ErichKeane

This weekend I had my first "I understand why umpires are just leaving the game" feeling that lasted a long time. I was assigned 9 games (4 Saturday, 5 Sunday) that ended up being quite a few 9U and 10U tournament games. Sunday was _2_ championship games, which are untimes, but the rest were 1:45 no-new-inning. Saturday: My 4 Saturday games started at 1, last game started at 7, all 9U. My 1st game on Saturday was uneventful, and going reasonably quickly. We had the end of an inning, and the clock had >10 seconds on it. By rule, we had to do 1 more inning! That inning took nearly an HOUR. Pitchers stopped being able to hit the backstop, let alone throw strikes. Each half had at least 5 pitching changes (45 pitch max to pitch the next day causes this) What was a 2-1 game ended up 9-9 after an hour (but ties allowed for seeding games). So I'm already way behind. I opted to skip my breaks through the afternoon to try to catch up, so i could get home at a reasonable time. My 2nd game, was a half-decent back and forth, with only 1 major incident. There were a handful of side-line-rumblings (oh come on, he was safe!) through the game, but I had rabbit-ears turned off for the most part, but just the 1 notable: As is my most hated thing, I had a catcher keep setting up way outside. One of the assistant coaches was silently fuming apparently, and on one particularly 'good looking' pitch that was a foot into the outside batters box, I hear, "Come on man, you gotta call it both ways!". I INSTANTLY yelled time, walked over to him and said (quite angrily): "You do NOT get to question the integrity of an umpire." Him: "But it looks like it!" Me: "That is your ONE warning." He clammed up, and I walked back to position and continued the game. The rest of the game went fine, though it TOO was a tie game (10:10!) that went past the time limit. Still almost 45 minutes behind, I once again skip break, and get the next teams playing. 3rd game was a walk-a-thon that went over time, but stayed close as well, ending 19-18. 4th game is where my FIRST day got most interesting. The assistant coach's team from game 2 was back! During a quick warmups (I gave 10 minutes to give myself a snack break), the assistant coach came up and apologized, told me he was absolutely wrong, etc. He was really pleasant outside of that 1 interaction (which is why I didn't toss him right away!), which was appreciated. However, late in the game, I have bases loaded, 1 out, 'previously troublesome' team in the field (and down by quite a few). Grounder to SS. I haul it to the mound to cover the play. Expecting a touch at 2nd, but the SS goes for a TAG of the runner! Best I can tell, he steps over the base with his left foot, then drops his knee on the base/tag on the runner, but the runner slides and touches 2B before either. I call safe. The bench and stands keep yelling that he touched the base before trying the tag, but I didn't have that. I turned to the bench/coach and yelled, "He did NOT!" and did the wave off, which silenced most of the yelling. Behind me I hear, "Thats terrible, thats terrible, you're terrible!" from behind the plate. I snap my head around and the offender yells, "Yeah, it was me, I said you're terrible! What are you gonna do about it! You're terrible!" I eject and say, "you're gone!" Fan: "Gone where?" (yelling throughout this). Me: "Off the premises" (firm voice, not overly elevated) Fan: "You can't eject me!" Me: "Yes I can." Fan: "You have to give me a warning first!" Me: "I do not." Fan: *Stares* Me: "Now Leave". I turn my back to him, and go to the coach, telling him he needs to control his sideline, and to get him out of here. Coach is apologetic, and fine with it. I also explain that he's also likely gone for the weekend (usually the rule in the tourneys is ejection-day + 1 day unless UIC determines its not deserving). Coach says, "Oh, I hope so, please make that happen.". I didn't get asked, so I didn't explain what I had. I text the SD, who escorts the fan from the edge of the parking lot to his car. Game ended uneventfully, and reasonably early thanks to mercy rule, so I get a decent night of sleep.

I had a situation like this once (just a normal fly, not a home-run!), so now I pregame that if I'm in the field, I yell "cone!" (nothing with 'mine', as I don't want to confuse fielders!) if I'm going to take it, and the plate ump gets it otherwise. Had all my partners appreciate it since.

