B4’s out stands. B4 was not affected by the obstruction. B5 will come to bat with two outs and R1 is on third and R2 is on second base.

The term "fan" has many meanings. As it is used to describe those "outside the fence" at sporting events, the English language has derived the term from the word "fanatic," itself a socio-psychotic, medical malady that is non-treatable without ardent site administrators and perhaps even armed guards. As officials, we must let it go and allow Nature to take its course. The dugouts, on the other hand, are well within our "sphere of influence."

Yep, he's treated the same as any reliever once per inning. Ouch! 2012 NFHS interps SITUATION #14: How many pitches and with how much time do pitchers have to complete their warm-up throws? RULING: The starting pitcher and any relief pitcher may warm up by using not more than eight throws completed in one minute timed from the first throw. A pitcher who, was the pitcher in the prior inning, may warm up by using not more than five throws completed in one minute timed from the third out of the previous half-inning. (6-2-2c exception) 2014 NFHS Interps SITUATION 14: In the fifth inning, the starting pitcher is removed for the first time in the game and goes to the bench. In the seventh inning, the original starting pitcher is re-entered to face the last batter. The opposing coach argues that the player cannot return to pitch, saying “once removed, he cannot come back to pitch.” RULING: If a starting pitcher was removed to the bench, he may return to pitch in a game provided a) he has re-entry eligibility; b) he faced the first batter of the game, or faced the first batter as a relief pitcher until that batter was on base or out or the third out of the inning occurred; c) his departure was not due to a violation of the defensive charged conference rule (fourth defensive conference in a seven-inning game); and d) his relief did not take more than eight warm-up throws. If those conditions are met, a pitcher may return to the mound. If a pitcher is removed and goes to another defensive position, he may be removed and return to pitch once an inning, provided the above requirements are met. (3-1-2, 3; 3-4-1 Penalty)

A common occurrence I've often observed in my partners over the years. I put out that NFHS case play to remind all that spit can and usually does happen. The "weak interference" reference was my J/R background from the early 90s leaking out.

I'm treating it just like what we used to call "weak interference" on the return toss. No one was trying to advance and no one was trying to make outs. So, shut it down, have the bat picked up, the ball exchanged, R2 stays on 2B and the BR complete his awarded BB. Stupid lefty!

NFHS 7.3.5 SITUATION I: With a runner on third base and one out, B3 receives ball four for a base on balls. B3 takes several steps toward first base and then realizes he is still holding onto the bat. With his dugout on the third base side, he stops and tosses the bat in front of home plate towards his bench. As he tosses the bat, F2 throws the ball to third in an attempt to put out R1. The ball contacts the bat in mid-air and is deflected into dead-ball territory. RULING: The ball is dead. Interference is declared on the batter. If R1 had been attempting to steal home, R1 would be declared out and B3 awarded first base on the base on balls. If R1 was attempting to return to third base on the play, B3 is declared out for the interference. (7-3-5)

"If you don't think too good, don't think too much." ~Ted Williams Words to think about. Ha!

Oh, I'm quite certain that if it were Bret, then he would have attributed it to Rich. Now, stop. I have an important pre-game nap coming up.