Little Ott

Thanks.

Bases loaded. F1 throws ball four in the dirt that hits the catcher and ricochets a few feet toward first. As the batter-runner jogs toward first, he knocks the ball back to the catcher with his bat. Lots of drama follows soon after. I have no interference because there was no play to be made. All the base runners were advancing by the award and there can't be interference unless there is a play to be made. Agree? Disagree? Citation? Thanks

A knee brace just stabilizes the joint. This thing adds both stability and power. Its been a long time since I took an engineering course but i think I could design a device strapped to a pitcher's torso with a lot of elasticity in it and it could accelerate a pitcher's arm much faster than the pitcher could without the boost. Suddenly many MPH are added to his fastball. Why would that be ok? I didn't know about the LL World Series. Going to have to do some digging. Thanks

I need a citation. A pitcher goes to the rubber wearing this under his shirt: https://rooneybaseball.com/rooney-baseball-blog/the-kinetic-arm-a-game-changing-tool-for-pitcher-development-and-injury-prevention Can't imagine that is legal but for the life of me I can't find a citation in OBR or NFHS that says it isn't. Whatta' ya got? Thanks.

By the way... I put the question out on my Rule of the Day and got some excellent advice. The umpire said - "Another important point ... if a player gets between you and a tag play at the plate, you're probably too far away from the tag. Close the distance between you and the catcher. Generally, you're supposed to stay 2-3 feet behind the catcher, which really leaves very little room for a bat boy or other player to squeeze between the two of you and block your view. I did tend to stay too far behind the catcher on plays on the plate in the past, so I have had this happen to me, but I've worked on decreasing the distance the last couple of years and it helps."

Send me an email at yoteachyo@gmail.com and I'll add you to my mailing list. We focus almost entirely on OBR and NFHS but I occasionally will add the NCAA rules if it makes sense. While there are many college umpires on my list, the vast majority only work the NFHS and OBR codes.

Wow - I opened a can of worms I had no intention of opening. My apologies if I was clumsy enough to be mis-understood. I coached for 10 years at a high level. My son is in his 14th year in the Major Leagues. I umpire in NYC, now in my 16th year. I send a "Rule of the Day" to about 700 umpires mostly in my two associations in NYC but I have people on my email list from 3 foreign countries and about 10 different states. Whenever I write about a call that involves a lot of judgement, I remind us all that we: 1 - get paid to see, then report. If we don't see, we can't let people know what we saw. 2 - there will be times where one umpire's judgement will differ from another's. 3 - we need to judge dispassionately and fairly. For those reasons I often say - Dispense justice as you see fit... Which is what an arbiter does in any sport and in the law. I come to this site a lot to find issues that my umpires need to know about and have nothing but respect for your rules knowledge and the time you put in. Several times in the past, when I could not find an answer to a question asked of me on my own, I've asked it here and have always gotten useful insight which I have passed along citing whichever of you gave me the key to unlocking the problem. No snark intended, and again, I am sorry if it came across that way.

Thanks Gents. As always - I'm grateful for your rules knowledge and this community. Continue to dispense justice as you see fit.

I was asked this a few days ago. I've since combed the books and can't find an answer -- NFHS, but I'll take an OBR explanation if you have one. Play at home developing. I position myself to get a good view and make the call. On deck batter or maybe the runner who scored, I don’t remember, steps directly in front of me completely blocking my view at the exact wrong moment. I see nothing to make a call. my partner sees nothing either. Can interference be called for blocking the umpire? Is there a rule for out or safe in this situation? What do you say?

Thanks Gents. If I ever coach again - the odds of that are between slim and none - I'll tell all my baserunners to sprint to the next base on a walk in case the catcher uses detached equipment to corral the ball. Appreciate your work.

NFHS rules. R1, 1 out. B9 watches ball 4 go by. He and R1 start for their advance bases. F2 uses his mask to stop the ball. Neither B9 nor R1 have reached their advance bases at that moment. Place the runners. I say R1 scores. He gets his award for the base-on-balls then the 2 base penalty for the detached equipment violation. My reasoning: Detached equipment violations set up delayed dead ball situations so we have to wait for play to stop to make the award. Wendelstedt says, p.122 "If when the defense gains possession of the ball, at least one runner is attempting to advance, the umpire will leave the ball in play until all action ceases, or until a runner is tagged before reaching his awarded base." NFHS says: ART. 5 ... An award is from the base determined as follows: a. If the award is the penalty for an infraction such as a balk, use of detached player equipment, or an illegal glove/mitt, the award is from the base occupied at the time of the infraction. Does that mean if R1 speeds to second and gets there before F2 touched the ball with his mask he'll be awarded home, but if he jogs to second and doesn't make it before F2 goofs he only gets third? What sez you guys? Thanks in advance.

Thanks all. Much appreciated.

NFHS rule set. A casebook situation contains the words, "RULING: The coach of the team at bat, after being informed of F2's obstruction, elects to have the penalty for defensive obstruction enforced. Therefore, B4 is awarded first base and R2 is awarded third base. (8-1-1 e)" Does that mean U1 lets the coach know that he has an option on the play... or just that he tells the coach that he called obstruction? We all know that FED wants to simplify the game. How much information does FED want the umpire to give? Thanks.

That's the answer. No force. Appeal all you want but, it'll be too late. Thanks fella's.

Mike Trout is on the list of players I would never want to see charging at me. Never.