Of interest- A few years ago our local umpires organization switched to direct-deposit payments 1x a week, AND you get paid current for it (through 'reftown.com'). For example, this weekend, I worked 9, ending about 7pm. I had a direct deposit 'filed' by 9pm. It is my understanding from talking to a few 'local town' assigners and officials that this has caused a vast majority of the umps to ONLY work through reftown. I've worked for 3 local towns outside of reftown due to umpiring shortages, and each of the assigners has complained how I'm one of the few who will work outside of reftown anymore. By the end of the season, I definitely 'get it'. The 'best' of the 3 (my local town), issued a check every ~month. The 'worst' took a few months before I got my check. The 'best' one (which is actually my home town, and I got into umpiring to help them out when I can), I spoke with the organizer. Since we're quite a bit in the 'sticks', these 3 towns tend to not be able to get umpires through reftown willing to come out (driving 45+ mins each way for a single $55 paycheck ain't that tempting to most!). AND, the organization also charges them an additional $5 per game successfully assigned, so it puts additional hardship on them. So they are in between a rock and a hard place (which is why I'm willing to work with them anyway), but am going to be MUCH less motivated for anything but my home town.

Er, did he mean "umpire that does college ball", or "umpire who is in college"? I guess it isn't particularly clear here... though I guess it doesn't really matter. To answer the question: A dropped 3rd strike with 2 outs and the bases loaded 'forces' the runners to advance, so it follows the same rules as forces in the rest of the game.

Because ballplayers sometimes just aren't paying attention? Or decide its such an easy fly, mind as well just lollygag. If everyone always did the logical thing on the field, 2/3 of an umpire's job would disappear

What is J/R in this situation? I'm not familiar with that. But that guidance sounds logical to me.

I don't see anything here: https://www.baseball-almanac.com/rulechng.shtml Perhaps just in incorrect card? Shame on the rules expert at Topps?

Oh, absolutely... I've definitely had at least 1 partner I wish I'd been working alone instead of with...

I'll note: texting an hr until game time is too late, umpires should be texting the night before if at all possible. He obviously doesn't have an excuse here since he was on his phone, but many of us don't carry our phones to the field (or dressing-area if one exists), so if i get there an hr before like I often do, you won't catch me. That said, as you tell it, that does make you look foolish there...

I see both of those articles at least imply (the latter actually states!) that it must be from 'around home plate', but is that true? I've definitely seen MLB umps enforce this pretty far up the 1B line. Also, I can't find a way to read this limitation into either of the rulesets. Are there case plays to support this interpretation, or are these articles supposing that? NFHS rule says: The Batter Runner is out when... he runs outside the three-foot running lane (last half of the distance from home plate to first base), while the ball is being fielded or thrown to first base; or This infraction is ignored if it is to avoid a fielder who is attempting to field the batted ball or if the act does not interfere with a fielder or a throw. The batter runner is considered outside the running lane lines if either foot is outside either line. OBR Rule says: A batter is out when:... In running the last half of the distance from home base to first base, while the ball is being fielded to first base, he runs outside (to the right of ) the three-foot line, or inside (to the left of ) the foul line, and in the umpire’s judgment in so doing interferes with the fielder taking the throw at first base, in which case the ball is dead; except that he may run outside (to the right of ) the three-foot line or inside (to the left of ) the foul line to avoid a fielder attempting to field a batted ball; Rule 5.09(a)(11) Comment: The lines marking the three-foot lane are a part of that lane and a batter-runner is required to have both feet within the three-foot lane or on the lines marking the lane. The batter-runner is permitted to exit the threefoot lane by means of a step, stride, reach or slide in the immediate vicinity of first base for the sole purpose of touching first base. The 'vicinity of HP' bit is not something I can find in the rules at all?

Any idea when the other colors are coming in? I'd love to get me a grey-frame/black pad combo to replace my current one (which is showings its age). Also, any idea if they fixed the clamps sliding around problem? @JimKirk?

I see this as fine/legal. The BR was out when either the ball was caught, or he passed R1 (whichever happened first). Its up to the defense to determine who is out or not: Rule 6.01 (a) (5) “It is interference by a batter or a runner when any batter or runner or who has just been put out, or any runner who has just scored, hinders or impedes any following play made on a runner. Such runner shall be declared out for the interference of his teammate. If the batter or runner continues to advance after he has been put out, he shall not by that act alone be considered as confusing, hindering or impeding the fielders.

I found why I'm wrong: 5-1-1: The ball becomes dead immediately when: d: a foul ball (2-16-1): 2: goes directly from the bat to the catcher's protector, mask, or person without first touching the catcher's glove or hand.

