LMSANS

My brother and I have a running joke about this. Just about every significant celebratory event in my life, he was umpiring that day. Grammar School Grad Confirmation HS Grad Wedding day He's always made it to the party/ceremony, but he had a ball game to take care of first. Now he is retired from umpiring and I try to get games when he has events, but no payback.

While I would have liked to do as DTR said, I probably would have done the same as you. The coaches around here are pretty good about the full uniform for baseball, Softball tends to get a little looser. that's at all the Fed levels.

I believe the phrase is "ordinary effort". Depending on the level you're working, that becomes a judgement call. I was working a LL-Jr game the other night and with the bases loaded the batter hit a pop up, easily high enough behind the pitchers mound. As I watched the ball reach it's apex, I noticed that none of the fielders were moving towards the ball. After the ball bounced, the pitcher picked it up and threw home for the out. I never called the IFF because it would have taken a superaltive effort to make the catch. Both coaches accepted my explanation. If this was a higher level, there would have been no doubt about ordinary effort.

Oh sure, Now you're going to want me to post something. :eek:

I do both softball and baseball for HS. I also just got my ASA qualification. So yeah, I'd like to see a softball area.

I don't do college, but sounds like malicious contact to me. Definitely in Fed I would call it. I say "good call!"

Why couldn't they warm up? :eek:

I had one a couple of years ago... R1, R3, no outs... B4 hits long fly to F7, R3 leaves early, R1 never tags... R1 returns to first but he was about 30 ft past 2b, he cuts the angle and gets back to first before the throw. Coach appeals R3 on 3B and R1 missing 2B.... He needed it, his team was down 11-1 in top 5th. The game ended 11-1.

What criteria do you use (other than the obvious thunder/lightning) to determine if the rain is enough?

I'm scheduled to work a JV Baseball game yesterday. I look at Arbiter to see who my partner is. I look in the assoc guide and don't see his name, a cadet. Ok, I'll call him and give him the opportunity to work the plate (as our assignor has asked us to do with cadets). Here's where the fun starts: "are you a cadet?" "uh, no, well yes, I'm a returning cadet. I was a cadet last year but I failed the test, so I'm back this year as a cadet." "OK would you like to work the plate this afternoon?" " No I don't need to I've been umpiring for years and have done the plate plenty of times." To self - you've been umpiring for years and failed the test, uh-oh. he says "Is the field between the schools or behind the HS?" "the game is at the Babe Ruth field about 1.5 miles from the school" "Oh Yeah? How do I get there?" "I'm not sure because I use a GPS in my car. Maybe you can call the school, let them know you're coming and they can give you directions" SOP in our assoc. Skip to the pregame "the assoc. is using the V, do you know that?" "yeah, I heard about that" we review the V responsibilities. skip to coaches pregame, I'm PU and am introducing myself when partner starts chiming in about "players safely equipped..." I say "excuse me, I'll cover that..." proceed without further incident. BU is now pissed on me for stepping on him in front of the coaches. I inform him that it is PU job to talk during pregame. He walks away in a huff, dropping a few quiet F-bombs on me. top of the first R1 none out ground ball to F6, R1 is coming up from his slide when the ball arrives - "Out". Not a peep from OC. Around the 2nd or 3rd inning we get together to discuss something, I apologize for embarassing him. The rest of the game we do fine. His mechanics are OK, doesn't move much but is in the right position. He did catch me sleeping once on a timing play (notifying both teams the run scored on a third out) and I thanked him. I think the glory of the day for BU was when we parked (about 150 ft from 1B dugout), he asked if it was safe and I said "it would take quite a foul to reach here." About the 4th inning, kid hits quite a foul and we hear bang on a car. BU makes a point of saying, "hey Larry, that was yours!"

You were playing inside a C-5 that flew through the time zones?

I don't notice a difference in the normal hearing. Just the ringing took me by surprise.

I had a learning experience with my new HSM. I bought this year and started using it. I've done about 15 games with it, softball & baseball, HS and JrLL. I have learned: - I wear my hat underneath and have very little problem removing my mask, however my hat as worn through where the helmet rubs against the beak. - I can take a direct shot but the ball is in danger. Had a ball hit the front of the mask, it was like nothing. F2 throws the ball back, F1 asks for a new ball, there was a major gash in the seam where it hit an edge of the bar on the mask. - Took one off the side of my helmet near my ear. Caused a ringing for about 30 seconds. Didn't like that. I'll keep using it, but my old mask is still in my car, just in case.

This year NJ decide to do the online test, but they made the decision too late, so it was left to the associations. My association decided they couldn't turn it around so the test was waived this year. A couple of weeks later the paper tests were made available in case anyone wanted to practice.:eek:

3 years ago I worked a freshmen baseball game full seven innings won by the visitors 5 - 2. It was just a great game and wow I worked it solo. Maybe that's the key, the second umpire slows down the game.:D

This situation was described to me by a parent that knows I'm an umpire to see how it should be handled: HS V team playing badly in a scrimmage, HC goes into what can only be described as a temper tantrum in the dugout. Equipment being tossed, F-bombs leading a whole lot of profanity. I believe it's happening between innings. My response, I look over to make sure that there are no safety issues and the game is not delayed. V and above I'm not stepping in unless its a safety issue. Lower levels I'm probably going over to calm the coach down and get on with the game. How would you handle it?

I had this come up yesterday at a Freshmen game - Fed R1, R2, 0 out, BU in C. Batter bunts up the first base side. F3 fields the ball and tags BR about 50 ft up the line. Who should be making the call on the tag, BU or PU? I let BU make the call because it was past the halfway point. He tells me later that I have that call because he is in C. It wasn't a big deal and I was a heartbeat from making the call. He waited for me and then called it. Nobody noticed but us. What say you?

Sounds like a good job of preventative umpiring. Of course, how does one protest an ejection on a judgement call? MC is a judgement call.

Warren, I love the "new posts" button.:D

It's a judgement call. I don't agree that blocking any of the base is obstruction. If there is still access available, I'm probably not calling it. But if F3 has his knee down on a pick-off before the ball gets there - "That's Obstruction", R1 goes to 2nd. I had a play today at a Frosh game, runner comes around 3rd and is going to arrive at the same time as the ball. The cather is blocking access to the front 17"- without the ball, the runner is clear on the 3rd base side and the point, he's got plenty of access. Catcher made it easy for me and dropped the ball anyway.

I used to like to watch a pro game in person so I could watch what was going on away from the camera...how the fielders are getting ready, what's the catcher doing on that single...etc Now I go to a game and I'm watching the umpires, how they move, who covers in each sit...It's a whole different perspective.

What hair?:D

I also went to the HSM this year and in 5 plate apperances this year, I wore a hat every time. Game one was a bit of a challenge as I also needed to adjust the mask. After that, I had no problem removing the mask on every play just as I would a traditional mask. I don't have a strong opinion about it, but I think wearing the hat looks better when the mask is off...which should be more than just between innings.

I would probably inform (warn) the coach that what he is doing, I consider unsportsmanlike conduct and will eject him if he doesn't stop. This is a case where I think Rule 10.1.1 can be applied.

Please tell me the divas won:rolleyes: