soapbox

ump24, I had a similar incident but in a solo LL Majors. Kid checks his swing and F2 asks me to get help, so I point to the first base coach and ask did he go, I got the no he didn't. It was all in fun and we got a chuckle. F2 later realized that B1 could have swung 6 times and was getting no he didn't. Sometimes it should just be loose and fun. Especially at the lower levels. Btw, the 1B Coach was a 1st round draft pick in MLB many moons ago so all got the situation quite well.

Was a non-issue in a game where we have no problems. LL Majors, lots of love. Coach calls time, runs out to LF and brings his kid sunglasses with one out. I jokingly say coach, "thats one visit". We all chuckle since it never becomes a situation. But in reality, would that count as a defensive conference?

Jax, you're right, my partner on the forum said it sounded that way too. My bad. Very poor choice of words. Chest high, wide left, but catchable. I will choose my words more carefully in the future. I must admit, I could have kicked it if the throw wasn't catchable and ruled the same way. So thanks Rich for clarifying the difference in LL to H.S.

Probably had the plate when I verbalized. The no tag happened maybe 3 steps away, and honestly it took me a second to process what I saw and then make the call. I was ready to make the out call, and then saw the ball in the other hand down below the waste. I know one thing, it was not the defining call in this game. The VT never threatened. Game would have been over in 3 outs as the pitcher for the other team was throwing hard strikes the whole game.

Ok, I didn't explain it well. The throw was chest high and catchable. But the throw did not hit the runner. The fact that the fielders view was partially obstructed is what made me call the INT. The throw doesn't have to hit the runner, does it?

Ok, now I'm interested in taking my licks. I guess after 3 months of the Fed course, maybe I need brushing up. I will go to my rule book and follow up, but please explain why this isn't interference. What am I misunderstanding? Any feedback is greatly appreciated.

Ok, let me state this again. BR interfered by running in fair territory well beyond 30 feet. And had interference not occurred, assuming there is no error on the play, it would have resulted in an out.

Did I mention everyone makes the playoffs?

Headed back to a field on Friday that isn't very inviting. The HC is abrasive to his players and certainly not a lot of fun on umpires. I did a game their last week and for 3 days beat myself up for not ejecting him. Off the field, a nice guy, but how many people do we know like that. On the field, never about the kids, just him. Well, during this game, short of his antics towards his players, he was bearable around me. I'm working game by myself on small diamond for 12U baseball. Level of play is ok, though the home team is beating up on the VT 7-0. At one point I had to separate manager of VT from coach of HT because there is so much tension whenever someone plays this team. Situation is this: Bottom of 5 (mercy rule of 8 after 5), bases loaded and we have a wp. Catcher gets ball and R1 retreats to 3B. We have a rundown and I am going up and down with it. Tag gets applied with glove, but the ball is in fielders hand. When R1 steps on home I have a safe call. Woof, "You Suck Blue" from one guy in dugout. 2 coaches practically have to be restrained. I tell them immediately what I have and why I have it. I verify the mercy rule and start to leave the field of play quickly to "you better get out of here or else". I had mothers sitting 150 feet away letting me know I'm horrible and should be ashamed of myself. Another screamed to go to umpire school. It was ugly. I had my 13 year old son with me who came to watch the game and people ripped me as I quickly exited. Yes, what a week it was.

Yes, he was struggling with the body coming at him.

Doing a LL Minors game the other night. Competitve. Both teams can play baseball well enough. Tight game thru 4, 3-1 for the HT. Without too much detail, I had consecutive wild pitches with bases loaded to go to 4-3. Coach is screaming for F1 to call time and when he finally does, I don't grant. Just wanted to kill the play. No need. Coach is yelling at me and I explain why I didn't grant. Coach yells he wanted time to change F1. Fine coach, you should've asked, but no problem (of course that isn't why he wanted time). Then over the next 2 innings in a game that kept changing leads, I had BR contact a ball in fair territory, OBS at 2B on a single to CF with R1 advancing to 3B, and lastly BR advancing to 1B on topper in front of F2 where he was a good foot inside the line. Ball sailed to outfield and I had INT. All the calls were right, but from the reaction of the coaches and parents who don't know rules, of course I heard how I'm going to make every odd call to show my knowledge. Honestly was just calling the obvious. On the OBS, I had one parent mockingly say I didn't know the game because if anything the call is INT. My question is, do you ever find yourself taking the calls down to the level of the coaches? Mind you, I said coaches, not players. The joke is, at least 3 coaches on the 2 teams were travel coaches.

LL Majors. Coaching my son on Mother's Day. I had a couple of parents that were insufferable. Frustrating season with a team that for a lack of a better word, was horrible. Pop up in front of 2B and my SS and 2B both move towards it. My son was playing SS this inning and didn't take charge and the ball dropped in. The 2B was one of my travel players with my son. From the dugout, I made the mistake of proclaiming how stupid, directed towards my son. One of the mothers charged my dugout in tears screaming at me not to call anybody stupid. Didn't call him stupid, just said stupid. Explained it was my kid, and left it at that. Still yelling at me at the end of the inning, I walked out and said to not enter the dugout again. Now her husband in my face as she was crying. She tried to ban me, but the LL had it all on tape and gave her a stern warning. So, never made a kid cry, but made a mother cry on Mother's Day. Stepped down from coaching at the end of season.

Someone witnessed a D3K the other day. The ball went behind a few feet. The BR tossed the bat and ran to 1B. The bat went into the ball. Would you rule interference and have an out?

I wasn't at the meeting as I've just completed my Fed course, but my friend who is certified was there and cited it. We are in Essex County Larry. I just want to get it right. I'm not here re-writing the rules, I just want to know all I can and want to continue to learn. Now I'm not throwing anyone under the bus, maybe we have the wrong sit, but he is on this site also and confirms the throw down pop up. If its wrong, ok, but want to be sure as the improbable does happen at times.

Well, according to our NJ interpreter, it is. So you have to believe and rule accordingly I guess. If everyone agrees that this is wrong, please let me know so I can clarify. Thank you.

If a fake tag is view as obstruction, why not this. I was not at the meeting, but one of my fellow umpires explained a play that was viewed as obstruction. R1 goes on hit and run scenario. Catcher seeing he has no chance throws ball up in air as to simulate pop up to F6 and he camps under and makes the play. R1 seeing this retreats to 1B and is tagged out. They called this obstruction. Now I wasn't there, and possibly they stated F6 said "I got it", if you say that makes a difference. Just would like to know where the difference comes in. Thanks for all your answers.

Wouldn't you view this as obstruction?

At first, second, and third look, I thought your call was right on.

I was PU. Had a ball to LF drop in for a hit. I stay home for possible play. Throw is way late. Kid busting it all the way goes for 3B as F2 fires down for a banger (50/70 dimmensions). Everybody waiting for call. My partner is doing a lot of pausing, but not a lot of reacting. After what seemed to be an eternity, he points to me to make the call. Not funny at the time, but had to chuckle when day was over.

Just curious. Couldn't it be looked at similar to a play legitimized after a legal pitch. The defense gave up its right and accepted as a courtesy runner. Next time it happens, though you know that you contributed to the scenario, you move on. Nobody reported it as a sub, not to the umpire or the DC. Just an oops! A big oops, but it happened and tough to go back in time. Btw, I'm very much shortening the scenarios, but think you get my drift. No longer BOO after yada, yada, yada.

Rich, I'm not the one who said that. What I said is, Little League pays it's employees. I'm glad for those who love the privelage of taking their vacation to go work at a Tournament. I'm not sure why the umpire wouldn't be paid. Maybe I am in the minority, but I officiate both for the enjoyment and for the money. I donate my fair share of games to worthy Charities, but let's not mistake this as one. I certainly don't think we get overpaid to work the games we do, I just don't know why you jump on a guy who has basically worked for nothing asking a question. However, reading so many of your posts in the past, I'm sure you are one hell of a charming umpire.

Ump45, I don't know what the problem is with your question. Everybody on this board considers us Professional Umpires of Amateur sports. PONY, Little League, and every organization are businesses that pay their employees. It's not a charity. While it's nice to be asked to work a big tournament, why should you be expected to work for free? I have a hard time listening to some of the comments. Every step of the way as you climb the ranks, umpires get paid. Why shouldn't you be fairly compensated for doing the big games. Maybe I'm missing something. Maybe our "profession" (though just part time to most of us) is for the rich or elite. I enjoy it, but make no mistake, as I mentioned before, I do it for the additional income. I'm sorry if my thoughts aren't politically correct, but unlike a couple that I have read in posts, they are very genuine and honest.

Ok, I'm sorry, before I get yelled at for beating this dead horse to death. But in FED (and yes, I understand what constitutes an IFF), if an easy call on an IFF is not called, and obviously meets all criteria, is it still an IFF. I had thought in FED it was, but reading (I'm sorry, the Softball Rule and then the Baseball Rule) it appears it must be announced by the umpire. When I brought this to the attention of my instructors who said it is (even if not called), they pulled out a case book for baseball and showed me it was. But in my rule book, I don't see it that way. So an undeclared IFF "can of corn" to F4 that the umpires fail to call shall be declared an IFF after the fact?

I like your "watch your timing" response Rich. That is how I will handle as I too am taking the FED course for the first time.

Fed Rules: R2 tags, now on 3B. On a deadball appeal, once R2 occupies 3B, R2 cannot return to 2B. Ok, the ball is dead. But what if the ball is dead because F9 deliberately carried the ball into DBT. Why couldn't R2 return if the defense is at fault. Or have I totally botched what I read. To be fair, I only read over it twice and was tired and left my book at home, but was in the mood to talk softball watching all that snow in the northeast and knowing all I can do is discuss since the snow should be here until August.