I didn't see that go around, but I don't think the exception that @SH0102is referring to applies in NFHS. I think this should be an out: NFHS 7-4-1: A batter is also out as in above penalty or when: --- a foul ball (other than a foul tip not a third strike) is caught by a fielder or such catch is prevented by a spectator reaching into the playing area (8-3-3e); This is NOT a eligible to be a foul-tip in NFHS, since it is not directly to the catcher's hands. Thus, I think this is a normal foul caught ball. In OBR, the 'foul tip' limit is to the catcher anywhere, so I think this is foul/dead ball in OBR. Unless there is a rule here I'm missing, this is no different than a ball over foul ground bouncing off F3s glove, and getting grabbed by F4 before it touches the ground.

Just re-watched it, I realized he turned around about 1/2 way! I seem to have mis-remembered it. Yeah, I don't see him scoring on that play, probably just being out by 1/4 of the base path instead of 1/2.

While I don't think Vlad-Jr would have made it home, the play at home would have been close! The catcher received the ball with him already stopping, roughly 20 feet from the plate. 20 feet at MLB speeds is <1 second (Most pros are probably about a 4-4.5sec HP->1B time, so I'd expect 3B to HP with a running start would be at least as good, and 4.5 sec pace, 20 ft is exactly 1 sec). I think I could completely justify that between him slowing down to turn around, and F5 making him go the long way, he was delayed a significant portion of a second. Add on that you have to give the runner a bit of a benefit of the doubt, I don't think the HP award is unreasonable. I think it LOOKS bad by how much he was thrown out, but that is also because of the time he took to turn around, PLUS the time he was held up. I also didn't see the umpire interference contact, but it could definitely have fallen between two frames there.

Despite its failings, the fact that between the F3 and the skully, every ball I've had off the mask has hurt my ears, but not my head has made the discomfort/weight worth it. The weight doesn't really bother me, I just wish it could sit a little lower on the brim. I suspect I'll end up buying the V3 above (or perhaps V4 if it makes it that long!) to replace this one someday. I'd love some better material for the inside of the pads, though I prefer the leather. I find that my facial hair gets caught in any of the cloth ones I try, and eventually tugs/tears at it. If you do a clean shave before each game, you probably haven't seen this, but I'm lazy 😕

I don't want to be 'coaching' the players! But yeah, I got a feeling even most coaches don't really get the strategy for framing pitches. I grew up as a catcher and studied/learned it, but clearly you can be an MLB catcher and still not know.

Oh yeah, that was some awful receiving IMO. I find myself wanting to tell catchers at the younger ages that you're actively harming your pitchers by doing that...

I have the previous edition, but wish the clamps for the spring system would stay in place. Mine slide all over the place. I've tried putting some electrical tape or some brass shims, and it unfortunately doesn't stay in place long enough to fix it. Any idea if they've fixed that? I like the pads, though i wish the 'top' one was lower profile for the skullcap. It ends up pulling the mask 'upwards' more than I wish, so I end up having to man-handle it around more than I wish I had to.

#1: 14 year old student is freshman age, so could be a freshman game (instead of JV). #2: if my kid got hit by a thrown weight by a coach having a temper tantrum, you bet your rear I'd be in that coaches face once I knew my kid was ok. #3: Yeah, tossing a 1lb weight at a bunch of students isn't likely to be a first transgression...

Absolutely this. I used the 3n2 plate shoes all last year and was constantly battling trying to put in shoe inserts, wear extra socks/etc, and they were super painful after only a game or two. I did a 3-pack the first time with the Mizunos I grabbed on ebay (shipped from Japan was cheaper than the US side vendors!), and my feet were great! The arch is a little high on them for me, but that didn't bother me more than the first few minutes, and my feet felt great after.

So I just watched this through, and my take-away here is : Reggie is a fantastic umpire and guy who got overwhelmed by an AWFUL situation, and made a bad snap-judgement to 'go home'. However, it also tells me: don't be afraid of ejections. He seemed proud of how rarely he ejected, and I think that is GREAT, when we are dealing with well-behaved people. However, he got himself into a situation with awfully behaved people,and let that attitude force him to keep people around that should have been tossed earlier. I know this VERY well, and did the same in one of my games early last year (my first year, but I definitely had the same attitude going in, and I was fortunate to have it happen early in my umpiring career. I hope _I_ have learned well enough that ejecting is sometimes the healthiest way about it. We should have a 'thick skin' in general, but trust your feelings: if folks are getting through your thick skin, toss-em, and let god the assigner sort them out.

Ah, of course Thanks for the correction!

Not particularly related to the topic at hand, but "Check your phone blue, you've missed a bunch of calls!" is a good one. I've not heard that one before. Though, my favorite is: "Kick your dog blue, he's lying to ya!".