Herb

Thanks, guys. As always, most helpful!

One happened in LL softball district tournament the other night that threw me: A starter has batted and played 3 outs; she is then properly substituted for. The substitute then fulfills her requirement. The coach then wants to enter another sub in the original sub's place. I guess this is OK, as I can't find a rule that says it's illegal? However,it raises some questions: 1) Does this mean that all 3 players are tied together for the rest of the game (i.e., only 1 of the 3 can be in the game at any one time)? 2) Can the starter go back in for the sub's sub? Maybe I'm making this more complicated than it should be...

Here's my glasses story: I only need them to read, so I call games without them. However, I put them in a protective holder and clip them to the fence in case I need to read something during the game. I was calling the bases in a game and had several close, bang-bang plays at 1st. In between innings, I went over to my glasses to look up a rule in the rulebook and one of the spectators by the fence said, "Oh, NOW you put on your glasses!" It was all in fun and we all had a good laugh.

During a game I was coaching, the home plate umpire removed a player's sunglasses on the basis that "he couldn't see her eyes." After the game, I asked him where he came up with this rule (search as I might, I can't find any reference to this in the book, LL tips, etc.). His answer had something to do with safety and rule 9©. Anyone else ever heard of this?

I screwed it up, at least once. I announce this up front: Championship Game Jr/Sr. Little League Softball - girl batting squares to bunt and pitched ball grazes bat (barely) and then hits batter in the face-mask. She runs to 1st base. I have a brain fart - it takes me a few seconds to process what happened (maybe I'm too old to ump?). I call the girl back to bat, after the opposing coach has screamed, "Didn't it hit the bat?" Well, the other coach goes ballistic: "He talked you into that." "It did NOT hit the bat." etc. I call time and walk down to him to explain that (a) I'm certain it did hit the bat and ( I recognize that I did not handle it perfectly as the play occurred. He goes off. I say, "Follow me" and we walk back to home plate. I say, "Let's measure (by pacing off) how much closer I was to the play than you were to see which one of us had a better shot at getting it right." I guess I should be suspended for (a) screwing it up when I missed it to start with and/or ( Showing up the coach. Your frank opinions and pointers for future situations would be appreciated.

Thanks! Most helpful, guys. I got it now.

I can't get the answer to this out of the rule book. Either my English comprehension needs work or the rules are as clear as hog slop: A batted ball strikes a base runner, but after it passed an infielder (i.e., the runner is not out). Is the ball live or dead after it strikes the runner in this case? Thanks

MST's answer is too simplistic to me. Part of the batter's box is in fair territory and the ball did not hit the batter, it hit the bat. I feel better that the answer is not clear cut to you experts.

Situation: Batter bunts, ball hit home plate and bounces straight back up and hits bat while still in batter's hands; ball then goes into fair territory. I called the batter out, but am not sure why or if I was correct. What if the bat had been released and hit the ball in mid-air? The more I think about it, the more confused I get. Thanks

Just signed up. Look forward to mining the great umpire brains sure to be found here. I do LL softball and baseball games and am a freak about rules. I love it!:agasp_: