Cav

Oh, that's rich.

Within each of the big three codes, someone smarter than me could probably find 12 or more contradictions and/or proscriptions without penalty.

Player EJ protocol is set by the state. Check with them. Here in Ohio, there are specific steps that must be followed. Sending an EJ'd player away from the bench is specifically prohibited. An EJ'd player must remain on the bench under the supervision of the coach.

Semantics aside, the batter steps on the plate when "bunting" is nothing until he actually makes contact with the ball and his bat while his foot is on the plate. Now that is a violation. The mechanic I use is to emphatically point to the infraction and announce, "Time! He's out! He's out of the box!" Repeat as necessary. 7-3-2 . . . Hit the ball while either foot or knee is touching the ground completely outside the lines of the batter’s box or touching home plate. PENALTY: For infraction of Articles 2 and 3, the ball becomes dead immediately and the batter is out. 7.3.2 SITUATION D: B1 hits (a) a fair ball, (b) a foul ball, (c) a foul tip while either foot or knee is touching the ground completely outside the lines of the batter’s box or touches home plate. RULING: Illegal in (a), (b) and (c). The batter is out for making contact with the pitched ball while being out of the batter’s box or touching home plate.

Decades ago, I read an article (Referee Magazine?) about the annual net loss of officials for certain sports. I recall that the three sports that suffered the trend the worse back then were, in order: 1. Soccer - our population/culture didn't then have a base for the sport's rapid domestic expansion; 2. Wrestling - the sport's technicalities being what they are; and, 3. Baseball. I also recall the article predicted the eventual demise of baseball officiating availability based on: 1. Expanding game schedules - a regular high school schedule when I played in the '60s was 12 games; now it's 27; 2. Start-up expenses - memberships, uniforms, equipment, distance, time; and, 3. Revenues - academic baseball is a non-revenue producing sport in Ohio and its officials are paid accordingly. Regarding the latter two: I see my 13 y/o grandson (great ball player, if I do say so myself, and I do) bike on over to the local, youth ballpark, don some park gear (always accepting donations, by the by) over his everyday attire (what was he thinking?) and call ball for a few youth teams. He gets $25 per game. The kid can walk away with $50 - $100 on a summer Saturday and have nothing invested other than his time. (And, it's Calvinball, where the 25 Myths of Baseball are learned and become legendary!) On the other hand, I'm on the backside of this nearly 30-year avocation of mine. I am considered an independent contractor dealing with mandatory memberships, mandatory uniforms, mandatory training and mandatory mechanics for fees that haven't kept up with inflation. My grandson suggests I go to work for him! He has little desire to umpire at my level or higher. He's mentally healthy for his age, so he wants to play or coach. And, since he knows how to umpire and he knows all the rules, he says he will make a great coach if he fails to get drafted as a player. Ugh!

Allow me to add: NFHS 8.4.2 COMMENT: The umpire has authority to declare two runners out when a runner or retired runner illegally interferes and prevents a double play. In such circumstances, the runner who interferes is out and the other runner involved is also out. Also, when the batter-runner interferes, the umpire may declare two outs. The batter-runner is declared out and so is the runner who has advanced the nearest to home plate.

If the runners are over- or under-thinking the situation and are vulnerable to appeal for failing to retouch, then a double play "is in progress." The batted ball was declared an IFF, so it had to be catchable with ordinary effort regardless if eventually falling fair or foul. If fair, BR is out on the IFF. If foul, BR is out on interference with the fielder's attempt to field a catchable fly ball. One way or another, one out. As I take in all that is going on around the bases with my supernatural powers bestowed upon me and if I discover another runner or two in jeopardy of being doubled up on a live- ball appeal for over- or under-thinking the situation had the ball been caught, then I pop one of them, too. If more than one and if I'm not sure on whom the D would appeal their opponent's stupidity, then I'll go get the one closest to home. Two out. Getting outs is right up there with calling strikes when it comes to complying with the wishes of the front office for us umpires to move the games along.

Why wouldn't it?

If the interference preventing the D from getting two out, then yes, I'm going to go get the second out, either the runner on whom the D was going to get or the runner closest to home, if more than one runner was in jeopardy. NFHS 8-4-2 Any runner is out when he: g...or his being put out is prevented by an ­illegal act by anyone connected with the team (2-21-1, 3-2-2, 3) or by the batter-runner; for runner returning to base (8-2-6); and for runner being hit by a batted ball (8-4-2k). If, in the judgment of the umpire, a runner ­including the batter-runner interferes in any way and prevents a double play anywhere, two shall be declared out (the runner who interfered and the other runner involved). If a retired runner interferes, and in the judgment of the umpire, another runner could have been put out, the umpire shall declare that runner out. If the umpire is uncertain who would have been played on, the runner closest to home shall be called out; or

The bat is legal in Ohio, but the rattle is not. 1-3-2 The bat shall have the following characteristics and components. a. Each legal wood, aluminum or composite bat shall: 3. Be free of rattles...

