Forest Ump

This one bothers me because the rule is listed in section 6-2-d Immediate Dead Ball Backswing interference following a swing and a miss by the batter always causes the ball to become dead immediately. a. True b. False Backswing interference is ignored if the catchers throw retires the runner. In this case it's treated as a delayed dead ball. So the answer must be false. Any arguments?

OK OK I get it. No need to keep repeating yourself. Only one D & O conference per team plus leftover conferences no matter how many extra innings.Thanks, I had totally misinterpreted that one.

I always think of Canseco when I read these plays. Look at rule 10-6-A. Also 2-16 for additional support.

I read this as true. Each team does receive one extra O & D conference per extra innings.

I can't clearly answer your first question. In the past, questions were mixed up, sometimes answers were mixed up, sometimes both. The question posted above by the OP has the answers in the same order as my test. The only way to find out is to start the second chance at the test. You won't find out which ones you missed until after the testing period. We all want to be perfect but getting only three wrong, 94%, is good. Especially for your first time.

Agree. That's always been the interpretation.

Hey, I can dream, right?

Nothing to call here except the out. Defensive coach will come out to argue. Bob: "He ran into my fielder. He can't do that." Me: "Bob, the slide was legal. He had one leg and one buttock on the ground and went directly into the bag. Bob: "But he made contact with my fielder." Me: "I know Bob, there was contact, but it was legal contact. We have a legal slide into the bag. Although contact was made, it was because your fielder was in front of the bag. Your fielder is not protected in front of the bag." Bob: "Well you're right as usual. I'll just go back to the dugout now."

The rational for the rule is safety. It is enforced as interference. It's a harsh penalty put in place to protect students. These kids have been playing with this rule since freshman baseball. They know what they can and can't do (not always) and what the penalty will be if they violate it. The runner ran towards the fielder as the fielder was making the play. How can you say he did not alter the play? We don't make this call based on how severely the players safety was endangered.

From the National Umpire Development Program: Despite what the announcers are saying, the runner must legally slide or avoid interfering with the attempt on the B/R. According to former Secretary-Rules Editor Paronto, if the runner has to duck (as shown in this clip) he has interfered. Simple rule of thumb “either go down or get out of the way”(Paronto Interp.) This was an excellent call by Chris Coskey. “Whether the defense could have completed the double play has no bearing on the applicability of this rule” (NCAA 8-4).

Analyzing this play in slow motion and debate gives us pause for several outcomes. In the heat of the moment, in real time, our better judgement would be calling, "That's nothing". Consider it close enough for tangle/untangle.

YES. That was an absolutely great call by this umpire. I expect to see this again next year in a training video or on the test.

Same here. I just say Batter and On Deck Only.

I use to do that, walk out to right field and make him come to me. I don't do that now. If he's coming out, I'll meet him. Explain my call when asked and when I'm done I can walk away. If the coach follows, then he is at risk for termination. Regarding interference calls, I would say the Force Play Slide Rule is one you'll always get a coach heated up on. They don't understand the rule and you have to explain it every time.

True, it's a small detail, but it's the small details that you execute that get you to the next level. I've observed umpires that square up to the lines and it does look sharper for the whole crew. My opinion only.

Not really. It's an older way to work 3 and 4 man. Modern mechanics have you square to the lines.

I would not mention it at the plate meeting. Wait and see if anything happens. If it does, tell the head coach that they must stand down immediately or he and the offenders will be ejected. Let him know that this is a POE this year and it is how the NCAA wants it handled. Maybe he'll get the idea and stop his players from doing it. Hey Wolf....I'm adding this because I see you work HS only. Do what your assignor wants. What I stated is only for the NCAA.

This is under 5-15-a 5) In the case of a National Anthem standoff between the two teams, any umpire shall eject any player, coach, manager or team personnel for violations of the Coaching and Players’ Code of Ethics. PENALTY for (5) The umpire-in-chief is to warn the head coach of the offending team(s) that should any player or team personnel not return to the dugout area immediately after the playing of the National Anthem, the head coach and offending person(s) will be ejected immediately. Note: This is a sportsmanship issue.

I had it happen this pass Saturday at a JC game. Visiting team stayed on the line. I told them to stand down or they would be ejected. Had to tell them twice. The rules state that if they don't stand down, the head coach and the offending participants are to be ejected. This crap started at the D1 level and has slowly been drifting down. I've seen a few HS players do this.

Agree. However, if they stand off, that will be dealt with, and harshly if need be.

Ugggg.....Hey MUA, either you read that wrong or I typed it wrong. As a gentleman, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. The pitcher asked for time and went over to the dugout to get a drink of water. Seemed odd, but I didn't think much of it. After the game, my partner and I discussed what the pitcher did. My partner suggested that he may have been dipping and swallowed it. That had never occurred to me as I don't dip, never have. I posted this because it can be a teaching moment. Something to think about if you see a pitcher, or any player for that matter, do this.

I don't have a problem with that. I'm going out to the mound to make sure nothing is discussed. In the situation I described, it was a JC game. During our post game discussion, we figured the pitcher may have been dipping and swallowed it. That's why he went over to get some water. Something to think about when you're working with young adults.

Ooops. Fixed it. I presented this scenario because it happened in a college game last week. The pitcher asked for time, ran over to the dugout and got a drink of water. I didn't think anything of it and the game continued on. The opposing coach asked me between innings if that was a trip and I told him it was nothing. However, it did make me think about it. My partner and I discussed it after the game and could not remember seeing a pitcher do that.

Pitcher asked for time. He runs over to the dugout to get a drink of water. Drinks his water and runs back to the mound. Charged conference or nothing at all? Reverse the situation. Defensive personnel comes out to the mound and brings the pitcher a drink of water. Charged conference or nothing at all?

Don't know why that one bothered me. Just submitted and got a 98%.