soapbox

I think the biggest offense is the strike zone. If you called the actual zone, you'd be buried. I'm specifically talking about the high strike. Call a fastball above the belly button and get ready to hear it.

Larry David

how can you have a foul ball in flight. Foul is foul, thus dead ball. If it hit F3 in flight and is caught by F2, it would be an out, not a foul.

I have a foul ball.

I've worked up to 13U Babe Ruth in the past. Is that the kind of experience they are looking for? And for critical thinking, I had to choose between a Coors Light and Miller Light and was given just a few seconds before the bartender walked away. Please, take me, I need the $$.

Worked a SB Tournament this weekend. Back when I coached, there were a limited amount a "Club Teams" along with town All-Star Teams. Now, every day, a new organization seems to blossom. So these teams are taking a boat load of cash from parents for kids who are not very strong players. That's fine! But we had a d3k situation where ball bounced in dirt first. Every single coach calling for our head because F2 picked clean out of the dirt. You want to run these clubs, fine. You want to have several teams throughout at different ages to make $$, whatever! Can you at least know basic rules? Nothing earth shattering, just the basics please.

I'm in the delivery business with my brothers in northern Jersey. I had a driver making a time sensitive delivery to the financial district in NYC. He called in to say that a plane struck the tower. I told him it was probably just an accident by a small plane and go get the delivery off (my client was very demanding). I went into the warehouse and told one of the guys what my driver reported, and this guy had the radio on and said the second tower had just been hit. Needless to say, driver got out of the area. Took hours to get out of the city, but he was fine. The stories I heard from guys watching from outside the Towers gave me goosebumps. Very sad.

Hey all. I'm about to order a new mask. I want to take my existing mask and make it a back up. I need to upgrade the pads on that mask. So my question is, do I get the Diamond IX3 mask, get Team Wendy pads, put them in that mask and then take the stock pads and put them in my current mask. Or do I order the Wilson Dynalite mask and just order Team Wendy pads and pop them in my current mask. Are the pads in the Wilson good? I'm doing at most, a handful of higher level ball in baseball and softball a year. Mostly 12's thru 17's. And by the way, I've purchased homes and vehicles in less time than looking into a mask. How nutty is that. Thank you in advance.

Best of luck.

I think it's more difficult just because we see less left handed batters so identifying a strike is a little more of a struggle. I did take a clinic with some very strong D1 guys this summer and they said if your a righty, then the right eye is your dominant eye making it more difficult to read the outside pitch.

Just move the modem to a spot that doesn't get interference.

Now you are just looking for an argument. Your 2 scenarios are ridiculous and do not pertain to this thread, thus, I declare you the winner. Good job.

I'm not taking shots at you. Not sure why you feel it necessary to take them at me. That's fine. I'm comfortable with what I am saying. I have taken clinics with some higher level guys. I do take it serious. However, on this play, whether I'm on the bases or behind the plate, I'm in favor of letting the kids determine the outcome of the game. And I'm not so proud, that I would be embarrassed that my partner saw something that I did not.

If you can kill a foul ball, why in the world wouldn't you kill something resulting in a db situation if you know you saw it. I'm not saying maybe, I'm saying my partner didn't have the view I did. Sometimes I really hate the code. I think I am a pretty good umpire, and I would never step on a partner, but if you kill a foul what is justification for not calling that. The video proves that what we saw from the front angle was missed by F1. If U3 or U4 sees that, why would U1 care. If I were on the dish, I'd value the extra set of eyes if my partner really did see it.

Batter fouls ball off his foot. You see it from say "C". You're not calling it foul? You let the ball roll fair and deal with the aftermath? Coach sees it, you see it, F1 sees it, and you let it go so as to not step on U1 toes? I guess I won't be working with these guys. They aren't interested in getting the call right, just not being shown up. I don't think it puts U1 in a poor light. I think it is responsible umpiring. JMO.

I have called time on a HBP from the bases. Sometimes, you just can't see everything at the plate.

yes and that should be the only way you do this, and saying ( unless it rolls that far away) no catch. Never seen this point to the side mechanic for a D3K.... point to the ground, signal safe with "no catch" I've seen, but not pointing like that? Please explain when you say "that should be the only way to do it" You're signaling a swinging strike by pointing to the side instead of giving a hammer for the out because he's not out yet. There is no need to point to the ground, and you don't have to give the "no catch" signal unless it isn't clear if the catcher caught it or not. In this video, he obviously didn't catch it so there is no need for the "no catch" signal, so he just points to the side to signal that it was a strike. What do you point to the ground for? yes and that should be the only way you do this, and saying ( unless it rolls that far away) no catch. If the PU didnt see the ball hit the Batter foot, what do you want him to call? I'd like one of the 3 other umpires to see what happened and kill it. How about getting the call right? Because the other three umpires are not responsible for a HBP. If the PU wanted to get help he could have but it's up to him. I disagree. I want the call right. If one of the other 3 has a view, call it. Same with a foul in the box. Sorry, I'm all for getting it right. I think that's what we should do.

yes and that should be the only way you do this, and saying ( unless it rolls that far away) no catch. If the PU didnt see the ball hit the Batter foot, what do you want him to call? I'd like one of the 3 other umpires to see what happened and kill it. How about getting the call right?

Hey, we must do the same Mens Softball.

The OP is referencing an 18U wood bat league played under FED. Coach wanted INT from my partner and didn't get it. Came to me and I basically let him say his piece without responding. So it surely took away the chance of a DP, but R1 didn't put hands up, just stayed upright. Now the coach did say next time it happens to drill R1 loud enough so I can hear it. I let it go knowing he was just trying to irritate me.

I had a 15 y/o in a Babe Ruth game beat an infield hit. He wound up by the outfield grass about 5 feet towards 2B. He certainly didn't make an aggressive move, but I had him in no man's land. I had an out on that. The coach informed me it was not an attempt. My answer was, in my opinion it was. When I taught my kids to play, I always told them not to put an unnecessary call in the hands of an umpire. If that throw gets away from F3, it puts the BR in position to go to 2B because he slightly rounds that way. Just my opinion.

I know I'm in the minority, but the fact that he seems to start rounding prior to the base makes it an attempt to me. I think he though it might get thru.

R2 and R3 with 2 out. Ground ball to F6. In this order, R3 crosses plate, R2 out on tag at 3B prior to BR reaching 1B. Score the run?

Yes Tim, that's it. Nailed it on the head.

Here's my response. You're dam right it can be tough. I do it for the payday because I need too. But I enjoy it also. I don't enjoy going out there and listening to some coach who is also out there for a payday riding me because he feels like it. We go out and judge impartially on the field. On this forum, some just judge. I agree with Scott. Many talk a good game on the board. Maybe everyone here is that good. I don't know, haven't seen your work. I choose not to judge Scott because I haven't seen him. If I did, I still wouldn't. If he wanted pointers, I'd give them to him. I'd like to think if I got constructive criticism, I could improve. We umpire youth ball. I read on here about coach pitch situations. Little kids playing a game. We talk about ourselves like we're working Yankee Stadium. I'm criticized for trying to be too friendly. Point taken. If I know I'm in the "Hornets Nest" field, I say nothing and be as professional as possible. I've had that blow up on me as not looking like I want to be there. I've worked about 500 games the last 3 seasons and do my best. There is a shortage of guys/gals going out to do this in our area. This is a part-time profession for most of us. Judge fairly. And please stop thinking that you are all better than someone else. Will be my last post. Good luck Scott.