soapbox

That's what I have. It was SB, but no different in baseball. They let VC talk them into an out. Went from 2-1 with 1 out R3 to 2 out nobody on.

I don't have all the specifics. Not sure it matters. Rule set is Fed. 16 comes to the plate and hits a run scoring triple. VC tells U1 that 16 appears twice on the lineup card. In fact, they have a JV player wearing the same number. This #16 entered the game as a sub. Lets assume reported and then not reported. What is the ruling. I find no case play to support the umpire ruling.

Will remember this next time I need help with a jacket and you look at me like I'm crazy

Getting on the field with my partner and friend, th3 aka, Paul!

Have no need for a cup as I have brass balls.

I did a FP SB Tournament and had a bases loaded walk where R3 never touched. I saw it as well as an opposing player on the bench. She told the coach to appeal and I made the out call. Wasn't fun, but was the right call.

With R2, B1 bunts. He is easily thrown out at 1B and R2 busts it around 3B and is coming home. BR was not in the running lane when F3 made the throw home, but rather inside the field of play. F3 made the throw (had a little trouble getting ball out of glove), close play, but R2 safe at the plate. Do I have INT on this play. Can there be a lane violation on the throw back home? The angle made it a non-call on play at 1B. Does BR now have the right to establish his path? Thanks.

I was really just kidding about the not seeing it part. However, sometimes, every situation does not have a clear answer and is open to interpretation. The other day in a FP SB tournament I had B1 request time as F1 was starting motion. She turned her head to me and then towards F1. The pitch hit her. I awarded the base. Coach started screaming that she "made no effort" to get out ot the way of the pitch. That is the ASA rule for HBP. They were right. She made no effort, but she couldn't. Put herself in a positon where she couldn't possibly react as the ball came right at her. Am I to follow the exact wording? Very next batter got hit. She checked her swing and definitely held, but couldn't do that and dodge the ball. Again coach argued. I'm just saying that sometimes, we must make a judgement even though the rule is written a certain way. If I'm wrong, let me know.

Sorry coach, I didn't see BR come into contact with the ball. Let play stand.

If "He" said stop looking at me, I might be scared too!

Thinking more about this, I believe I ruled improperly. 11U, I'm solo. R1, ground ball to F3. In the act of fielding the ball, as F3 secures grounder, R1 runs into F3. F3 trots to 1B and steps on bag. I called an out (sold on tag) though thinking about it, they did collide, but didn't actually see a tag. And the out at 1B when he stepped on the base. Coach was wondering about the tag (as I was at this point), and I told him, I had INT on R1 for running into F3. However, if I had INT, I'm thinking now that I should have killed it right there. But it was such a no-brainer DP. In the train wreck of a collision, there certainly could have been a tag, but I ruled on the INT and let play continue. That is wrong I believe, yes?

I think the FED Rule is right on a balk. If playing under OBR and you hear "that's a balk", you'd be nuts to throw the pitch. Nothing good could come out of it for the defense. Just take the penalty.

My wish list for next season in no specific order: Don't hesitate on a balk. I got much better, but felt I missed a few, and slowing down on a balk call isn't what I call great timing. Don't be gun shy on an eject. Because I recently sent a coach packing, I avoided 2 others within 2 weeks. I should accept that sometimes they just come in bunches. 2 coaches needed to go, but I let it go. I left the dirty work to a future umpire. My bad. Stay down. Too often, at younger level ball, I find myself coming up to soon because the batter started his swing. Stay down! High inside ball thats swung at. Track the ball and stop flinching. I've got a pretty good mask and it won't hurt any less if I flinch. Read, read, read, BRD. Get it straight. If I get that down, I'll take a nice leap. And thanks for everybody's posts. You keep me sane in a sometimes quiet office. I could never properly express how much I get from all of you. Even when I get a tongue lashing. I even get insightful stuff from you too Jax (just kidding), keep on posting. Gary

If it bothers you and think it could lead to something, telling him to stop.

So R1 is stealing. Fast kid. Not a hit and run, Coach says to batter swing thru pitch to hinder catchers throw. What do we have, BI? Do I have a ball because he purposely missed. I'm not judging a batters intention.

So just to be clear, when a batter purposely swings thru a pitch to intentionally hinder F2 ability to throw out R1 as he attempts a steal, I've got a ball, and BI, and send runner back to base at TOP.

Just sounds like a coach doing their job and I need to do mine. Batter swings, that's a strike. It really is no different then dusk on it's way and coach making a pitching change. As long as he does it timely, why should I rule any differently than doing it earlier in the game. And I can't tell F1 he can't have his mandated warm-ups. If he parades F1 after F1, different story, but no different than in football using clock management. Just out of curiosity, is it possible that F1 now with a 3-1 count comes a little too close to the plate and the kid smacks a hit because he got another chance. Seems cut and dry. Just for argument sake, what would you do if a coach was in the lead, knew darkness could be an issue, was beating the other team, and sent 3 kids up to strike out on 9 consecutive pitches so the other team could get last ups. Do I rule they never intended to hit the ball so maybe they weren't strikes?

I was like a middle infielder cheating. And I got caught. I anticipated the play instead of doing what I preach which is follow the ball. Thanks all.

I'm in C. R1 and R2 and on the pitch, I hear they are going. I immediately start towards 3B to get ready for throw. Dumbass me! F2 throws to 2B. Bad throw, not close so easy call, buy I'm not in position. Where am I supposed to be? I know to follow the ball, but the 18 year olds move a tad quicker than I do so I was just trying to get as close as possible and create angle. Is there a proper spot on the field I should be in?

I had a coach the other day try to make a point by telling us a RHP wasn't turning his pivot foot before throwing over and that was a balk. I've never heard this before and we ignored. Do you feel that his pivot foot would turn first before his forward leg? Try not to beat me up on this one please.

Hanging my head in shame. What if I say 3:18 felt like 6 hours.

Love her dearly. She would expext nothing less from me on this board. Mother of my 4 kids and never a mean thing to say. With that said, "Honey, please, let me strike out looking"

7 Innings, started @ 7 P.M. Bad BB. 14U Travel. Would have been my longest if the lights didn't go out and have to wait to be restarted. Back at car @ 10:20 P.M. Ugh!

My wife manages to strike me out one at a time. She's turned a double play a few times, that would be striikng out in the morning and then striking me out at night. I think I had back to back nights where she turned that double play, of course we all know what happened next. I was ejected from the bedroom. No chirping, just threw some guilt her way. And by the way, just so I'm clear, I never go down looking, always swinging!

I got stuck on 8U boys on a Turf Field. More time between innings with every daddy on field with their kids. F2 never suited. Every inning, sorry blue, I forgot. Shinguards never tight. Finally exhausted waiting for coach to figure it out. Started doing them myself with the explanation, "Please, I don't want anyone to accuse me of touching your childrens legs." They laughed, I was serious. No time limit 6 innings = over 2 hours 30 minutes. Haven't done another one yet, and don't plan to.