Stk004

So today I had a LL Majors game. VT starting pitcher is throwing gas. Bottom 2nd outs don't matter R2. 1st pitch is on the outside part of the plate, belt high, but it tips off the glove of the catcher and goes to the backstop. I call strike 1 as the runner advances to third. Next pitch ball. Next pitch swinging strike. I give the count, "1-2". Home team head coach goes "Woah blue it's 2-1!" "No coach the first pitch was a strike." "Book, what do you have?" Home book: "2-1" Visiting team book is unsure of the count. HTHC and home book: "It went to the backstop!" Me: *loudly* "Count 1 ball, 2 strikes, play!" *points at pitcher" HTHC: "Woah hold on time blue!" Me: *LOUDLY* "Time! Coach, that's enough!" *held up stop sign" HTHC: "I'm not arguing with you." At this point he came down from the 3rd base coaches box and met me by the plate. HTHC: "Blue both books have 2-1. The first pitch went to the backstop" Me: "Coach first pitch was in the zone, catcher whiffed, and it went to the backstop. Count is 1-2, let's play" Coach walked away grumbling but realized I wasn't changing the count. No one was ejected. Play resumed and him/his team complained that my zone was "outside" the rest of the game (which to them was the right center of the plate), but never said anything else directly to me. Would you guys have kept him in the game? Should I have allowed him to meet me after the "that's enough" or did I handle it properly? Thanks in advance for your feedback.

Interesting. I would imagine your observation of the jersey being clean on the front would have been a telltale sign but I wasn't there nor am I your partner so that's just my

Just out of curiosity, a HFS seems pretty straight forward to me.... what does a borderline HFS look like?

Not to beat the dead horse but I'd say sell your calls, being a young umpire myself. I always make sure to be loud and big with my calls to sell them, and I rarely get a coach out to argue. Sure they might whine in their dugout but they know I'm confident and I'm not changing my call.

Don't do it......

Real quick, I have no idea how old that reference is. Didn't the OBR ruling change making the feint to 3rd illegal?

Ok so I've gotten a little confused on what is/isn't a balk. Hopefully this specific reference hasn't been discussed before but I found this online and realize it's speaking in OBR terms, but do you find this accurate? Is there anything you would change or add? Thanks in advance. THE BALK REFERENCE This document will not attempt to cover everything regarding balks. It will cover the most frequently asked questions. First, a bit about the basics of the balk rule. The purpose of the rule is to limit what the pitcher is allowed to do in an attempt to pick off a runner. Basically, it is pretty simple: He cannot fake one thing and then do another. He cannot fake a pitch and then throw to a base, or fake a throw to a base and then pitch. If he starts either action, he must finish that action without hesitation or alteration. The rule specifies many specific actions, but it is a judgment of the umpire as to whether one action was started and not completed or not. The pitcher does not have to step off the rubber to throw to a base. (You don't want to throw to a base after stepping off. If the throw goes out of play it is a 2 base award. If the throw goes out of play when throw is from the rubber it is a 1 base award.)The pitcher may throw from the rubber to a base from the windup position. (It must be done before any movement that is part of the normal motion that is part of his windup.)The pitcher may fake a throw to second or third base from the rubber, but not to first base. This may be done from the windup or the set position. (You do not have to step off the rubber to fake to 2nd or 3rd. Only if you fake to 1st.)A jump turn is legal and considered being in contact with the rubber.The pitcher may place his hands in a different set location before each pitch. He must come to a set before pitching to the batter, but not before throwing to a base. He may not set twice before the pitch.A stretch move prior to the set is optional.He must disengage the rubber with his pivot foot first. (Pivot Foot is the same as the hand that throws the ball – thus right handed pitcher has the right foot as the Pivot Foot)He must step in the direction of the throw and prior to the release of the throw. Once he is on the rubber he may do one of three things: Throw to a baseDeliver a pitchDisengage the rubber (pivot foot first) In (1) and (2) above, the move must be completed without interruption or alteration, except for a fake to 2nd or 3rd. The ball is not immediately dead if a pitch or throw is completed after the umpire yells "That's a balk."

Thankfully yes. Thanks for your answer.

Ok, what if the whole team is out of the dugout but they aren't swinging? I kid you not yesterday I had a coach have his entire team come out between innings and sit on their knees whIle the pitcher warmed up..... what would you do?

I find that on my way to the gate I pass right by a coach who usually wants to shake hands. I don't have a problem with it.

Funny you should say that, there was a guy at my local LL fields this Saturday with bright red shin guards as well. My understanding has always been that the mask should be black, gray, or silver (tan pads acceptable). I've never actually gotten any "requirements" in terms of equipment other than "look professional", which to me means black/silver/gray gear. I would imagine there's a reason ump attire doesn't sell brightly colored shin guards or masks.

Watching MLB network and their "analysts" makes me wonder if these guys have ever read the rulebook.... They're flabbergasted at what defines the running lane on the way to 1st base and are using the grass line as the criteria. The grass line in fair territory. In their eyes establishing the lane in places like Toronto is impossible because there's no dirt.....

I think the point he is making is that in OBR you can prevent this whole quick pitch balk scenario by killing the play as soon as F1 begins his motion before the batter is ready. Or at least in the box.

Ok, I got a little confused through this thread. So does the quick pitch occur as his motion begins, and thus this is when the balk occurs? Assuming there's runners on base.

Sorry, "foul ball"*

???

I tried to post this elsewhere but not sure what happened so I'll do it here. About 2 weeks ago I worked with a gentleman that was 70 years old. He had the first version of this (I believe) and we were working a seniors game that played like a juniors game. Anyway he took a foul tip of MAYBE 70 mph to the chest and staggered off to the side. It clearly hurt him and took a minute to gather himself. He claims he never bruises with this protecter but based on what I saw I don't have a lot of faith in this protector.

Man, as a Mariners fan myself it's sad to see the former reliever (and closer) do something like this not even being 5 months removed from the team.