Vegas_Ump

A few comments. Yes, Little League teaches the foul mechanic to look like the pushup, and then point. I took the WR clinic and that's what they taught. So you will see LL umps using it. I am concerned about the timing of ball/strike calls. Some umps wait for nightfall before they make the call. I have not seen anyone be too quick! About 10 years ago, Japan was playing in the finals, and they scouted the umpires! They had bases loaded, and the batter had a 3-1 count. The ump was really slow! R3 trotted on in and scored thinking (ostensibly) it was ball four. And then the ump sounds off "Strike!" I know LL is worried about folks quick on the draw; but that late is ridiculous! Tournament umpires are just better than that! I am all for standardized mechanics because in State tournaments and above, you might be working with people you've never done games with before! After Andy Konyar retired, there was no UIC for LL. (Not sure if that's still true!) So the regions took on the role of training standardization. And in Regionals and WS I saw umps from different Regions calling "Dead Ball!" and signalling strikes oddly. Clearly, points of emphasis were different. As for the zones, let me comment a bit. I suspect most of the umps here do 90' games. At the 60' LL games, the pitcher is way closer to the plate. And the handedness of the pitcher vs the batter matters a lot more! A left-hander will usually not get the outside pitch to a righty batter. There is simply no way the ball can catch the outside of the plate! But he sure will get the inside ones, because the geometry of the pitch to the catcher's mitt is much more angular than 90'. That ball really does cross the plate! So it looks weird, especially on TV. (And being a "star" on ESPN during Regionals myself, the TV camera changes the actual perceived distance from base umpires down the foul line. It looks like the ump is mucking up the play for the fielder, but there is plenty of room! It just looks compressed on TV.) If you are watching the LLWS, see how the rule interpretations get expressed by the announcers. I remember how Harold Reynolds botched every weird call and created more confusion than the play itself. Obstruction/Interference always gets confused, for instance. In conclusion, I think some of the criticism of the LLWS umps is valid. Hopefully I have presented a discussion as to where the issues arise. Enjoy the games! Mike Las Vegas, WR Ump 2017

It's simple! AI said, "I blow 'em as I sees 'em!" Mike

Going to turn this one around! Sitch: Bases loaded. Infield is way in because they have to cut off the run at the plate. I was Field Ump. B4 hits a popup (not too high, but it constituted the definition of a fly ball) that dropped just at the outfield grass. DM wanted an IFF, and I explained that the effort needed by F6 to catch that ball would have been extra-ordinary, and thus this did not fit with the definition of an IFF. F6 turned and tried--ran like heck!--but the ball dropped in a few yards before he got there. Clearly, had F6 been playing in his normal position, it would have been a can of corn catch. Post game, the PU concurred on the no-call. Point is, you will have opportunities to No-Call an IFF! Mike Las Vegas

Saw that very play in the World Series. If the BR beats the throw legitimately, there is no longer a play to interfere with! Mike Las Vegas

It's been a while, and I mostly do Little League. But....... I have the impression that a pitch that is cleanly caught allows the batter to stay in the box, and he's exempt from BI. (There are some exceptions, where INTENT must be judged.) The idea is that the batter cannot just disappear. And elapsed time makes it a huge factor in judging intent. After a while, maybe the batter ought to get out of the way........ALL JUDGEMENT! What usually happens in LL, though, is a WP/PB where the circus parade starts. The batter does NOT have a sanctuary and must get out of the way of the ball pinging around and the fielder trying to pounce on it. And they cannot be in the way of a throw. A lot of coaches teach their kids to bolt for the screen when that happens, and they will never get called. (Good idea, IMO.) I believe the ruling should deal with Definitional Offensive INT, and NOT BI. So you have a BI rule or an Offensive INT rule. I have seen BI called (and maybe it shouldn't have been), and BI called when OI should have been the case--IF the umpire could rule intent. This might determine who is out and who isn't! And there is more to it...... Have I confused you all yet? 🙂 Mike Las Vegas

