webspinnre

​Good catch, thank you. ​ In the real thing I used asst instead - this was just more therapeutic for the post here. Thank you all for the excellent feedback. Looking back, there's definitely some things I would've liked to have done differently, starting with bringing the manager into it after the first warning so he has an opportunity to calm his coach down, rather than (perhaps willfully) unaware that his coach was in hot water. And yeah, I definitely wish I'd been more cool/disciplined in the actual ejection. The other issue is rather than the Ignore, Acknowledge/Warn, Eject protocol here, I probably ended up following more of a Warn, Ignore, Eject protocol, which can also cause confusion from a game management perspective. Not having a BU to post-game with after this one, I greatly appreciate the opportunity to use the forum as the next best thing.

The angle on the video is terrible, but he appears to be out to me, and yes, the umpire is in a terrible position.

Yeah, the way he's initiating contact, this has got to be MC and the ejection for F2. There's no need for that sort of play - make the attempt at the tag.

Wow, that seems like it'd be a safety issue.

When you say never made a throw do you mean stood there and watched, or do you mean stood up to throw, pumped, and decided not to because batter was in the way?

I've been regularly reading this forum over the last couple of months, looking for tips on improving game management. After today's game, I feel like I've got a ways to go. Doing an interleague LL Majors (10-12 year olds) game tonight, 1 man mechanic (not ideal, but it is what it is), end up EJing the VT assistant. Been awhile since I've had to write up a real report (apart from a 13 year old who last year yelled the word that rhymes with "duck!" loud enough the whole park could hear it when he got jammed and hit a comebacker). Here's what I've got, minus the parentheticals: At plate meeting went over ground rules, explained I'd be happy to talk to them if they call time, but that there wouldn't be any yelling or chirping from the dugout. Top of 3rd, R1 and R2, VT hits liner to F3, caught, touches 1B for out on R1. I yell, "That's a catch! That's a catch!" and signal outs for the catch and the touched base. As VT ass. crosses back from 1st base coaching, he yells at me, "that was a trap, not a catch!" I walk up beside him and tell him "We won't be discussing safe and out calls today, coach". (probably should have said judgment calls here) In the bottom of the 3rd, HT hits ball to deep right center, digs for 3rd. Throw beats him, but horrible tag misses him, I call safe. VT ass. SCREAMS from the dugout, "That was an out, Blue!" (As I glance over, he's literally jumping up and down) Top of the 6th, HT hits ball between F1 and F3, F3 fields and tosses to F4 covering 1B. I have foot on the bag before BR and call out. VT ass. then yells, "He missed the base!" I hold up my palm in the stop sign. He then yells, "That's 3 today, blue!" & I immediately EJ. He blows up, says I didn't give him a warning. I (too loudly) tell him that I did give him his warning. (Manager is unhappy, comes out to tell me that I hadn't given him a warning, I tell him I had, and tells me that it's three bad calls I've had today, or three I've missed today or something to that effect and walks away.) VT ass. continues to yell from the dugout, I inform manager the game won't continue until he's in the parking lot. (2 more outs, game is over) I'm looking for feedback both on writing the report, and on the situation. I was told after the EJ by the HTHC that I did miss the call (apparently F4's foot came across behind base and didn't actually touch) and he doesn't care if I change it, but obviously I'm not overturning a call without either having seen it myself or having a partner provide information. I'm about 80% sure on the liner call, and 100% sure on the tag at 3rd. Should I have told the manager after I'd warned the ass.? Should I be giving a bit more rope early in the game given that I'm 1 man and will miss a few calls I just won't have the angle on? Am I too quick on the stop sign (or should I not use it)? Pretty sure that the EJ after the stop sign is deserved, though I wish I hadn't gotten as loud when responding to him, or initially to the manager. In the good news, HTHC is also league president and said he had no problem with the EJ.

Doing a LL Majors game, and VT has 12 year old who is at least 6'1". When he's batting, he's standing next to a 5'1 catcher, who is of course squatting. 6th inning they bring him into pitch, and far and away the hardest I've ever seen thrown on a 40-60 field, and also throws a curve and a knuckle-curve. Impressive to say the least.

I posted a similar question recently: The SPR rule has the potential for all kinds of issues.

I just don't like the image of an uniformed and armed police officer on the field at all. In addition to the general safety issues (guns don't belong on ball fields), there's also the potential psychological issues associated with a coach dressed and armed in said manner on the umpires, on their own team, and on the opposing team and coaches. I don't have anything against guns at all, I own several, and my parents are hunter's ed instructors, but there's a time and place for firearms, and the ballfield isn't one of them.

I was a freshman on JV his senior year, and I try to make it back to visit every few years, my family still lives in town. And you're right, the rest of this probably belongs in PMs.

Mallory, I actually grew up in Juneau, and started umpiring LL games there at 13, and did so until 20 or so when I moved. When I was 18 I was the chief umpire for the district majors all-star tournament held in Wrangell. Never did get into HS or Legion Ball, though wish I had. Not sure who is still around from 10-15 years ago, but hopefully you can make it all work. Best of luck with your umpire career - I'd take you on my LL crew down here in CA any day.

