Vegas_Ump

I have had this call a lot for kids games, but I am also 6'4"! A whole lot easier to see! With big catcher in addition to the setup point for the PU (in NCAA) might have the view blocked. That's the way it goes! Mike Las Vegas

Here's another thought. This one was on ESPN, FaceBook, etc quite a bit. So I had lots of looks at it. Is it possible that the BR beat the throw? Despite his being out of the lane, is it possible that he touched first base before the ball arrived? If so, could he be ruled safe? How can he interfere with a play that's over because he beat the throw? There is no longer a play to interfere with! Playing Devil's Advocate here, but I saw the same sitch in a World Series game decades ago, and in real-time, I felt the BR beat the play! The result was a NO-CALL! I was musing about RLI as I felt all three criteria were there, but by the time the throw made it to first, the BR was on or past the bag! While I was going apoplectic about RLI not being called, subsequent replays showed that the BR beat the throw. Just tossing this up, because a close look on this one shows the BR might have beat the throw. JMO. Mike LAs Vegas

Lou: The premise was that the DM was wasting time! He had more than enough time for his visit. It looked like that happened in a regional NBCAA game, but I concede I didn't hear what was said. Point is: what if the DM lollygags too long? How much is too long to you? In LL you can eject the guy for delay, but I doubt that's in any other book. The mechanics as recommended by others are quite normal; but has anybody ever had a coach decide he was going to ignore you and "camp out"? Mike

This is what I thought I saw in an NCAA Regional game, but presumably this could happen at any level. Manager is on the mound for a visit. (In this case, number of visits so far is irrelevant.) PU allows an appropriate amount of time for the discussion and then walks towards the mound. Nothing seems to have happened, and the manager and umpire are just making eye contact. The ump seems to have said something to the effect "You going to switch pitchers?" No response. So the ump raises his hand to signal a pitching substitution. It's like he directed a pithing change in lieu of a response from the manager. Can an umpire do that? (Lacking audio, I am not sure precisely what happened. So I'll concede that.) In the general case, how much time do you allow for a conference at the mound, and what can you do to expedite the resumption of the game or manifest a pitching substitution? (And yes, I'm not looking for boogers either!) Thanks. Mike Las Vegas

I think it took until this morning for the broadcasters (ESPN) to even mention the term "ordinary effort." Where's Joe Morgan when you need him? Mike

G: You beat me to it! The video clearly shows that the infield was playing WAY deep, and F4 had to really run fast to even have a chance at a catch. I think the no-call was proper under the "ordinary effort" part of the rule. None of the umpires called IFF, so it's play on! Coach got ejected--had a pretty good meltdown! But when he came back onto the field later in the game AFTER having been ejected, that was the kiss of death! 2 game suspension. The UNC director of Athletics went public that it was an excessive punishment. ESPN is now showing the rule about post-ejection behavior. The UNC DA should go crawl under a rock! At any level, a manager/coach who comes on the field after he's been ejected has created grounds for game suspension and forfeit. JMO. Mike Las Vegas

I have a TShirt I shared with Virginia State and Euro Regional umps that says "I blow 'em as I sees 'em!" Reminds me of my own fallibility. If you give the game all you got, ya done good! Mike Las Vegas

I can't find that language in either the LL basic playing rules or tournament. However, it is the case that (barring injury) any pitcher must disposition at least one batter before he can be changed out. Looks like he did issue a walk to the previous batter, so the manager can change out the pitcher any time. Also, your rule citation is not in LL. Not sure where you are looking. Mike Las Vegas

Careful! The umpire is NOT the 10th defensive player! If the appeal has not been properly made, you pretend you can't speak the language! [In Little League you may advise things like "You can't do your appeal until I put the ball in play!"] Here's another question: Is this improper appeal an appeal nonetheless? Can the fielder try to step on the base again? You can only appeal one runner's infraction at one base ONCE! Comments? Mike Las Vegas

