Nic

They sell soft replica baseballs at Academy for 3.99 for a 2-pack. Love the tennis balls, what I used growing up, but love the replica balls even more.

Doing U10 game last weekend and a team has multiple players wearing big pink and black braided necklaces. I make them take them off. "They represent a mom that just died of breast cancer," they explained. It was Mother's Day, mind you. I called the tournament umpire director and he said they could wear them. I think still think I was right, but boy did I look like an ass. Lol.

1-1 B5 1 out R3 tags on lazy fly to left. Easily see R3 jump early --- as it was blatant. I had moved up the line to get both runner and the catch. Perfect position. Clearly he jumped. They appeal and I rang him up. 3rd out. Naturally fans of the OT goes crazy. OHC whines, "theres no way he jumped how did you even see it?! Theres NO way." As he comes across the field. Riles fans up again. They're booing me. Like, I'm back there getting an exit plan for when this game ends. And they're ALL dead wrong. Parents are nuts.

Thanks @Senor Azul clears up a lot, but bums me out because I was hoping there was some useful info to glean from the data. No use to me.

Okay, I respect that. I only asked from a curious frame of mind, thinking there was something as a newer umpire I could be aware of that might affect a game I wouldn't otherwise have considered. I wish I knew a bookie.

I guess I dont know what your first reply meant? Insinuated from it MLB was fixed. Is that what you are implying? Not asking how it is as a personal question between us.

Seriously, it's like that?

Looking at the MLB umpire data from Baseball Prospectus, what might lead to Mark Carlson's pitchers' 5.79 ERA over 143 IP he's been in the slot in 2018 compared to Jeff Nelson's 2.87 ERA in 138 IP behind the plate? I ask because perhaps its transferrable to other levels.

Me either. Always wondered what the veterans numbers might look like. Has to a bunch of EJs. But I have another big USSSA tournament this weekend. Going to be a nap or two, feeling it based on what I endured last weekend from these wet fart dad coach types. I stayed on "I" ignore and it wore me down after 10 games in two days.

Thanks. good to know what is and isn't cool to say. Personally, I felt it was over the line. I was down everytime every dang pitch too. Little guys and I'm 6-3. Same ump same game from 530-730 and he dropped that. But I didnt knkw what grounds I had and what I should do lol. Which got me hotter. I needed you guys then lol

Thanks for taking the time to list all that. Good checklist to go over before the game. I do think my zone is good by in large part. Dress the part. I act the part. My partner tonight said I was spot on consistent. It frustrates me as to how these doofus' can sit there and gripe when I'm busting my hump and being consistent. I find myself doing a lot of JV Frosh and cub games, lately I've been at the youth level more. Tonight, the losing team's HC was an ass. One exchange was like this; pitcher was wild and missed glove by multiple feet often. It was tough to call. HC: where was that pitch, outside? Me: and low. HC: Theres no way that's too low. Me: Below his knees. HC: I'm standing here watching it. No way it was too low. Me: (stares at him) 'Give it a rest, man,' I told the catcher. Handful of those. Later, during the top of the 7th, he told me my last inning had been awful. He said its apparent you just want out if here. It was a 9-1 game. One zone got opened up. His son got rung up after he didnt take bat off shoulder. Appreciate the words.

How do you effectively "shut it down"? Exact verbiage that should be used?

I'm blown away by the amount of complaining on ball and strike calls --- by coaches at all levels. I thought this was the one no-no in baseball, but every coach partakes with varying degree. Seasoned vets, what will you listen to, for how long, and then how do each of you handle a whiny coach complaining about the zone going forward? I'm sure I'm tolerating too much. But before I go and get wild, help me out. If a coach asks "where was that pitch?" Do you answer?

good call. He did say his TWO sons coach the blue team. Lmao. He said after game, "at least it didn't decide the game." Final 5-3.

He said R2 hadnt reached 3B when ball went into dugout. He told me to, "go home and read the rule book, runner must advance one base." I didnt pursue his vagueness. It sounded dumb. Perhaps he has seen one too many calls in his years and was confused. Had me confused driving home. Which is why I checked here.

Does this include a quick-move to first? what if he hadnt stepped off back first, is that a proper disengagement?

R1 takes lead off 1B, and pitcher steps off back of rubber and throws over to 1B. The pickoff attempt hits R1 in helmet and surprisingly ricochets 20 feet over the fence and out of play. I awarded R1 two bases from time of throw. DHC argues it should have been only been one base awarded because he was retreating back to 1B. Did I get that right?

@Rich Ives @Gfoley4 Silly question but I know it's "Time of pitch (TOP)", but the other is "Time of Throw"? I'm drawing blank on name of second such situation.

This is what I've been looking for! Thanks. Applies to a lot of situations I feel like. I got lucky finding this place. Thanks guys.

Nah, well yeah, maybe, if you are old. But really just meant cagey veterans who been in the game and have seen a few things. Experienced more than decrepit.

Yes sir. There was an injury, and 3 minutes of downtime... and a CLOSE backstop. It just happened. He said, "like your plate game but you missed that call...." and I engaged him. Later, I was curious and it gave me pause. Appreciate the great advice as always.

12U Little League. R1 and R2 with one out. Batter grounds a chopper to 1B who catches, steps on bag and fires to third. Ball bounces by 3B and into dugout. Runners were advanced two bases --- R1 to 3B and R2 was scored. Correct call? A grandpa behind the fence told me R2 shouldn't have scored because he hasn't advanced one base. R2 had to have made it to the bag by the time the ball hopped into the dugout. I felt comfortable with the ruling, partner was adamant two bases, but perhaps I missed an obscure rules detail. Thanks.

As I think back, after I moved outside and was worried about that, I lost my gameplan. At the time I was trying to appease when no compromise was needed. Lesson: call your game. Gotcha.

Thanks a ton for the advice. Love to read it. Mid 30s and always asking old timers for some tips. Thanks again!