Better than as you described. The catch-no catch decision on a fly ball in the "V" with runners on is that of the base umpire. NFHS 10-1-4 . . . Any umpire's decision which involves judgment, such as whether a hit is fair or foul, whether a pitch is a strike or a ball, or whether a runner is safe or out, is final. But if there is reasonable doubt about some decision being in ­conflict with the rules, the coach or captain may ask that the correct ruling be made. The umpire making the decision may ask another umpire for information before making a final decision. No umpire shall criticize or interfere with another umpire's decision unless asked by the one making it. NFHS10-3-1 . . . A field umpire shall aid the umpire-in-chief in administering the rules. He shall make all decisions on the bases except those reserved for the umpire-in-chief. He shall have concurrent jurisdiction with the umpire-in-chief in calling time, balks, infield fly, defacement or discoloration of ball by the pitcher, illegal pitches, when a fly ball is caught, or in ejecting any coach or player for ­flagrant, unsportsmanlike conduct or infraction as prescribed by the rules. In some instances, he will rule on the ball being fair or foul. NFHS 12-4-1 UMPIRE ASKING ASSISTANCE FROM HIS PARTNER Often during contests, a coach will request that an umpire seek assistance from his partner for a particular call or play situation. Asking assistance from a partner is not mandatory...

How is that possible?

No. Your instincts are good but your reading skills, not so much. You have to read it all, including the notes indicated by the symbols * and #. The latter symbol directs your attention to the bottom of page 49 and, in this case, is significant: "The award to the batter-runner on a pitch is only made if he has the right to advance to first base."

Are we still on umpiring or did we make the switch to politics?

8-3-2 . . . The umpire shall award the obstructed runner and each other runner(s) any additional bases that would nullify the obstruction. Put them wherever it is that allows you to sleep comfortably at night.

Intervening - occur in time between events: "to occupy the intervening months, she took a job in a hospital" The tag-try at the plate occurred in the time between the bunted ball and the batter-runner's running lane interference.

Ball bag! When working behind the plate, I've been called worse.

The only way we officials can change a rule is to enforce it.

Perhaps more supernatural powers the NFHS bestows upon us all.

The only ruling I could find: NFHS CB 3.3.1 SITUATION KK: During a charged conference, the coach or other bench personnel (a) hits or (b) throws fly balls to a substitute outfielder, F8. RULING: Illegal in (a) and (b). This CB sit. is very different from the OP in the who-what-and-where but the principle may be the same.

NFHS 3.1.2 SITUATION C: In the top half of the first, S1 pinch hits for F1. In the bottom half of the first inning, F1 (a) re-enters to face the first batter or (b) does not re-enter until later. RULING: A substitute may replace F1 while his team is at bat without penalty. Since F1 is a starter, he shall re-enter and pitch to the first batter in the bottom of the first inning. In (a) F1 has complied with the rule. In (b), since F1 did not pitch to the first batter, F1 may not return to pitch. He may, however, play another position. (3-1-1, 3-1-3)

ASD aside, the operative phrase (within the 2015 interp) to objectively base the no-call of fake tag obstruction is, as I emphasized above, "...when he tags R2 as he slides back into third base." The tag-try didn't cause the runner to slide, the runner had already initiated his slide at the time of the tag-try. And, time is an objective standard and it provides the words that an umpire may use to dissuade an argument. All the colorful words the NFHS used to paint a picture of that play was unnecessary and has no bearing on a fake tag decision.

I am truly humbled every time the NFHS relies on me to know what "Everyone else, including the third baseman, believes." I just wish they were with me when I have to explain these super-natural powers the NFHS bestows upon me.

NFHS 3-3-1 A coach, player, substitute, attendant or other bench personnel shall not: b. fake a tag without the ball; PENALTY: At the end of playing action, the umpire shall issue a warning to the coach of the team involved and the next offender on that team shall be ejected. In (b), it is also obstruction (8-3-2). 2015 NFHS SITUATION 19: Caught in a rundown between home and third, R2 is returning to third base when the catcher throws the ball to the third baseman who is covering the base. The third baseman does not catch the ball, which is caught by the shortstop who is backing up the play behind third base. Everyone else, including the third baseman, believes the third baseman has the ball when he tags R2 as he slides back into third base. The third baseman shows the umpire an empty glove and is confused as R2 safely slides into third base. The offensive head coach wants the umpire to declare a fake tag and award R2 home. RULING: This is not a fake tag. The third baseman simply did not catch the ball. (2-22-2) [My emphasis.]

NFHS 6-2-4. Balk. If there is a runner or runners, any of the following acts by a pitcher while he is touching the pitcher's plate is a balk: f. failing to pitch to the batter when the entire non-pivot foot passes behind the perpendicular plane of the back edge of the pitcher's plate, except when feinting or throwing to second base in an attempt to put out a runner. [Emphasis mine.]