Then there was Andy Pettitte........ Mike Las Vegas

There have been products on and off the market where you have garments with long legs (and that protects you from your shin guard straps chafing you) and a pouch for a cup. There is a bit of compression that supports the quads too. If you do a lot of baseball, don't skimp on these! Mike Las Vegas

Consider this: Some pro parks have weird ground rules dealing with yellow lines that often are not continuously parallel with the field! So sometimes a close look by U2 is a good idea! And thus you will know quickly if it's a home run or a ball in play. I have done the lines in LLWS Regionals, and I had a group of long balls where I had to judge if the ball left the field on which side of the foul pole? So I signaled fair, and then home run. The play needed a prompt call. I even had a manager request a replay when the ball hit the bushes BEHIND the wall and rebounded back! He claimed it hit the face of the wall and bounded back into play--FAIR BALL--and his defense retired a runner in the process! I was about 20 feet from the play; he was 200 feet from the play! Hmmmmmm, what do you think I called? I think the call signal is proper. And I believe it must be timely! Mike Las Vegas

I'm pretty sure this was a righteous balk call. BUT....... Why did it have to take an age for the umpires to caucus and then come up with the call? If U1 and/or U3 saw a balk, then call it now! I believe the PU could have then caucused and talked about his granting of time to F2. When that happened is pure judgement. Then MAYBE the balk could have been nullified. But all my life it's been "See a balk? Call a Balk!" The delay lessened the credibility of the crew, IMO. Mike Las Vegas

Bob Uecker used to say his vast longevity in pro baseball was his ability to be the only one who could catch Phil Neikro! Basically, he just knocked it down and picked it up when it stopped rolling! Mike Las Vegas

It hit the bat. For better or worse, it was a bona fide offer. Foul ball!. Mike Las Vegas

Behind the plate! Steal of 2B? You are not that far from the play. Besides, you are still closer than the managers in the dugouts! If they claim to be able to see it from there, then you can certainly call it from behind the plate! 🙂 🙂 🙂 LOL! Mike Las Vegas

Excellent! He's a great umpire! Mike

In the context of little kids, one often sees a batter squat way down when he squares to bunt. The pitch may be at a level that looks like it's over his head. BUT.....where was his strike zone when he stepped in and set up? That height is what matters no matter what the batter does to try to change it AFTER he sets. Mike Las Vegas

Had this same sitch in a LL Seniors tournament. F1 never toed the rubber, so I did NOT put the ball the play! I suggested that he toe to rubber so I can put the ball in play. So hie did. Then he stepped off to take the signs. I called time, and told him Don't Do Dat! The manager came out to give me a group, and I told him that the rules required the pitcher to be toeing the rubber before I can put the ball in play, and he must toe the rubber to take his signs. He said, No! He doesn't have to do that! I suggested that both myself and U1 would enforce these rules strictly. (It's a tournament after all!) A few more exchanges, and then he sat down. We put the ball in play, he took sign on then rubber, stepped off. Then started a stretch OFF the rubber, and U1 and I sounded off BALK! in perfect harmony! Mike Las Vegas

This is still an appeal play! The ball must stay in play (or get put back into play), the running violation must be properly described to the umpire (unmistakable appeal), and the play must be made at the proper base or a tag made on the offending runner. If R3 went into the dugout, he has given up his chance to correct his tag-up violation. So the appeal must be made at third base. [What he failed to do at the plate is moot!] If R3 did NOT go into the dugout, he violated his obligation to retouch home plate and then go back to third. So the appeal must be made with respect to home plate. [He's standing on third, so ostensibly he has corrected his original tagup violation.] Defense touching home plate (after properly describing their appeal) or tagging the runner (after properly describing the violation at home) is sufficient. Now, I am not that naive! 🙂 At that level, it's going to be a fire drill with coaches on both teams yammering what to do. Wait for the festival to happen if time were called! Oh boy! Point is, the appeal is relevant but it's got to be done correctly. Mike Las Vegas

