agdz59

I'm hearing it enough to ask if we should do anything at an association meeting. So far the answer had been "no".

Can you give me the NFHS rules cite on this? Because my association does teach that NFHS allows for 'train wrecks' in the case where a fielder is reaching to catch a throw for a force out. They also teach a 'tangle/untangle' exclusion around such 'train wrecks' that occur when a fielder and a runner collide after a bad throw or other occurrence where a runner decides to advance after coming to a stop. They teach that as long as the contact is incidental and not prolonged, it should be considered nothing - make a safe signal, "I've got nothing", and play on. What say you all?

I haven't had it this extreme, but I enjoy playing "which kid is the coaches?" based on player interaction. I'm usually right.

The one great thing I learned in my first association was how to handle batting out if order. I've seen it twice since then and gotten it right. Here's how I think about it FWIW: There are only four things you need to know when the defense appeals: Who is batting? Who is the correct batter? When is the defense appealing? Who is the next batter? The first thing to do is figure out the first two. If those are the same person, it was a misunderstanding, you are done, play on. If they are different, go to the next question - did the defense appeal while the wrong person is batting? If yes, swap the batters, the real batter inherits the count, and play on. No penalty. Did the defense appeal after a pitch was pitched to the batter after the wrong batter? If so, the wrong batter is now legitimized as the correct batter! The current batter should be whoever follows him in the batting order. Go back to the start of this using the current batter. If the defense appealed BEFORE a pitch to the next batter, the defense has the choice of the results of the play OR the correct batter declared out and all runners return to their place at time of pitch. Whatever they choose, the next batter is the batter following the correct batter. QED

I was watching in real time and was surprised to see the fair call. I mean Nolan Arenado and Yadi Molina are the ones working it. But I agree on the replay it's gone foul and then it rolls over the seams in a way that pushes it back toward fair when you lose sight of it because of the player in the way just before Arenado touches it. I assume Cuzzi saw it that way. Did Arenado or Yadi address it post-game?

Oh yeah - unmistakably. We've worked a lot together. I think he knew right away he missed it, but he is a guy who has trouble admitting mistakes. Thank God he didn't wait another second to call it or we'd have had a real situation.

Ummm, the defense has to either wait for the runner who scored to enter the dugout or can tag him before he gets there. What's the problem? I'm not seeing it.

Last month I was U1 in A in an NFHS-ruled tournament when a hard shot goes right over my head. We had pre-gamed that I would take those so I turned my back, ran a few steps, saw the ball come down an inch or two fair, and JUST before I signal fair I hear "foul ball!". This elicits a lot of teeth gnashing from one side of the bleachers. I turn around and there are literally three of us - me, BR, and F3 - blocking my partner's line of sight down the line. I hold up my hands to indicate foul ball, the runner looks at his coach who shakes his head and, thank God, little more. As the batter is returning to the box, he asks me what I had. I told him "that was my partner's call." He laughed and complemented me on my diplomacy. Even if he'd asked that I get involved or my partner wanted to talk, no way am I overturning that. The cure would be worse than the disease. Got no idea what my partner was thinking still. He wouldn't admit to anything.

No. Which runner to tag? Well, if the trailing runner was forced to second, the lead runner loses the right to the base. If there is no force, the lead runner maintains the right to the base. So if there was a force, tag the lead runner, if no force, tag the trail runner. Don't want to learn the rule? Tag 'em both.

Tonight I was involved in what to now has been the most awesome play I've officiated. What's yours? If only someone was taping it... LL minors and doing it solo. There are two outs and runners on in a close game so both sides' stands are making a lot of noise. The batter hits the ball straight up. I look up and take a couple of steps back to make room for the catcher. The catcher, in following the ball, has fallen straight back onto his back where I was setup and while doing so, stretched out his glove and makes the catch as he is hitting the ground. The catcher and I lock eyes as the crowd goes silent. You could hear a pin drop. I wait a second to ensure the ball is secure in his glove and then straighten up: "OUT!" The place goes nuts. Both benches are applauding. His teammates swarm around to congratulate him. I thought I was in a movie.

Heeeeey - where did you get that picture of me?

Here I know of several fields where F3 or F5 have to shade their eyes. I haven't called a stoppage because they were timed games but it made me nervous.

I've done 60+ from LL minors up through High School JV. Most have been 10U-12U travel ball games (NFHS) in five weekend tournaments with 7-9 games per weekend. But it was the middle school and high school games through the local association that have really helped me grow - which was the goal. There will be 7 or 8 more tournaments plus various summer leagues for the rest of the year. All in all, I've been pleased with my progress and look forward to getting better at the craft. The goal is to work some Varsity and higher level American Legion games next year.

I'm a nobody but I completely agree with you. Safety first, I'd do the same thing. In fact, I've halted play when somebody turned their brights on in dead center field. Did not resume until they were turned off. I'd hate to have some kid's brain injury on my conscience.

It says what you think it says, yes. I've got to remember this - batter leaves box with both feet when pitcher is ready to pitch == strike.

Yes they do - I've seen several at the 11U and 12U level and they are every bit the players the boys are.

You are correct and the rule is the same in both codes.

Most of the pitchers I see have their feet close together and that's what's in my head. You are, of course, correct. Still illegal.

Can't wait for a kid to come to the plate texting on his phone.

Well, yeah - I don't know how you even DO that so I didn't consider it. And, as everyone has said, the only legal move with the pivot foot once the pitcher is set is backward off the rubber.

Because stepping forward would be deceiving the runner that a pitch was being delivered. Can't do that. The pitcher has to step toward the base they are throwing to if they are still engaged with the pitchers plate. If they step back off the plate first, they can do whatever they want.

That's what I thought but the rules aren't explicit and coaches always want to talk about 1) intent or 2) the ball was already gone.

What's the call? Whatever PU says it is. You are King. And it is good to be King. And your partner was no help? They should have been initially tracking the ball and could hopefully provide a clue. If the sun's in your eyes, it shouldn't have been in theirs. Like someone else said, if the defender is telling you it's a home run, I'd take that. If everyone on the field is looking around like you say and all I saw was sunlight down the line (I have many fields like that but haven't yet had this happen), I'm going to call foul ball and live with those consequences rather than calling it fair which leaves open the question ground rule double or home run? Just less mess to clean up if you call foul, IMO.

I'll bet someone will have a rule cite here any minute to show how stupid I am but I'd call obstruction. F1's position in the base path of R3 without the ball is textbook. Shouldn't matter that F2 is waiting at home with the ball. He might drop it. It might come loose as he would have applied the tag - nobody knows the future. But we know a fielder without the ball hindered a runner - that's obstruction. See last weeks play from MLB where the pitcher was called for obstruction after soft tossing to F3 from the first base line with the BR behind him. The BR is clearly out but it didn't matter - once F1 no longer had the ball, he was obstructing the BR. I don't think you needed to award 3rd to the BR on 2nd. He was not involved in the play and is not forced due to the award. But, again, someone will be along to tell me I'm wrong.

That doesn't sound right. I work travel ball tourneys and LL with a guy who is headed to the LL Western Regional this year. He also travels several hundred miles to do other tournaments. I gotta think the LL district UIC knows what he does since he's around a lot.