ilyazhito

This is an absolute disgrace. I should not be expected to go into a gym and have to be possibly attacked by one (or both) of the teams, and then go to the hospital. NASO might be able to pay me something, but what happened in the two videos is just wrong. If this happens with any consistency, no wonder there is a shortage of officials.

Does this umpire also do softball? In softball, making the verbal call while down is the SOP, but it really messes up timing to do that. This might be one of the reasons why I might drop softball next season. RE: the U2 going away from a play, that is stupid. The situation described is a classic going-out situation for an umpire stationed outside the basepaths, whether 60' or 90'. LLI really needs to re-write the book on this to match CCA 4-man mechanics (6 is just 4 with 2 extra umpires for fair/foul calls and trouble balls deep in the outfield).

Indeed. THAT is the reason why inside umpires rarely go out. This is also the reason why U2 is inside with runners on base in a 4-umpire system. Indeed, at the 3-person camp that I attended, this is probably the reason why we were taught to not go out from inside (only when on the lines).

I'm just saying that going out from the inside in 3-person is not common practice, probably because mostly 2-person umpires would be doing so incorrectly in their respective 2-person games. Higher-level umpires (MLB) might do that, because they know how to adjust coverage for the baserunning that their partners leave behind, but it is probably better if amateur umpires don't leave their partners with baserunners in unplanned situations.

I'll have to look through my manual again to make sure. The gist is that you don't go out willy-nilly in 3-man, and that umpires don't go out from the inside in any system. If U2 is stuck inside and there is a trouble ball, U1 or U3 might go out in 4-man. Do you have any experience doing 3-man, particularly as U1? I'd appreciate hearing whatever helps you make your reads quicker. It might help me as well.

I think that Rice was confusing 3-man with 4-man, where you DO go out on any fly ball, CCA or MLBUM. Still, 3-man does take more reading than 2-man (go out or pivot, U1 never rotates in 2-man), so I need to get some practice in 3-man to make sure that I can improve my reads. Probably the most difficult situation for U1 is R1/R2, less than 2 outs, because of the number of variables that could happen. 3-man U1s, feel free to chime in and tell me if that was your experience?

Yes, HP could help out if there was no rotation, or a reverse rotation with no potential play at the plate. If there is a likely play at the plate, HP must stay to deal with that. U1 would then pick up any obstruction at or around 1B, which would most likely be of the Type 2/Type B variety.

I also use an F3 V2 with a throat guard with no logo. Works better than my Markwort with Team Wendy pads. Felt nothing when hit in the mask with batted balls.

Well, I went to 3-person camp, and it seems that U1 was more difficult for me than I initially expected. U3 was easier (run across the diamond from D position to 2nd base, unless I go out), go to 2nd (if in the middle), or slide between 2nd and 1st, whereas I need more 3 man games to be able to unconsciously know when to slash inside from A. If I get more reps, I can read the play and runners faster and get to where I need to be. Unfortunately, most games are 2-man, so it would be really hard to get the practice, unless my assignor was willing to give me unpaid games, or some umpires working fall ball were open to inviting a 3rd to work with them.

Don't laugh. There actually was a play where an MLB home plate umpire had a fair/foul call up the 1st base line and potential runner's lane interference, and had to return to the plate to take the play there. He fell, and made the call from the ground. Spoiler alert: he got the call right. Close Call Sports called his position the "Worm position". I'd probably call this the same.

That's a great example of the wedge too. You're in the catcher's (right) hip pocket, and have an excellent look at the play. BTW, what league is this that allows you to wear red?

Maryland still uses the narrow stripes. DC and Virginia use wide stripes, though.

The wedge basically means getting in the gap between a fielder's glove and the base for tag plays. The most common example is for a play at the plate, but it can be applied to plays at other bases (U1 calling a pickoff at 1st base in the 3-umpire system, U3 calling a steal at 3rd base, etc.). To do that, move to stay in the fielder's hip pocket, except when the fielder moves off the base (catcher moving towards 1B). I was able to get a play at the plate correct by using wedge principles during a game at a 3-man camp this past week (runner rounds 3rd to go home, catcher comes up the line to field the throw, catcher tried to tag the runner, but missed, and runner slid by him to score). Another key part of the wedge is to get closer to the fielder than you would otherwise, because the closet you are (with the right angle), the less you have to move to make adjustments (quiet steps is the term used by instructors), and the more of the gap between glove and base that you can see.