A pitch that bounces is still a pitch! I can be offered at by the batter! When I was a kid, the Yankees were playing the Senators in Griffith Stadium. I saw Yogi Berra hit a pitch that bounced into the right field bleachers! It sure counted! So it's a pitch! And if the batter gets hit by it, the HBP rules do apply! Mike Las Vegas

If you have a runner passing another (and for argument's sake let's assume it's not near a base or the plate....), the umpire shall call him out right away and play continues! It's NOT an appeal play. If a preceding runner misses the plate and a following runner touches it, without appeal, you have nothing. That is not a "pass". But wait for the appeal........ Mike Las Vegas

Please say hi to Darren Schueberg (D-10 VA) and Ben Sprague (D-4 NV) for me! Congratulations! Mike Las Vegas

Everybody has a photographic memory. Just some of us don't have any film! 😕

In WR Championship (I think in 2016), the infield did NOT call time, nor did they ask for it. Tieing run is at 3B and he bolts for home! That would have tied the game with all the infielders taking a nap! However, Coacher's INT was called for the game-ending third out! And everyone I talked to said it was a righteous call! I saw it on TV and observed the coach pushing the runner no less than three times before he finally bolted towards home. Got to give the offense a chance to try to get a cheap run, or by the same token, allow the defense to get a "gimme" for an out. That's how the game is played! Mike Las Vegas

How about a quality throw (or lack of quality thereof)? F3 had to stretch way to his left to try to catch the throw. Yeah, it was right up the line, but these are pros, right? Would you rule safe at 1st because a poor throw? Mike Las Vegas

Pretty well! The way to think of it, take these steps: 1. Place the batter. Is he out? Fine! Put him in the dugout. Is he safe? He will be placed on the base that represents the clean value of the hit. So, if you judge he gets a clean double, and he advances to third on an error, place him back at second. 2. Now, place runners where you have room. If the batter is retired, then put everybody back EXCEPT if any other runners are retired, their outs stand, and they do NOT go back. 3. Special case: If the batter obtains first base on an infield single or error, R3 is removed. He is not out! He does not score! He goes "poof!" So this is called the "poof play". I guarantee you will have to explain this to the manager, and cite rule 7.13. Other considerations: Suppose a runner who is forced misses a base and then is retired for the third out on appeal. NO RUNS SCORE! That would be the case for any play regardless of a 7.13 violation. BUT, Suppose the batter or any other runner is retired for the third out AND a 7.13 violation occurred? You have three outs! Inning Over! But you technically have to put runners back! This may take some or all runs off the board! And you will be explaining this to both managers while the teams switch sides from offense to defense. OK, it rarely happens, and it's actually pretty simple. But at the clinics you get the poof play all the time! Mike Las Vegas

Jonny I hear ya, but....... When I started umpiring, it was in Chantilly, VA. That little town grew from a dot town on the map to a huge city! And with it came the desire to form Little League baseball. Some really experienced umpires got together and started the Chantilly Volunteer Umpire Association (CVUA). They made it clear to the parents that these folks were volunteers, and harassment would drive them away! And the tuition for their kids would go from $35 per season to over $250 in order to schedule paid umpires. Before I left for Vegas, we were doing 75 games of all levels of baseball and softball per week with 55 volunteer umpires. I continued to refuse pay when I got to Las Vegas. Over the years, I attended (and helped teach) annual umpire training (field and rules), a few Southeastern Region weekend clinics, And the full-up Western Region Clinic. In both Virginia and Nevada, I saw dedicated umpires work many levels other than Little League; and as you pointed out, they were experienced and well-trained umps who dedicated their time for free to do LL games. I guess I am confused by your context, and I apologize if I did. But I have never shyed away from being a volunteer umpire for LL. And I did reach many State tourneys in VA and NV and WR in 2017. Being a volunteer motivated me. Being accosted in the parking made me walk. ESPN can't help it if they don't have the vocabulary to articulate what a volunteer umpire is all about. But being a volunteer was very special. Peace! Mike Las Vegas

And that's why I left umpiring after being a VOLUNTEER for 34 years! Mike