LMSANS

Uh, never.B)

Some things are truly a mystery. B)

NJ follows the Fed rules on this and Warren is right. The mercy rule is 10 runs after the losing team has had 5 at bats or if later in the game and the home team (if losing) gets their "last licks". There is a new rule for HS softball this year. After 3rd inning (or 2½), if one team is ahead by 15 runs, the game may be ended with the consent of both coaches. This is a NJSIAA adopted rule and may not apply everywhere.

OK, I'll bite...the contact happens after R3 touches the plate, where are you protecting him to?:banghead:

Maybe if you try it as a knock-knock joke...:agasp_:

As soon as you can apply it. I got hit in the hand last night. I asked a coach for an ice pack between innings and then kept applying it between innings for the rest of the game about another 1.5 hours. While I have a stitch mark on my hand and it is sensitive to the touch, the swelling at this point is minimal.

In this case, F2 was standing on the 1B side of home plate, with one foot on that side of the plate. This is the reason I took action against the runner (and got no argument from the coach). He had a clear path to slide or even avoid contact, but for whatever reason, ran into F2.

I read that as blocking 100%, not 33%.

That's in the coaches box or on the field.

The only LL I do is JR and SR. While I understand the intent of the rule, I'm glad we don't have to get involved. Now there are usually 4 - 5 pitchers a game for each team. I get a kick out of the 2 coaches at the end of each half..."I got 19" "I got 23" "OK 19 it is" They must really focus on this at the coaches meeting, cause every one of them is aware of it.

100% of the base must be clear? I have to disagree there. Is there a specific place in the rules for that interp?

The ball was in flight. F2 was on the first base side of the plate, leaving at least 2/3 of the plate clear. The runner was ahead of the ball. The runner never prepared himself for contact as is usually used to determine MC. (and I got it - no MC in LL-JR)

If I understand you, failure to slide/avoid is interference? If that's the case, then I see where I went wrong.

I had this happen during a LL-JR game: bases loaded, 1 out, ground ball to F6 who bobbles and then throws home R3 has plenty of opportunity to slide or avoid F2, but he runs into him. R2 comes home on the overthrow. I call R3 out for failure to slide/avoid and allow R2 to score. My partner feels that it should have been a dead ball when R3 ran into F2 and R2 returned to 3B. There was definitely no MC on the play. Did I get it right?

I don't know...I just finished a LL-JR game I think was 17 - 13 after 5. There were 8 balls hit to the outfield, only 2 on a fly!:crybaby2:

I found this post on "An Open Letter to my Partner" interesting and have nominated it accordingly for "Post Of The Month April, 2009"

:WTF So there we are...the illegitimate step-child of NYC and Philly once again.:TD:

I use a check down list as the pitcher progresses. I mentally make note of each step he is in and what he can or can't do. Pre-game is "see a balk, call a balk". Some guys I work with, do limit themselves to certain balks when in different positions. Then there are the guys that wouldn't call a balk if it stepped on them. I was working a freshmen game the other day. I'm on the dish. I thought F1 didn't stop, but wasn't sure and since my partner didn't call anything, I let it go. Next pitch, no stop, I call it. 3 pitches later, no stop, I call again. We get out of the inning, my partner comes over to me and I ask if he saw the balk. "Oh yeah, he's been doing that all game." When I'm behind the plate, I don't watch as closely as I do on the bases. I think the BU has the advantage for almost all balks.

I didn't mean to imply that he said it this way to shut me down. My association only does high school baseball and softball and follows the Fed guidelines, which is what NJSIAA wants. When I work non-HS ball I follow either the red book or college, depending on the league rules.

My copy of the red book says"...the base umpire will position himself in exactly the same manner as with a rnner on 1B only..." I don't think this has been clarified.

I worked a DH with my association's mechanics chief yesterday. R1, R3 situation, I go to B. He discreetly points to me and then to C. After the game his only coment was that is the way the Fed wants it. :BD:

So does NJ fall under the NYC umbrella or the Philly umbrella?:BD:

At the risk of sounding cold and insensitive, I don't see any connection between the 2 events. However, someone will now try to move the plate umpire behind the pitcher. A shame, yes, but that is the risk any of us has when we take the field. Of course we could let the technology take over for us.

Hitting them in the pocket book works great. Our local Pop Warner football has a $500 if there are 2 unsportsmanlike conduct flags against a team. The coach is EJ and suspended for the next week minimum. A team was excessively vocal about penalties and were "counting" penalties. I threw the UC flag for 15 yards and didn't hear a peep for the rest of the 1st half or 2nd half.

My pet peeve is a partner who hasn't got a clue.:crybaby2: