mwest5575

Second on the shirts. I really prefer Honigs shirts. I hope they get it straightened out.

I believe this is a balk under FED rules.

Is the frame $40 shipped and do you take paypal?

Ha, well I'm no MLB umpire, and they seem to be fine with it. Still different than taking more than the allowed two steps from the windup, or picking your free foot up and putting it back down from the set. Just wondering how I'd respond to a coach who complains a pitcher is violating 8.01 and it is messing up his batters. "Sorry coach, we don't really worry about that rule." And I'm certainly not trying to be argumentative. I just don't understand why it's not enforced if it's there.

I understand a pitcher can vary speed of delivery. We are talking about starting/stopping delivery or adding in steps which are not allowed according to 8.01 which is not dependent on runners. And I know what you meant by real, and I know what Rule 2.00 says. Since it didn't reference Rule 2.00, and a whole page had been taken up describing what IS legal, I just assumed that doing things 8.01 says not to do was illegal, and would be covered in 8.01(d). It seems that is not the appropriate interpretation. I would still like to know how to handle a situation where the pitcher does something not legal, like start-stop-start a pitch or take too many steps, and then delivers a pitch. The fact that both pitch deliveries require that once you start the pitching motion you must complete it without "interruption or alteration" matters and should be enforced. The batter should not be put in jeopardy of a strike or out if the pitcher is not following the rule. Is it just a no pitch, resume count? Obviously this happens mostly in lower levels. I have not seen it in juniors, seniors, or school ball, but that doesn't mean it's not possible. But it still seems like something that would need to be addressed. If not as an IP/ball called, then however. Thanks for the replies.

That's a fair point. Stopping a delivery is one thing. But what we were talking about is a stop or adding movements or steps other than the one back one forward, and then delivering the pitch. That seems illegal by rule to me. And the point for me isn't to be punitive to the pitcher at all. I just think that timing up the pitch made difficult when you can't reasonably assume the pitch will follow the legal parameters. In your example it's just a no pitch. Like if the ball slips out of the pitcher's hand with no one on. But actually delivering the pitch makes the batter do something. I guess I just think it's important to make a fair balance between pitcher and batter, and pitching outside the rules for legal delivery seem unfair...If you don't want to call it illegal, then maybe not legal.

You're adding words. 8.01(d) doesn't say "real" definition of illegal pitch. 8.01 describes two legal pitching deliveries. I assume since it says nothing about runners and that pitchers pitching to batters is fundamental to the game, that how you pitch to the batter does matter, especially given the length of descriptions of the two legal deliveries. From the windup you get one step back and one forward with the free foot and that you pitch without interruption or alteration. Anything else from the windup does not meet the definition of a legal pitch, and could potentially create a disadvantage to the batter, who has an expectation to see one of two legal pitch deliveries. I think LL rules are messy because they are amended from OBR and not always clearly so. But I just disagree that pitching rules are only there to protect runners, and that 8.01(d) only refers to the definition in Rule 2.00. Why would we allow pitchers to pitch in a way not specified in 8.01 that could create a disadvantage to the batter?

Hi, I'm resurrecting an old thread it looks like. I umpire a lot of Little League. Obviously we'd have to see the video but I question some of the comments on this thread. First, 8.05 applies to balks, and since there are no lead offs in Majors and below, they are enforced as illegal pitches (12U). But that doesn't mean that you have to have runners on to have an illegal pitch. Rule 8.01 goes into great detail about what is legal, and by rule, once you start your motion you are committed to pitch "without interruption or alteration." It also states from the windup you get one step back and one forward with the free foot. Otherwise, you have an IP and 8.01(d) states that an IP without runners on base is a ball. Legal/illegal pitch rules aren't just to protect the runners but the batters as well. We make this call all the time in LL as the younger pitchers will get nervous and do this. It really messes the batters up and it is not a legal pitching motion according to 8.01. I think 8.05 confuses people because it starts with "with runners on base..." and then has the note that Majors and below it is an IP, as if that's the ONLY time you have an IP. That's not the intention. They are just making a note to address that there are no balks in lower levels. So if I had been doing that game (and if the motion was really as interrupted as it sounds like it was) I would have called a ball every time. Just my $.02 and I'd love to hear any other comments. But we enforce this as a point of emphasis at our league.

Yeah I love my diamonds too!! The TW pads in that pic are now on my diamond pewter frame, which might be my favorite set up right now. I think I'll probably end up with a Honigs black mask with dark brown pads soon. Maybe it's just personal preference but having taken shots with different style masks the steel ones just don't rock me as much. Or that's my perception at least. But like I said I'm a big fan of the diamonds. Called the entire spring, summer, and fall with two diamond masks with upgraded pads.

Hi, this is my first on this site. I have been umpiring LL here in NC for a number of years. Just started umpiring middle school and some high school (private, JV) this past year. I have enjoyed using this site as a reference and look forward to posting. Anyway, here is a Wilson steel dynalite that I bought new this fall, and it was so heavy compared to my Diamond aluminum masks I almost returned it. I had started off years ago with an old solid wire Wilson and didn't realize how spoiled I had gotten with the Diamonds. But I'm hoping to move into higher level baseball (varsity) and I really like the protection of a steel mask. So long story short, after seeing Mask It on this site, I asked my buddy with a welding shop to strip and powder coat my mask and this is what I have now. The powder coat is smoke chrome color. I put some black Wilson foam pads on it since this photo and I like the fit a bit better. Anyway, just wanted to share. It is sharp looking (and the labor only cost me a couple of beers!). I may have another done in matte black if I can find a deal on another Wilson. Michael ETA: I forgot to mention, the whole point was to try and lighten up the mask. And it did. I would not have worn it as it was, but I couldn't believe how much lighter it was after burning off that rubber coating. It is still a bit heavier than the Diamond, but very comfortable.