Biscuit

I'm not saying this isn't a violation of the slide rule, but I'm not entirely sure it is wither. What I will throw in here is that a bona fide slide altered by contact with the fielder may create something that looks like an illegal slide but was not. If the sole reason that he was not able to maintain contact with the base is a direct consequence of the contact with the fielder, then my understanding is that the slide is legal, provided the other criteria are met. The way he comes off the bag leads me to believe that it was not solely due to the contact, and I could see you calling a violation of the 4th point, but I also don't think it's indefensible to not have a slide rule violation here. Hmm, that's a triple negative... I'll let y'all sort out that

Huh, I get it, I really do, but it would have never occurred to me to have a problem with venmo (or another reputable payment app). To me, someone of the younger generation, venmo is, for all intents and purposes, cash. In fact, I prefer venmo to cash. But I already have it, and not all might. That being said, I haven't been paid at the plate in years, and even then, it was never fir something I worked regularly. I kinda thought that paying at the plate had kinda gone the eay of the dinosaur, except for maybe scrimmages.

Considering the orientation in relation to the umpire, I'd say he's going to clean up that meal.

I don't really remember, but that was one of my least favorite games of the season. Like, 3a ball (which in my area is rare... It's almost all 5 and 6a), and I had the coach out on me like three times for a lodged ball on a pitch that scored a run (he said the catcher reached for it so it shouldn't be a lodged ball, lol), this, and calling IFF on a ball that the 2nd base man gave up on when called off by the center fielder... At the grass dirt line... I was pretty done with that game.

I've seen quite a few college softball umpires where it. Honestly, that's probably why baseball umpires don't where it.

I'm full of anecdotes lately! I actually HAVE broken an Allstar! Took a foul ball (I think, it's been a couple years so the details are foggy) to the hand. Indicator went flying, hand kinda hurt, and when I went to use it, one of the wheels just... Wouldn't turn. Turns out, the ball had hit the wheel and bent the metal bit inside back. Later, i opened it up, bent it back, and I'm still using it.

This is as good a time as any to brag about my reality breaking play from this spring. What reality? Tye reality that you can't balk to second. No really, I had a balk to second. Kid does an inside move. Or at least, most of one. The foot comes up, he twists, and throws to second... And... Steps home? I'm sorry? WHAT???? After throwing, but before putting his foot down, he un-rotated and stepped to home. I was do flabbergasted it took me a couple seconds to call the balk.

Because, honestly, it doesn't really matter. Yes, in theory, being in foul territory can save you from being hit by a fair ball. But, at that distance, you're going to be moving anyway. I personally like how it sets me up to react to the different plays (and quite frankly, I was taught to be there and see no reason to change), but if he likes something he sees by straddling more, then there's no real reason to not. U3 with R3 starts straddling the line or sometimes completely in fair territory (in the hot corner) because being able to see is a lot more important than being in foul territory.

Well, not quite. Because for this to be run of the mill interference, we would need intent. This is a thrown ball, and for a retired runner continuing to run the bases (I guess you could argue that popping up isn't continuing to run the bases, and if that's your argument I'll buy it) to be called for interference, you need intent.

Facts. The All Star is the ONLY indicator I'll ever use.

In NCAA, pop ups are allowed. My gut tells me, yeah, this should be INT, but I don't have my rule book with me, and I'm struggling to think of what phrase I would use to defend this call. What're y'all using?

I will say, working without an indicator feels good. Not something I'd do, but it does feel good. If you ckuks guarantee that my score board operator would never make a mistake, I would go sans indicator in a heart beat.

Eh, I think college warnings work pretty well. College dugouts/coaches (generally) know that a warning is really the end of the line and will usually shut up. In an ideal world, we'd all play nice and never get yelled at, but that's not the case. The NCAA has done a pretty good job making sure everyone knows that a warning means something, and the umpires by and large do a pretty good job of ejecting after warnings are issued. So, if there is unacceptable behavior, get the warning in quickly. It's only really a problem if you wait too long to get the warning in. And if they don't listen, well, shoot one monkey and all that.

The review clock starts when the appeal is ruled on, as that is what is being challenged (CCS included that in a video this year iirc). The MiLBUM and MLBUM do cover this pretty well. What you're suggesting is pretty close to how it works. Plays that happen during continuous action do not count against pitch play or attempted play. Once play is relaxed (everyone is standing around, ball is on the infield, or time is called), now we get into pitch play or attempted play territory. Play had relaxed before the pitcher did... Whatever that was, so therefore a pitch play or attempted play (not including an appeal play) would negate their ability to make an appeal. If before throwing to first they had tried to make a play on the runner, they would lose their ability to appeal. It's moot because Grifol didn't challenge, but he could have challenged here and won.

