Tyennie

Have another one, pretty much along the same lines as the OP i started a few days ago. With this one the pitcher, RH, is actually leaning backwards towards first (almost like he is falling over) and then steps off and feints a throw. I see this much the same as the shoulder turn prior to stepping off (the OP) but the coach was not yelling about anything so i let it go. but it is a balk yes??

A judicious end to this whole situation. The kid in question never pitched, sore arm and a three day tourney starting on Friday kept him off the hill. The only real problem we had was extra innings in the second game of a dbl hdr. and the lights going off at 10 pm. Needless to say this game took about 3 1/2 hours for nine innings with 30 minutes spent trying to round up someone to turn the freakin lights back on.

This got my brain going. Does anyone out there know if the leagues themselves offer any sort of liability protection for umpires while working games. ie Does the national office of the Babe Ruth league or American Legion (the two i normally officiate) cover umpires? I am sure the local leagues must have some sort of coverage, but i could be wrong. My wife tells me that all the time. :lol:

Thanks guys, and no i usually do not go looking for ej's. Did have one the other day however. I think my partner posted this scenario on another board. second game of a dbl header, my BU was the plate ump on the first game (which i did not work -tournament ball, rotating the fun) and had an issue with this same manager in game 1. Anyway R1 gets in a pickle, so the BU has it, I was moving up the line to take first base at the next opportunity. (Realize this is a HTBT), R1 makes a diving sweep slide into first base with his body swinging out towards the outfield, but his hand touching the base. the player with the ball makes a sweep tag but misses, (from my angle no tag) my BU got straight lined, and couldn't see. Since I never called off BU from first base, this is still his call he rings up R1 believing there was a tag. OC goes nuts, asks for help. By this time the players have left the field, partner and i confer, i told him there was no tag. Call is changed, defensive manager goes ballastic, including throwing himself on the ground where he says R1 was out of the baseline. At this point I should have ejected, but i was enjoying the show. So I let him have his rant, ( i let him have A LOT of rope) all the time saying "let's get back to playing ball." The final straw - his comment "We drove 500 miles to get screwed" Now it is an integrity issue. SO LONG Yes i should have dumped him earlier. Other question which my partner and i discussed postgame, This is more a mechanics question. In this sitch, I always believe it is best to "get help" first then make a call rather than make a call, and then get help, if needed. As a part of this should I have just kept my mouth shut and let the BU's call stand? Let me have it guys.

Actually had a short talk with his manager during the previously mentioned game, about this same kid trash talking to the other team. Told him to rein in his pitcher's mouth or he would be done. His reply "Well that is just Tommy (name changed) he is always blah blah blah" I told him his pitcher was going to have a short day if he continued. Also - should I end up dumping this kid, do I "point" him out, or call time, go to the skipper and tell him he needs a new pitcher. We are talking AmLG age baseball. I once heard you should never "demonstratively" toss a youth player, rather go to the manager and covertly remove him. thanks

Need your input fellas. do you toss a pitcher who is always throwing his hands up, as in "WTF - Where was that blue" this past weekend we had a guy that was doing just this and then after one pitch he engaged the plate, started his histrionics, shrugging his shoulders throwing up his hands, and yeah there was a guy on first. BALK. (i was BU) I anticipate seeing this kid (16 yr old) today at sometime in a double header, should i chuck him and let him know his behavior will not be tolerated on the mound, thanks

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lmao, i will have to remember that one.

i've read the rulebook, sometimes at my age stuff leaks out my ears and i forget. :)

I know i should know this, but the question came up in a recent game. OBR R1, BR hits a deep foul ball, R1 is off at the crack of the bat, and rounds second. After the ball is caught, R1 cuts across field back to first, not touching second on his way back. Question - He does need to retouch 2B on his way back just like any other caught fly correct? If he does not it is a simple appeal? Go easy i did three plates yesterday : )

This is kinda weird that you mention this. I normally give the forefinger to the center of the cap. But... We were working a 3-man mechanics game last sunday. I had the Dish. We had a IFF situation. I was going to start my signal when I noticed U1 give the Middle Finger sign to U3 and U3 responded with his middle finger response. They both busted laughing. I had to chuckle. No one but us 3 knew why we were laughing. LMAO ROF. Maybe i will try that one tomorrow at the tourney i am working. Wonder what the crowd was thinking?

slot - heel toe

but let's get back to the OP, a shoulder turn (the initiation of a shoulder turn) just prior to stepping off. I concur with those who have posted.. BALK!

thanks for the replies, also have another kid in Jr Br that has the same kind of move, which i have looked at several times scratching my head.

had an interesting one today. R1, RHP comes set, just prior (milliseconds, but still discernable) to stepping off, his left shoulder opens towards first base. So I am seeing shoulder move, stepping back, ball being thrown. Balk? His first movement must be step back with the pivot foot or a step to the bag with the free foot Yes?

yup that is what i was thinking in retrospect. (hence the quick discussion with pu at the half inning) of course i think this was his first CI sitch ever. But i shall be prepared should it happen again. Given it is 13-15 yr olds i am sure it will at some point in time. :)

Alright, thanks again. At the half inning I talked with my PU telling him I think we scored a run erroneously with that ruling. but it was not a close game thank goodness. Oh well live and learn. later tyennie

Thanks Mike, But i hate to say R3 was not stealing, just a good lead with no intent to head home. The offensive coach had no concern and did not question, but it (the ruling) nagged at me last night.

I am BU. JrBR, OBR, R1 & R3, F1 & F2 decide on a pitch out to catch R1 stealing. F2 comes across (towards front of) homeplate & ends up having his glove hand whacked by the batter. PU & I both call catcher's interference, after discussion we concur that F2 was out of catcher's box prior to release of ball and enforce a balk (catcher's balk) scoring R3, moving R1 to 2B and putting BR on first. How bad did we miss this one??

just "seemed" a bit unorthodox to me, why i have know idea. I have also had several coaches and other umpires wondering about the pitcher who, in WU, will take a short step forward with the free foot, pivot into the rubber and then step forward again. "Illegal pitch" say the coaches, "don't do that" says I. thoughts?

Just need some clarification, because this particular foot placement just seems weird. RHP wind up engages plate with his heels against the front edge of the rubber. Ok? Not ok? wth? thanks tyennie

Well that is an interesting statistic. I would be the dot closest to the lower left corner. Must be a lot of lurkers out there. :)

Hello All Well as many of you are anticipating the upcoming season,or already working, here in Green River, we just had another 5 inches of snow. Woohoo!! Also curious are there any other umpires from Wyoming out there, or am I running solo? TYennie

heck man here in wyo. we have some mounds that are so crappy in their construction (no clay involved here) that the rubber is covered after some of these guys dig in and root around. As a BU i have scraped (with my foot, not a brush)literally a quarter inch of dirt off of the entire rubber, i had no idea where the thing was until i was almost standing on it myself.

I generally tell myself "the batter will have to hit me in the teeth with the bat" while i am working inside, for me to ring him up.