NFUA_44

HURRY!!!! Must resist the demons in my head!

James, just keep pluggin away man, after 17 years my list is longer than when I started! Knowing that I'll never get it all perfect is one of the reasons to keep it fresh and strive to get better every year.

BalkHawk's #1 above (especially) gives you the best advice. Nothing looks funny when you get it right, it might be ugly for umpiring standards but everyone there watching is gonna see you as working hard in tough circumstances. There isn't much more to do with the conversation, I'd say you did fine, I might follow it with "I will keep working hard for you skip". At that point head back to the plate get set and do exactly that. Work hard, or even harder. You may loose focus or be distracted but break it down to each pitch if necessary and focus on getting some little wins back under your belt.

Yeah yeah! Me too! Tons of people don't hate me, in real life! Come on now, only the pitching machine operator truly hates you! The rest of us just enjoy arguing with you. Huge difference between debating things, and telling people they should be hoarding weapons in a bunker......

John; I would only laugh if you had a system to match said tights with specific shirt/ball bag/hat combos. That said, my last medication update took care of the need to do this.....at least for now.

I don't even think if a batter freezes he is exempt from being liable. I mean let's say we have R2 and F2 has the ball pop out of his mitt and it falls right at the feet of the batter in the box. R2 breaks for third and F2 goes to pick up the ball and attempt a throw but batter does his best freeze tag imitation which prevents F2 from making the play. I think we have something, thoughts? He has done nothing, so you don't need to call anything. You can't expect him to disappear in an instant, especially because F2 misplayed the ball. If he DOES "something" he becomes liable but in your sitch he stands still and let's F2 do what he's gotta do.

Agreed 100% with one note. The 1st to 3rd coverage (which can be different with diff mechanics interps/manuals in use) should be pre gamed. However in this particular sitch I can't see where PU has any resposibility to pick up 3rd. I think maven did what he felt the sitch called for to avoid a possible sh*tstorm but it brings up other questions. What happens when it goes bad at 3rd and PU has to haul it back to HP for what is actually his responsibility. Anything that goes wrong here and your left explaining why u went from POP, to 1st, to 3rd, to HP in fair, with your partner playing statue in C. Is helping him out here really best? That said I can't say I would have done it diff if I was standing in maven's shoes. I think I would have been more inclined to give my partner a very STRONG bark that "Bill, I'm headed HOME!" And pray it sinks in.

I have yet (in 3.5 yrs) had a college game where I've seen a baseball that wasn't rubbed up before it got to me. Especially given the fact that you will be running thru a good supply of them throughout the game. I bought the canister of Lena's my first year on my mentors advice, and so far I have really only used it for High School. That may be more of a regional/level thing I would imagine though. I will be prepared though. It sits in the 6 o'clock sector of the FSB next to the Murphy's bottle!

Completely wrong. Said, of course, with the utmost respect. Spot on. Now we need a facetious smilie too!

Post of the Month right there.

Jeff nailed it for ya! OBR Cite

I'm curious, as I don't honestly know. Is this currently covered by MLB's review rules? I honestly think it is, but I'm not sure. I do remember them covering it specifically at the NCAA meeting in Atlanta, and I checked the DVD from that meeting where the AR that noumpere quoted is explained in detail.

LMAO That thar is sum funny stuf

This isn't about respect from any institutions its about economics, plain and simple. I have a local DIII school with a field miles away from campus with nothing more than a field maint. Building that can be used by us. We are in amongst the mowers rakes, and pitchforks (LOL). However they go to great lengths to provide us with a closed off area (tarps) to change, a cooler filled with food and drink and a player who will wait on us hand and foot. Are they disrespecting us? Hardly, their a small school that does its best. We live in a capitalist society. Rates of pay can vary pretty widely thru the different regions, this would be a primary reason I choose to travel extensivley for some levels. I guess you could argue that the higher rates elsewhere equate to a higher level of respect but, to me anyway, its more about a commmand economy and what I want for certain levels. Working Solo sucks IMHO. Its not as rampant here as it is in other areas. I choose not to work as much of it, but that is a choice I have. Other people, johnny and grayhawk come to mind, are in an area where its the accepted norm for certain levels. Again, its not a disrespect iSsue its economics. Maybe if the economy ever fully rebounds we'll all get a raise and put two guys on every field! Good luck fighting for it. If your lucky ONE facility will build you a room just for umpires at which point they are the only ones respecting you so I guess you will just have to work there exclusivley. By the way, when the decision is made to include this in their budget proposal, are we making sure that basketall, football, and all other sports officials get their own room of respect or do they need to come on down to the baseball field to change?

You're quite right, and I agree that the play you're envisioning is legal. In the post you quote, I misread the OP and thought F1 had made the throw to 1B, retiring the BR, and R3 tried to score on the throw. I apologize for muddying the waters. A little muddy water is good for the soul sometimes, though I would venture to say the chances of this play happening are pretty slim. Can't say I have ever seen a player come up with this idea while headed to 1st. Now I will see it 3 times before the end of next week!

Maven, Out of curiosity, how are you getting the BR to a status of "retired runner" in this sitch? His retreat back towards HP is legal and he can't be banged for an out until he reaches the plate so how does he become retired? If he is trying to get F1 to play on him instead of R3 why would that be illegal?

Enjoy doing this for 3 days at a tournament? 95 or 40 Deg F. Rain delays. All about respect. Then you need to move up to College Level ball and stay there. It is the Only place (and higher) I have gotten those conditions. Below college its just not in the cards, face facts, the funds aren't there is 99% of the country. In all honesty I would prefer they spend the $ for umpire facilities on adding the second man to the crew or giving everyone a raise. Scrounge makes the best point though, there are tons of guys that volunteer, don't get a dime. Are they disrespected? Nope, I do about 20 LL volunteer games every year, change in a parking lot across the street from a College Field house I change in for the local JUCO team from Feb to April. Am I disrespected there? Nope. Ya'll need some perspective and realize that not only is it Regional, but its a matter of personal choice

Dude, enough with personal attacks its really not why we are here. Last I checked everyone is allowed their opinion, right or wrong is a perssonal viewpoint. THAT'S ENOUGH!

This is a link to a 7 page thread from here about 3 months ago: http://umpire-empire.com/index.php/topic/51609-mlb-network-the-third-team/ There was a lot of discussion there about trying to get a copy of it, not sure if it was resolved and somebody found it or not, but I would start there.

Bam, What area are you in? Just curious.

I stand corrected on the intent issue, but to be honest in THIS particular sitch I gotta see something. I'm not banging the INT without knowing that ODB did something, and it could be willful indifference, to get in the middle of it. He should, and 99% of them will, see it and move but its gonna have to jump out at me. That said, I think mavens best point is in this sitch check with your partner, he very well could have the rest of the story since your back is to a good part of the play.

Gotta love it when a plan comes together! Sell it, and they will believe!

I would be good with the no call in that sitch. Although there really isn't any support to send R2 back to 2nd, I would imagine most coaches (most certainly not all) wouldn't give you to much crap about sending him back given the botched play and tangled players. Just my

You got it right on.

Do you have intent on the INT by the ODB? To me that's really the ultimate question. If he did something to make the INT happen then call the INT, kill it and punch out the runner for the teammates INT. From the way you describe it I probably have nothing. F2 is chasing down a bad throw and can clearly see where the ODB is and should be able to avoid him which would be the reasonable thing to do, so as long as the ODB didn't do anything F2 getting himself tangled up honestly is his own problem, I don't see the reason or rule to kill it, and send the runner back since there really wasn't INT. I would be good with the no call, but not with sending R2 back.