Sounds like lazy scheduling to me. If the coach gets away with treating you like this, he'll treat any umpire like this, knowing he can get his way, and he'll never learn to behave. Unless their plan is to inform him in the offseason that he's done coaching, than the high road is simply the no-guts/no-respect road. What do you think the players are learning from this? I'm UIC/scheduler for our small league, and had a coach ask if it was possible to not schedule a certain umpire for his games. I told him I'd take it under consideration, but no promises. If I have another well qualified umpire, it might happen, if not, he'll have to live with it. I'm not going to assign a less qualified umpire because he feels he doesn't get along with this umpire.

ix3 came in yesterday, got to use it today. Nice and light, very comfortable, good field of view. Very happy with my purchase.

​How loudly are we talking?

I only do little league games, and do my fair share of minors games, which are mostly 9 and 10 year olds. Obstruction is one of the things I regularly watch for, as if no one ever calls them on it, they'll never learn. Better for them to get called on it now and learn than for them to go on to majors or juniors and still be obstructing the runners.

​I got a pair of them when they were on sale for something like 2/$25. They've been good. Before coming on this forum, I'd never even considered that as an option, but let me tell you, what a difference it makes.

​Under consideration, but that's a longer term project. As I currently only umpire little league games, I'm unpaid, so this is all out of pocket. Just ordered the Diamond ix3, can't wait to try it out this weekend.

​I agree with that, just trying to figure out what should have been done. This isn't an illegal substitute, since the SPR isn't a substitute.

LL Majors game over the weekend, Manager calls time to insert SPR into game at first. I don't catch that SPR is actually in the lineup (obviously need to improve my lineup management for regular season games), and as such, ineligible, nor does either the official scorekeeper or opposing team. Runner advances to 2nd on walk to next batter, manager calls time to come out and tell me that SPR is actually the next batter. Manager has no eligible substitutes to insert into the game (due to MPR rules), and needs his batter to come up next so that he doesn't have an out of batting order situation with his batter called out. I call runner out, he comes to bat. Looking at things afterwards, I'm pretty sure the SPR shouldn't have been out, however I'm not sure what should have been done - do we put the runner who was run for back in at second and call it good? Do we let the opposing manager choose from the ineligible subs on the bench?

Thanks for all of the responses. Unfortunately contacts are no longer an option for me - since moving to california and dealing with allergies, my eyes get too dry and itchy, even with performance enhancing drugs (nasal steroids) and OTC pharmaceutical remedies (zyrtec). Sounds like pretty much anything is fine, so long as I wear/remove it properly. Right now trying to decide between traditional and hsm. Leaning either diamond ix3 traditional or mvp2500 hsm at the moment.

I did a couple of searches, and while this was occasionally mentioned in threads, I didn't find one that specifically discussed it. I'm looking to upgrade from my starter mask, and am seriously considering going the HSM route after borrowing a friend's for a game today (I had to fill-in when an ump didn't show up after I finished coaching, and didn't have my mask with me). However, the one thing I'm not sure about is that I wear glasses - for those of you who have glasses, what have your experiences been with HSMs and glasses (or traditional and glasses?). I hate wearing the glasses straps, but I want to avoid the glasses coming off when I remove the mask. Today it seemed to go pretty smoothly, but wanted to poll the masses before I take the plunge. If I do go the traditional route, are there any masks you've found that work particularly well or particularly poorly with glasses?

Think of it as a RR crossing gate. It's a signal to stop. While it assists the runner in that it's a visual signal, it is not physically touching the runner now is it? 7.09(h) In the judgment of the umpire, the base coach at third base, or first base, by touching or holding the runner, physically assists him in returning to or leaving third base or first base. Except that in this specific case, he did touch the runner, and an argument could be made that he physically assists him in returning to the base by slowing his momentum and allowing himself to be gently pushed off of.

I first posted this in another thread, and I'd lean toward a no, but in looking at it, it appears to me that it does result in the runner stopping a step or two earlier than he would have, and then gently pushing off to go back. With the ball being cut-off in the vicinity, I'd think there's at least a decent argument to be made. If the cutoff had made the throw to third, I think that's where things would've become interesting.

Anyone see the Giants/Dodgers game tonight? In the bottom of the 9th there was a play where runner overruns 3rd and runs into base coach, then appears to push off to return to the bag. Mattingly goes out to argue, but no ruling. Here's the video: mlb.com/video/v85375583/ladsf-belt-singles-while-blanco-goes-to-third-base The contact seemed significantly more flagrant than something like this instance: mlb.com/video/v11759303/must-c-controversial-interference-costs-texas However, there was no immediate play at third to accompany. Anyone want to offer thoughts on this? My reaction after looking up the rule and watching the video again was interference, but I'm no expert on this rule.

@JoHart10 Not sure if these help, but here's a couple pictures. Let me know if there's something more specific you'd like to see.