DevildogUmp

Couple of points: 1. On a force play, no matter where the throw is coming from you want to get off the line to give yourself an angle and the ability to adjust if necessary to the bad throw. Just like we don't stay in our initial position in 'A', a step or so off the line will set you up for a better view of the play. 2. Non-force at the bag, you want to be in foul territory and get in the wedge. You probably will feel like you are boxing out the 3rd base coach (do try not to body check him). Speaking of which, this will probably be the first time these coaches have had an umpire at the bag. Feel free to do a little preventive umpiring and do a quick "hey coach, this area right behind the bag in foul territory is my working area and I need you to make sure you aren't there" for each coach in the 1st may go a long way in keeping the area clear - and you may have to remind them, especially when there are no boxes drawn on the field. 3. Bases loaded - you should not have responsibility of R1 leaving early. U2 has 1st and 2nd in 3-man. With no leading/pick-offs, you don't need to adjust your initial position from Position 1.

Correct, in 2001 they had to add to the rule the requirement for dual ear flaps in order to meet the NOCSAE standard they imposed with the rule change in 1999.

I had to go look it up since I don't feel that old and I used a 2-piece through senior year of high school. The requirement for NOCSAE standard for catcher's helmets was passed in 1999 (my graduation year) with an implementation of 2003. Interestingly, the requirement for NOCSAE standard for batting helmets was passed in 1982 (implementation in 1985), so it took 18 years for NHFS to care about catcher's heads.

It is not an additional penalty; it is a different penalty. When there are runners on base we enforce the balk, not the illegal pitch (advance runner(s) vs ball on the batter)

While my sample set is way too small to be significant, I've only had 2 game this season go over 1:50 and both of those long games were caused by the plate umpire not controlling the game. While I'm fine with tightening up the game with rules, at the end of the day it is on the umpires to actually stay involved and enforce length of conferences, time between innings, time between pitches. For most of my association, I give you a pretty good estimate of what the game time is going to be based on who has the plate (someone who runs a tight game or the umpire who is there to politic and kiss babies).

It would for the game, but I believe the rational is that without the ejection, there is no further penalty of being suspended for extra games.

From the umpire representative to the baseball committee, a summary of the proposed rule changes: #1 - Mandatory double 1st base: 1-2-9 Effective Jan 1, 2027 the double 1st base will be required. fair ball bounds over any portion of the white base foul ball bounds over the contrasting color of double 1st base 2-16-1h batter/runner will use the colored base on the initial play at 1st base once batter obtains 1st base-runner shall only use white portion of the base. on extra base hit, B/R can use either section on the way to 2nd base on tag up or pic off attempt runner can only use white section BB batter can use either #2 Uniform update: Effective Jan 1 2027 players uniform may contain school name, nickname, logo, mascot &/or player’s name #3 Electronic communication: One way electronic communication devices are permissible in coaches boxes or a position player on the field.. —can be on wristband or device No participating player shall wear any audio (microphone) or video camera device during the game #4 Conferences “player to player" is added to define charged conference A player to player defensive conference is a meeting which includes two or more players Each team, while on defense, may be granted not more than 6 charged conferences in a 7 inning ball game without penalty No more than 3 may include a coach or representative without normal penalty-pitching change Each team while on defense, will be granted not more than 1 (one) player to player conference during an inning. Umpire will deny any subsequent requests. #5 Malicious contact Malicious contact defined as contact being the result of intentional, excessive force judged as intent to injure a player #6 Restriction/Ejection 2-27-1a PENALTY--restricting a coach or PLAYER to dugout (added player) 3-3-1 PENALTY-Players violating f(1-5) a verbal or written warning may be issued to player. If written, the player shall be restricted to dugout for the remainder of the game. (Trying to have a lesser penalty than ejection) #7 Designated Hitter 3-1-4b If a pinch hitter/ runner for the DH is used, that player becomes the new DH #8 Balks 6-2-4 A balk is a delayed dead ball 6-2-1j NEW while in contact with the pitcher’s plate, feint a pitch to home PENALTY- (j) an illegal pitch in windup; balk with runners on base. #9 Interference 7-3-5 PENALTY interference on 3rd strike two outs SHALL be ruled if interference prevents double play (8-4-2g, 8-4-2l1) 8-3-3e dealing with spectator interference, runners will be awarded appropriate bases per umpire judgement #10 Random restriction on runner's leading off 8-4-2o runner is out: leading off of 1st, 2nd, 3rd base vertically (toward the outfield) to confuse opponents or make a travesty of the game #29 10-1-4 #11 Meeting between head coach and umpire 3-3-1-L to ask a question about a call on the field, the head coach may only meet the umpire that made the call at midpoint of the respective foul line after requesting and receiving time out. after the start of the game, the head coach shall not enter the dirt circle or area surrounding home plate to ask about a call or make lineup changes Non compliance will result in an immediate verbal warning with dugout restriction, followed by immediate ejection if coach fails to respond to warning due to unsportsmanlike act #12 Batter time limit 7-3-1 ...allow batter 10 seconds (change) to take position in batters box ready for pitch

I'm not sure why you think LL ignores ejection, a quick word search has ejections referenced 28 times in the rule book, 15 time in the RIM, and 8 times in the casebook. By comparison, the FED book references ejections 19 times. I think this is more of an editorial decision, but since the book does not specifically allow a for an out and they specifically direct that the batting order be collapsed when a player is unavailable to bat, it would logically follow that the batting order is collapsed when a player is ejected with no further penalty.

That would be my next question. What do we do with a runner who returns (properly) after crossing the plate to 3B to correct the running error and remains there with less than 3 outs? If he stays at third, where is the distinguishing line between this play and my original play?

but in this case, was a run legally scored? The runner failed to tag up. The comment almost makes it sound like it only applies when the runner only believes he left early, so if he hadn't, then he can't nullify the legal run by retreating.

R1/R3 - 1 out. Runners off on the pitch, fly ball to the outfield for out #2. R3 has crossed the plate, but retreats (touching the plate on the way back) and is between 3rd and home when the defense doubles off R1 for out #3. Defense leaves the field. Does R3's run count or has the runner "unscored" the run by retreating back to 3rd? I am under the impression that the run will not count, but I can't put my finger on a NFHS rule or case play that gives an answer either way. I am told that NHFS softball caseplay 9.1.1 K covers this, but I don't do softball so that doesn't help.

1. Engaging the rubber in the set with the hands together is a "don't do that", call time and have the pitcher reset. 2. Even if there was a balk in this particular situation, in OBR, a balk is a live ball and since the BR and all runners advanced one base, you ignore the balk. If the BR and all runners do not advance one base, then enforce the balk, which 99% of the time would be: advance runners and nullify the pitch (if thrown).

@The Man in Blue Little League is 1 per inning (removal on 2nd)/2 per game (removal on 3rd), but visits reset with each new pitcher.

And that extra "A" would be Indiana where officials become post-season eligible by: 1. Being licensed at least 2 years (eligible in year 3) 2. Being a member of a recognized local association. 3. Attending all 6 required meetings 4. Attend a certification clinic in the past 2 years 5. Pass the Part II written test 6. Officiate a minimum of 10 varsity contests in the year. (Maximum of 14 count towards your score) Then the state does hocus-pocus with a score combining the above + years of post season experience and your average coaches score for the past 3 years to come up with your officials ranking. Then they assign, supposedly starting at #1 through #192 (or lower if umpires decline the assignment) in order to put together all the 3-man crews needed for sectionals. While your crew could theoretically be made up completely from your local association or 2 guys from one association, it is likely that crews are meeting each other for the first time when they show up to the field for the first game of the sectional. Matt

@Velho The main reason I need an explicit statement is according to my Region, this is not a balk in LL.

@noumpere - the problem is that the LL rulebook does not address feints from the rubber. They rulebook only addresses a "step and throw to a base". @Velho - That doesn't address a pitcher feinting to 3rd without a step. That just tells us that once he steps, he does not need to throw. Nothing I have found in the rulebook, RIM, or Make the Right Call addresses a feint from the rubber without a step.

LL Rulebook, Intermediate or above: R3, pitcher engages the rubber and is in his stretch. He looks over at 3rd and feints a throw (pumps his arm) without moving his feet. Do you have a balk? If you do, what rule are you using to back up the balk call?

For high school, this would be a question for your state office as that is who creates the pitch count/rest rules. NFHS leaves pitch counts/rest requirements to the individual states. In Indiana, umpires do not have anything to do with pitch counts and have been told to direct coaches/ADs with pitch count concerns to the state office. I can tell you that other organizations that use pitch count, it is all about days rest prior to the restart. So, if the pitcher of record in the suspended game pitches and hits a rest requirement the day before the resumed game, he is now ineligible to pitch due to rest requirements. If he has not pitched in a week, it is a new day and he goes from zero in the resumed game.

@lawump I had found that and I thought it was maybe spelled out somewhere else since, in my mind, that sentence doesn't translate to "the umpire will call out base runners after the play is over". When I read "Dead ball appeals will not be recognized", I interpret that to mean all appeals must be live ball appeals. Any idea what kind of twisted road the interpreters took to get there?

For anyone in SC, is the state rule for calling runners out for missed bases/leaving early without an appeal actually in writing anywhere?

In case you missed it, most runs scored in an inning: 2nd inning: 28 Batters 7 Walks 5 HBP 4 Pitchers J. Butler led off the inning with a ground out and finished the inning reaching on a FC to round out 4 at-bats (0-2 with 2 HBP) in the inning. Jomboy has a breakdown if you want to watch:

My 2 cents: Situations 4, 5, 6 - Umpires should not be involved at all. I am not the fashion police. I'm always happy when everyone is wearing the same jersey. (JV callup/someone brought the home jersey instead of the away jersey). Is there even a penalty for these uniform infractions? Situation 7 - Way to contradict yourself in the interpretation: "1-1-4: A fielder is in fair ground when at least one foot is touching (my empahsis) fair ground", than "the other foot entirely in fair territory, not part touching foul ground". The cited rule does not support the interpretation that the entire foot must be in fair territory. Situation 8 - When it is 30 degrees at first pitch at 5pm, I don't care what the players are wearing to stay warm. Situation 19 - Is this another example of Fed wanting to be special by specifically going against the interpretation from the other rule sets? My understanding in OBR/NCAA as long as the runner doesn't change his path in reaction to the throw, then this isn't interference at those levels.

Is he saying "one step in front of F3" as in closer to the plate? If so, that doesn't sound very safe, I want F3 in front of me so I know where he is going once the ball is in play. I would think U1 in front of F3 is a recipe for collisions with hot shots, heck even a routine grounder where U1 is stepping out and F3 is moving to the base could result in a collision. I may move up even with him if he is way off the line, but any chance that he can lay out for a line shot, I want that in front of me.

In Indiana, all assigners must be approved by the state and can charge "reasonable" fees to schools, conferences, and officials. The state is nice enough to publish fees that each assigner charges. Looking through that list, official's fees range from $0 - $35 a season. School fees go up to $1,000, though I don't know if the school charge is by level, sport, or a flat yearly fee.

@albert The first question that needs to be answered is why do you believe it is a balk? I am going to assume based on your second post that you are a coach. When this happens in a game and the umpire does not call a balk, what reasoning, using the rule book, are you going to use when you discuss this with him? Based on the situation you provided; I don't have a balk.