BLWizzRanger

What am I missing here? Poor mechanics? The pitcher kicks the ball - fair ball - or it hits the rubber and doesnt cross the foul line - fair ball, right? PU moves up and signals fair and gets back into the slot to call safe or out. Mechanics are fine, IMHO They kicked it when they changed the ruling. What am I missing?

I had one just the opposite this year. Popup along the first base line and I call 'In Field Fly if Fair.' F3 lets the ball hit in fair territory and the ball bounces into foul territory where F2 touches it. DHC wonders out loud why the batter wasn't out and why we would holler 'if Fair'. Sometimes the learning is after the play.

Just trying to clear up some confusion I think could be occurring... So there is a difference between a pitcher faking a pick off at 2nd and the middle infielders act like there was an overthrow. The pitcher then goes and tags the R2 or gets them in a run down. This is different than what I read above about a cutoff man slapping their glove on a throw from the outfield and letting the ball go through to the F2. Or, on a steal of second, F4/F6 runs in front of 2nd and slapping their glove as they let the ball go through from a F2.

The player wasn't ejected, probably, because the umpire allowed him to use the bat. You can't punish someone when you allowed the act to happen. For the bat itself, 'Older' meaning, 1980's older or 2015 older? 'Older' tells me nothing. I don't know Babe Ruth rules however, NHFS states that the bat be a drop 3 and has a BBCOR stamp on it - among other specifications. A 2015 older bat would probably has a BBCOR stamp on it, whereas, the 1980's bat wouldn't. I would be surprised Babe Ruth would require a USA brand on it and not a BBCOR one. Are you mistaken? The umpire can ask a coach or player a multitude of things not to do that aren't specifically in the rule book. If he changed his mind due to safety concerns, why are we faulting him? This reeks of sour grapes. Possibly the coach catching the player of picking his wife's petunias and he wanted the 14yo ejected. But, the big question is what did the batter do at that at-bat? Hit a grand slam to win the game in the first inning?

[deleted because embarrassed what I wrote.]

This is starting to look like a PGA vice LIV decorum issue where LIV says that golfers can wear shorts and the PGA says no way, Jose. Maybe the union is starting to break. /s

Its a safety rule for FED. If a fake tag is done at the last minute and the runner tries to slide into a base late and breaks his ankle or comes down and breaks the leg of the fielder, its probably worth it. And, as with all safety rules in this game or in the public at large, fortunately, the worst circumstance rarely happens.

If there was ever a picture of throwing raw meat into a pond full of piranhas, stating that the frames are going on sale would be it around here.

With a tournament going on now, the run rules are 20/1, 15/2, 12/3, 10/4, and 8/5. Seems to me, the TD didnt like the complaint that one team's lineup didnt turn over after two or three innings.

i don't see how the batter causes the pitcher to commit a violation. The pitcher has to have self control not to come set or to start his motion until the batter is engaged. They can see the clock too and know when the clock gets down below 8 seconds. If they start their motion or move to a set position knowing a batter is gaming the system, then that is on them. I will check but I thought there was a NCAA training video on the batter stepping out after they were engaged below 8 seconds. They either stepped out after trying to get a time granted (it was not since time can't/shouldn't be granted unless for valid reasons) or the pitcher stepped off the rubber below 8 seconds and right back on the rubber which is allowed when there aren't any runners on base.

I've seen it. Agree to disagree. Other than the ball being hurled at a batter's head being the safety issue, the anxiety that one player is trying to induce over the other is exactly the same. Can the pitcher wait to come set or start their motion? Can the hitter stay ready in the box waiting? Both are due to the anxiety the other is inducing to them having to wait.

No, you aren't judging his thinking, but his actions can be a result of what he is thinking - and I will give you that it might be to freeze out the pitcher. The pitcher can wait until the last minute to freeze the batter. It goes both ways. But the pitcher isn't in a vacuum out there either. They know to wait until the batter engages with them and they know, at worst, that they have 8 seconds to start their motion. A baker can't bake a cake unless the 'batter' is mixed and in the pan. That is on the baker if he puts the pan in the oven without the 'batter.' If the pitcher can take the pitch clock down to one second with no repercussions, than the batter should be able to do that as well with his time limit. You can't favor one over the other.

I have to disagree. How am I to judge what the batter is thinking at that moment? It might be legitimate. Is he saying the Lord's Prayer? Is he going over his keys to the at bat? The rules state he has until 8 seconds to engage his eyes to the pitcher. And the pitcher has 18/20 seconds to start the pitching motion. I don't know what the pitcher is thinking either when he is engaged with the batter at 12 seconds and waits until one second left to start the motion. There is gamesmanship as well when a runner takes stutter steps or stomps their feet acting like they are going to steal. Or the fielder acts like they are going to catch a ball but the ball falls in front of them. Maybe the fielder holds a glove on the runner when the ball gets past him. Gamesmanship is part of the game. Why worry about this instance?

The bigger question is did you grab any balks for the pitching dads?

You guys are reminding me of a hungry baby seeing their mother...

I was asked by a HS player if I thought HSs would get ABS. I told him no that it was too cost prohibitive. But, why do they need the ABS since they already have APS - Automatic Parent System - that will let everyone know when a pitch is wrong. I would like to officially change that to the APS - Asshole Parent System.

<not to hijack this thread> Interesting look on the pant length. Must not want to show his shin guards in the crouch.

While the article is absurd, it does bring up a valid issue.... what to do with the hands? In front pants/jacket pocket? In back pant's pocket? fisted up? Kung-fu slap happy? golfer's grip? under pits? cross-fingered resting on belly? cross-fingered placed on top of head? On a serious note, I always mention to partners to not stand with hands in front pockets, pants or jackets, while out on the bases. It gives me a feel that they are super relaxed and not paying attention look that, subconsciously, I don't think is well-received. HPU umpire with a coat on not included if hands are in coat pockets. Hands in back pants pockets looks like more of hands on hips and thus, paying attention. JMHO.

Maybe the umpires had band practice or had to meet their parole officer?

To all Travel Ball Parents: Two sets of batting gloves is overdoing the accoutrements game. You don't want the HBP due to the second pair being tucked in the back pocket. College coaches don't look up the HBP or OBP. They want dingers!

Whats the difference between a ball rolling along a base line 2 inches in foul territory and over fair ground and one hit down a base line in the air, past first or third base, and landing 2 inches in foul territory? The one hit past the bases will be considered a fair ball due to the fact that when the ball hits the ground (dirt, turf, or grass), the impact down on the ground will allow the ball to touch the line although rolling at that same spot, the dirt, turf or grass will keep the ball aloft over the line. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. I am surprised no one suggested that an AFF (Automatic Fair/Foul) system be developed.

Does the batting gloves have a NOCSAE or BBCOR stamped on it? I am taking this as tongue in cheek question, sort of like 'if a woodchuck could chuck wood, would a .... BTW, wouldn't you think a catcher's cup would be NOCSAE stamped?

Knees - I plan to get them done in July. But, I am not going to stop moving. Cut down two trees and cleaned the gutters last night, in fact. Those aren't knee friendly. Its funny, I, and my doctor, knew I was going to have them done four years ago. So I asked him, when does he think I will need to get it done (this was right after meniscus surgery). He said, 'you will know when it is time.' and boy was he not kidding. Its time.

I meant no disrespect on your current abilities or situation. Going from what I am experiencing, and the brotherhood expectations of where we need to be, I found that I could do more and made that my goal to work on. And you might have gone through the same and changed your personal expectations after doing the 11 plates. For example, me getting to the dirt circle is no longer good enough as I have worked to get more distance. I can't get to the 45' yet but that has become my goal. Some days, that wont be my goal as my fast walk will include the same pain as running (good days and bad days, you know?) But, the adrenaline might kick in mid-game and the pain will subside, thus, gaining more ground. I've got to realize that. I know I have been disappointed with myself earlier after games when I know I had the attitude, 'nope, I will get on the line and not even try to get up the line' or even when in C not trying to get distance but only walking to an angle on any plays needing to be made. So, yeah, my 'whoa is me' mindset is wearing thin with myself, and I thought, maybe, you went through that as well. All is good. We are on the field and moving. Those are the first steps.

Great update! Here to more of your recovery. I've got to ask, how are you coping meaning what are your goals when you are supposed to move and have you increased them over these 11 games? (as an example, going up 1st base line to see a pulled foot, or trying to get to 3rd on a rotation)