JSam21

Also known as... I've worked more in this league so people know me so they don't test me as often... 😉

I wouldn’t say that it was endemic, but it became clear to us that it could be used as a “reset” of the clock with no one on base when there was no way to have a reset with no one on base.

There is ZERO possible chance that U1 can see obstruction on a play coming back into 2nd base. The optics of it are AWFUL at best. U3 would have a better look at it than U1. Either way, I'm not coming up from the wings to make an OBS call at 2nd base.

There is a key difference between the two situations. The pitch had already begun in one and not in the other. Again… call it however you wish. I don’t have an issue with the balk call.

No… because he never started his pitch in the 2013 clip. If he had started his pitch... then yes a balk call would be appropriate.

The pitcher stopped before the batter did anything. In fact, here is the pitcher's pivot foot already off of the plate the moment the batter's hands drop. He couldn't deliver a pitch if he wanted to at this point. At the end of the day, do it how you want to do it.

So... its a balk?

So... was it the batter's actions or the thunder that caused the pitcher to stop? The batter remains ready to hit and within the box until the pitcher has already aborted the delivery.

The pitch has already started. The batter remained in the box until the pitcher stopped their motion. Which specific rule comment are you speaking of?

Is this an apples to apples comparison though? Ball leaves his hand, no runners on, does not cross the line... no pitch per OBR 6.02(b) comment. With runners on it would be a balk... I'm fully in the camp of calling the situation in the OP a balk. We have a pitch that has started and then failed to be delivered with runners on base... We don't really have a choice to not call it a balk and be supported with the rules. Sure, you can not call it a balk and reset everyone and maybe not have any issues... but what if the offensive team decides to file a protest? What rule supports our decision to not enforce the balk? "Common sense and fair play" don't factor into those situations, the rules as written do.

That is literally the first time I have ever heard anyone talk about looking at the catch and listening for the foot. Everyone is teaching, eyes to the base, listen for the catch, bring eyes back to the glove to determine firm and secure possession and voluntary release at the college level for plays at first base.

Respectfully, There is absolutely nothing worthy of an ejection here. If you do eject this base runner for the actions displayed in this video, you will probably have a lot of free time coming up very quickly at the college level.

Which video was this?

An ejection would be well beyond the scope and would likely get you more guff from your coordinator than just kicking the willful and deliberate interference.

I understand some use the pull side... but why? What is the advantage?

Having worked my first "real" game in the 4 umpire system in an NCAA regional this spring, I have started looking more into the 4 umpire system. For the members who have worked more than a handful of games in the system, let's talk about working 2nd base. What are your preferred starting positions with no one on? What are your keys? Any tips and tricks? I was starting opposite of the pull side. My thought was it gave me a wider field of view and more likely to keep balls in front of me while I moved into position at 2nd base. I have talked to some guys who have said the exact opposite and that they start on the pull side.

With almost every game having some sort of video, the more complaints that I see are now for pitches off the plate. Granted, people are going to complain either way. But let's go look at the umpire videos that are posted on the internet, I would say that a vast majority of them are complaining about pitches off the plate. Yes, we have the videos for pitches up and down, but most of them are for pitches in and out. If we keep them on the plate, or in the buffer zone, we will likely hear far less complaints.

Call townhouses not ranch homes. Instead of working off the plate, we should be working up and down. Far too often we are cutting off 1/3 of the zone by setting out top too low.

I do it once, on my first rotation, to people I like.

American Legion rules do not cover electronic devices. Under OBR, the only rule that covers electronic equipment is 3-10-b, which just states that there can't be any markers on the field that create a tangible reference system. **edit* OBR only allows electronic communication between the pitcher and catcher. So lets go down a level to the NCAA. NCAA 5-16 states that all electronic "communication devices from the dugout, the coaches' box, or a position player on the field for the purposes of relaying the pitch or play call" must be exclusively one-way. If they are communicating back to the dugout in anyway through the device, it is not legal. The penalty for violating the rule in the NCAA has the violator and head coach being ejected.

Putting the blame squarely on his MLB crew member. lol

He did not.

Among others I believe.

Umpires don't do review in the post season. It is centralized replay.

Any time some team from another state tries to say that something is legal in their state... "Fantastic, we aren't playing in your state."