I'm pretty sure this didn't go to review. Didn't MLB say that if it had it wouod have been flipped?

In the two conferences I work, our direction is to call time if a pitcher comes set before the batter is aware. If the pitcher abuses this, call the pitch clock violation. I'm not entirely sure this goes well with the rule as written, so I'd love to hear what others are being instructed to do in this situation.

Ah yes, good catch (no pum intended).

As soon as the ball is touched (and fair foul is in question), point either to fair territory with your left hand if it was touched over fair territory, or towards fould territory with your right hand if it was touched over foul territory. Do not verbalize anything. Note, it is the position of the ball in relation to fair territory, not the fielder, that matters, unless the fielder is in out of play territory (unlikely). If the ball is over foul territory and is subsequently caught, there is usually no need for a further signal. In the case of a diving play or other catch that is not obvious, raise the fist in an out call and verbalize "that's a catch!" Again, on a routine catch, no need to signal or verbalize anything beyond pointing to rule on the status of the ball when touched. If the ball is dropped after having been first touched while over foul territory, even if it is deflected fair before touching the ground, (your should still be pointing to foul territory), raise you arms in the traditional foul mechanic and verbalize "Foul!" If dropped after having been touched first over fair territory, make a safe mechanic while verbalizing "no catch!" Remember, the ball is not foul until it touches the ground. That's why we point (no verbal) when it's over foul territory. If this touches the ground (or wall) before being legally caught, we have a foul ball. If caught, we have an out. And the ball is NOT foul.

I'll take it a step further. With no one on, if its much out of arms reach for the catcher, pitcher gets a new ball. Of catcher chases it, I'm throwing it back.

I so this sometimes. It's pretty rare, but if I already have my mask on and the coach is right there and starts talking, in the interest of time, I'll pull out the book and take the change. It's pretty rare, but I've done it. It's kinda like taking the sunglasses off at the plate meeting (or anytime a coach talks to you). You can, I don't think it's bad, but it's not a requirement. Though, mask only stays on in very informal situations (or where I'm yelling at a dugout). Here's an example of where this could happen. Batter walks, next guy is coming to the plate. Coach wants to make a switch (running for the batter, pinch hitter, who knows). Making the switch is, IMO, easier if I don't take off the mask. So I grab my book, start working on the change. While I'm doing this, the coach comes down from third to make sure I have the switch. At this point, I have something in both hands, it's relaxed, I'm not taking off my mask. I'll confirm the switch with him, and then by the time I get back to the plate (3 or 4 steps), I'm ready. Yes, it's small, but injecting pace into games goes a looooooooong way. On the same note, please, please get good at getting a ball to a catcher (or pitcher) quickly. The majority of foul balls are clearly foul and there is no play as soon as it comes off the bat. Catcher should be trained pretty quickly to be expecting the ball as soon as the previous (now dead, rip) ball is mercilessly bludgened. If he watches the foul ball for, and I'm not exaggerating, more than a second or two, I'm getting the pitcher's attention and throwing him a ball. Hmm, that went on a tangent... Point is, make your life easier by cutting unnecessary formalisms (sunglasses and, in some situations mask) if you want to and can do it without being disrespectful, and GET THE PITCHER A BALL. You'll be shocked how big a difference it'll make to your pace of play. I'm pretty convinced it's a part of why I don't have a ton of long games, because Heaven knows it isn't my shoebox strike zone.

I agree... But I'm having a really hard tome coming up with rule book verbiage. How are you explaining the balk to the coach?

By a technical reading, no it's not a force play. But, off the top of my head, I can't think of a single rule that applies to force plays that doesn't apply ti the batter runner running to first. I can think of rules that apply to the BR running to first that don't apply to forced runners, but not the other way around.

In a little confused by this. For most plays at third, I want the runner sliding directly into me, and I want to be *almost* close enough that if I were to lean really aggressively, I could look straight down on top of the play. Okay, maybe not quote *that* close, but pretty close. Then, I can make a read step up or down depending on the route of the runner, the throw, and how the fielder is set up. You often can't get there on steals, but if I could, I would.

You can warn, for sure. In some of the cases that have been widely publicized, they were warned. But just like all unsportsmanlike conduct, a warning is not required, and sometimes should not be given, before ejecting. This has been a HUGE point of emphasis from the NCAA, especially this year

The ejection is not for throwing a bat, it's for unsportsmanlike conduct. So, in some cases it may be preceeded by a warning for unaporting conduct, or it may be deemed to be inflammatory enough to be an ejection in its own right.