If you play poker in Las Vegas, it is only the case if you are a plumber that a Flush beats Full House! 🙂 Mike

Bullseye! If they are having an elongated prayer meeting at the mound, they are cutting into the number of warmups they get, i.e., the one minute between innings clock is still running! Mike Las Vegas

Do league or ground rules allow the buckets on the field? If not, clear this up in the top of the first inning. Should not be allowed to happen in the first place. If they are allowed, discuss at the plate conference what's allowed and where. Make sure you let them know you are watching. Kicking the bucket of balls for disgust at a call is grounds for ejection for UC. Mike Las Vegas

Note that LL Softball pretty much ditto's baseball. To wit: THE BASE IS NOT A SANCTUARY (except for a declared IFF). Any runner hit by a fair batted ball in fair territory is out for INT. Again, check the rules you are working under. They may differ, and this sounds like one of those. Mike Las Vegas

When I started in LL 35 years ago, our league had a total of 75 games a week at all levels of softball and baseball. And we covered every game with two volunteer umpires. Saved the parents some serious coin! The lack of mobility of the families, economics, and demographics resulted in fewer kids to play ball, fewer games, and fewer volunteer umpires. So our league adopted a Youth Umpire program which helped them qualify for their high school service projects. Some of these kids were pretty good! One or two went on to States! But some of the kids had deficiencies. Anyway, you train when you can. I recall one kid who--as a player--had a huge attitude when I was behind the plate. He decided to show me up by not taking his place in the batters box when directed. That cost him a directed third strike, 3 outs, leaving runners on 2nd and 3rd. And his team was down by 1 run! Game over! (Kid was a prima donna son of the league VP!) The next year, I was surprised that this kid was doing youth umpiring at AA and AAA. Turned out pretty good! He got a clue! My point is this: There are fewer and fewer families playing in LL. Your source of umpires (paid or volunteer) will be proportionately smaller. Experience will be lacking. Yet parents (in the stands and in the dugouts) demand all calls go their way. And I have seen the deportment deteriorate over the past few years--and the COVID hassle made things worse! These factors contributed my retirement from LL baseball umpiring. I don't need the hassle anymore. I'm not going to bust my volunteer chops in 115 degree temperatures just to have some bozo manager suggest I'm not calling them fair for both teams. Insult my integrity? Yeah I can eject him, but I'm never going change his acerbic, entitled attitude. Read the Little League Pledge on the back of the book! It matters to an old fa*t like me. Mike Las Vegas

At the Little League level, you are usually issued a bat ring to check the bats. There is a bit of a fallacy in the guidance you get from LL. If the bat DOES NOT clear the ring, it cannot be used in the game. (Easy decision!) But EVEN IF IT DOES clear the ring, it does not guarantee that the bat is still safe! There might be cracks, flat spots, etc. Even small imperfections like these could create a catastrophic disintegration of a bat. And composite shards are dangerous (especially to the plate ump!) Again, looking at LL rules only. Not sure what other guidance says at other levels. Mike Las Vegas

Concur with the OBS. The base awards are totally your discretion. As for the defensive coach (manager?), yes that's an easy ejection, but your report to the League has to be detailed enough to show what a bozo this guy is! Especially at Little League! These guys don't know the rules, and the League needs to measure just how much more baseball they want this guy to coach. Rant over! Mike Las Vegas

Max: I got your point. But why didn't the coach take it to the umpire who made the "call" in the first place? He IS entitled to understand the rule under which this guy acted--for better or worse. But coming to the other ump is "fishing for a call"--I hate that! It sounds to me like the PU may have made something up as you suggested. OK, then why shouldn't the coach take his issue to him and ask for the rule. And he better be prepared to handle the inevitable protest if indeed the PU executed a PIROOMA. The PU may have gone looking for trouble--not a good thing. But whining to the other ump is NOT the way to solve the problem. Mike Las Vegas

