martums

In regards to the last post by Maven, what if the pitcher properly disengages, properly feints to 1B to get R1 back to first, HOWEVER, the first baseman is playing behind the runner and no where near first base. I'm curious for OBR rule as well as FED ruling. I actually had this situation in my first scrimmage game this year.

I was recently reviewing the legal pitching positions in the OBR for a whole other issue and noticed that there is a statement indicating that the pitcher can still throw to a base for a pickoff attempt from the windup position. This is a play that I had no idea previously that it was legal. Any insight that anyone can provide on this rule? Is it also part of the FED rules?

So I had the opportunity to step down and work a 12U rec league game (normally I work Cal Ripken 12U Competitive) last night between 2 of the top teams in the league. Very close game all the way around with above average pitching, good defense, and to my benefit, above average catching. VT is winning 2-1 bottom of the 5th, 2 out, bases loaded. Passed ball occurs and R3 goes for home. Left-handed batter is up at the time, but did not hardly move off the plate and as catcher throws back to pitcher covering home, his throw hits the batter and in my judgement, was BI because of the batter not making a clear attempt to get out of the way of the play and interfering with the throw to the pitcher covering home. The HT began celebrating the tying run, but once the cheering lowered, I had to make the BI call and believe me, I didn't make any new friends from that call. The tough thing is that the assistant coach is friends of mine since his oldest son (who was also helping coach his little brother's team last night) plays summer ball with my oldest son and my youngest son plays some with the assistant coaches youngest son. I did allow the assistant coach to try to plead his case until he begged me to throw him out of the game until I told him he would be suspended by the league for the rest of the season. The score ended 2-1 and now I'm sure I'm going to hear about this call most of the summer......Any other good BI stories that can be shared? Also when I was off the field I see one of the HT parents with his smart phone showing the League director the video replay, and I'm pretty sure that parent did not understand the BI rule either.

Yeah this is the beginning of my 4th year of umping, and I had yet to get tagged in the shoulder area, but this season, I guess that's where the bullseye is at. Funny this is that this whole thing started on a Wednesday evening (1 shot to the right shoulder), then on Saturday afternoon (last game of pool play for a 14U tourney, bottom of the 7th) took a shot to the left shoulder, then that following day (same 14U tourney), bottom of the 1st, took a shot to the same left shoulder, and top of the 2nd, took the last shot to the right shoulder. Yeah 5 minutes in between was a great start to the day, with 2 more games to call after that...... Luckily that was 2 weeks ago and have worked 15 games since with nothing...... That's why we get paid the "big" bucks!

Well when the ball comes directly off the bat and into my shoulder area without any "interference" by the catcher.....I consider that being hit by a foul tip......

I got this brand of CP this past season, and it's very good, light, and comfortable, however, this season, I have acquired 4 different direct foul tips to the left shoulder area, and 3 to the right shoulder area (from 12U Select and 14U Pony and Select) and even though there are very nice shells on each shoulder, the pain has been pretty severe initially and currently each shoulder blade area is black and blue. Does anybody else use this brand of CP, and if so, how has your experience been with it? I don't think I will consider changing anytime in the near future, but would appreciate any feedback.

Hiya from the Northwest. When it's not raining, it's baseball season and there is plenty of buzz in the air with the pub that the Mariners are receiving. I'm a pretty new umpire in Bellingham, Washington which is about 1 1/2 hours straight north of Seattle. This is my 3rd full season with focus on competitive 12U in a Cal Ripken league through our local Boys & Girls club and 14U Pony. I also work a variety of tournaments each year in these age groups and I even worked some fall ball at the High School level (basically scrimmage games) this last fall. I've thoroughly enjoyed my experiences so far and once my oldest son graduates from high school in a year and a half, I will probably step up to working high school primarily. I look forward to hearing from my fellow umpires around the nation.