Where is the most updated MLBUM available, anyway? I've checked the Wendelstedt Umpire School store website, and the latest version I can find is 2016. If batter and runner advance, I'd leave it as it is, because the spirit of the rule is fulfilled (the balk did not prevent R2 from advancing, so no reason to punish the pitcher twice). This is the reason why if there is a balk, the ball is put in play, and everyone advances at least one base (think home run), the batted ball (HR) counts, not the balk.

IFF (ball could be caught by an infielder [F1 is an infielder] with ordinary effort), batter is out, none of the questions are relevant, now there are 2 outs, R3 and R2 score, R1 goes to 3B, and play resumes R3/2 outs and HP calling "Play", because the ball became dead. And that''s all, folks!

I understand, but I have never heard the "push" term before. I've heard (and used) the terms slide or reverse rotation, as well as executed it myself as U1 in a playoff game. I'll be going to Rochester for a 3-man camp next week, so I'll be getting a lot of practice with that, and the other fine points of 3-man mechanics. Besides the pitching rule, NFHS just approved post factum of standard umpire practices by adding them to the rulebook.

What is the "push" signal? I use the "point to the base where I'm going" signal to indicate a possible rotation in 2 or 3 man mechanics already, so there is nothing new, except for the pitching rule change.

That is terrible! God grant him a speedy recovery, and let him return to the field. If not, he might make a good observer/interpreter/instructor instead.

If there are 9 players, the starting pitcher is a P/DH and can be replaced in either capacity. For instance, if the pitcher is replaced as pitcher, he can remain as the DH.

I've looked on the Honigs website, but plate coats are not listed there, only jackets. Does this mean that plate coats are just an item that is made-to-order, and that I would need to especially call for one? What would be a ballpark figure that I would be expected to pay for one?

I was able to work 3-man as the U1 this year at a Sectional Final playoff game in MD, and I can say that it isn't easier than 2-man, but it is simpler. Once I was able to read the manual and have a few situations where U3 went to the deep B position, I was able to stay in A with confidence, and have great looks at pickoff attempts at 1B. After the runners moved up to 2nd, I was able to get to deep B, cover the back of my U3, and make calls on pickoff plays at 2B. I was even able to go out on a ball to RF with a runner at 1B and make a call (no catch)! It did take a little bit of adjustment (with 2 outs, U3 and I reverted back to me in A, him in C, what we would be in for a R1/R2 or bases loaded situation), but it was a very enjoyable experience. This is why 3-man as the U1 is not easier than, but simpler than 2-man.

Well, in that case H would be U3's between inning rest position, and I would be U2's rest position (generalizing for more than 2 umpires). Would deep B and deep C then be L and M, with outside C being referred to as the N position? Obviously, D, H, L, and M exist only in 3-man mechanics, and I and N only in 4 man mechanics. If @wwsodeputy would work the playoffs, then it might be useful for him to know that, as most states use 3 or 4 man mechanics at some point in the playoffs.

G, J, and K? I only know about A, B, C, and D positions. Anyway, good luck with your season.

Here is the 2018 CCA Baseball Manual as a PDF. I was somehow able to find a link to this on the Internet. Enjoy! It should prove useful. 2018CCAManual.pdf

Who knows, maybe Jen Pawol makes it to the big leagues for real. If she can become at least a AAA/MLB call-up, and work some regular season MLB games, more will follow. The big question that needs to be answered if associations are to recruit (female) umpires is why would someone want to umpire. If that question can be answered for the membership in general, then it would be possible to derive the reasons why a woman would want to become an umpire. If baseball associations can do a better job in recruiting officials from other sports, maybe the number of female officials can increase (especially if the sports in question have significant female participation, e.g. volleyball, basketball, and/or softball).