Love it! 🙂 Mike

Basic answer to the OP: "Coach, it's his call." Then zip it. If the coach asks the other ump to ask you for help, that's fair. The partner is under no obligation to do so, but for many calls it's reasonable. If your partner does come to you for help, answer truthfully. You do not have an agenda to make him look good; you have the obligation to get it right. Note that an inexperienced partner might have incorrectly applied a rule. This is grounds for protest. But you as a partner must stay out of the discussion unless the other ump asks. Mike Las Vegas

In the second case, you MAY have appeal plays at 2B and 1B if R2 and R1 took off after you call the IFF and before the flyball was caught. Others have correctly pointed out the need for emphasis "THAT'S AN INFIELD FLY! THE BATTER IS OUT!" Now it's up to both teams to know the rules: The offensive team must still tag up on a caught fly ball off any kind. The defensive team should know you need to tag the runner rather than just the bag, as there is no force. (That's the whole reason for the IFF Rule.) And both teams need to know if an appeal is possible. That's why your emphasis on the call lets everybody know what's going on. And DO NOT call time unless it's clear the defense isn't going to try the appeals! (The appeals are still possible once you put the ball back into play, so be ready for that outcome!) If the runners do look like they are headed to the dugout, don't help them! You just aided the Offense. Once they are off the field, they are out for abandoning their position. As an umpire, you are neither the 10th defensive player nor the 3rd offensive coacher. Let things play out and punish stupidity whenever possible. FYI: I had a triple play on an IFF under similar circumstances. The coach just kicked himself..... Mike Las Vegas

Here's a Cliff's Notes answer: If the third out is made on the BR before he LEGALLY attains first base, no runs score. He can be retired on an appeal for a missed base, interference before he gets to first base, uncaught third strike properly mitigated by the defense, etc. The context of a FORCE PLAY is often used a lot for a BR at first base; but see above for the definition of a force play--it pertains to other runners who must vacate because the batter became a batter-runner. See how easy that is? 🙂 Mike Las Vegas

Back in the day--when Parsons had good stuff--I had the Kevlar segmented chest protector in an older version than the one depicted here. It was spectacular! It was around the time I had had open heart surgery, and my cardiologist didn't want me doing the plate for two months! I would have missed the whole season, so I showed him the chest protector, and he relented! He was actually impressed. The structure resembled that of a police "Second Chance" vest. I bought new equipment a few years later and donated that gear to the Euro Regional Umpire development program. Mike Las Vegas

I was told that in 2021 OBR (and other rule books) took "intent" out of the language and approved rulings. Subtle difference but this means that umpires may call a double play on R1 and BR if R1 can be JUDGED to have interfered with the subsequent play to first base. Standing up (i.e., no slide) can be sufficient criteria to rule INT and a DP. Would I call that? I had one like it in LL, and I did not call it because I felt BR had made 1B easily. My PU partner debriefed me after the game and said I could have called a DP, and he would have backed me up 100%. I did not judge intent and BR had the base made; partner told me I didn't need that to rule a DP! OK, 60' vs 90' is less easy to call that, I daresay. Yes gents, I am a little confused still. But the OP sounds like it was ruled that way. I do think we need some discussion here. So here was my $0.02 worth! Mike Las Vegas

Lesson from USAF survival school: If you stop sweating, you are finished! You are clinically dehydrated. Have some Gatorade and water at your disposal all the time. Here in Las Vegas, we have the dry heat, so visible perspiration isn't so easy to see. So I need to take at least a half to a full bottle of water between innings. A friend did SE Regional at Warner-Robbins, GA. The Sultry South! Between innings, he gave his mask to a guy through a slot in the screen who would wipe it down and dry it off. In exchange, he got a bottle of water. He would not get his mask back until he finished the water! Great topic to discuss while most of the US is getting pounded by a blizzard......... Cheers! Mike Las Vegas

Think of it this way: suppose the throw to to 3B was airmailed into left field? The runners may advance at their own risk. What happens in this case? (Hint: What about R3?) Mike Las Vegas