catsbackr

A tip I was given by a former minor league umpire was at the time of hemming, have them put a piece of leather in the hem for the purpose of a weight to keep the pants down. The leather would go on the inseam. Doesn't the leather get kind of wet during washing? Then again, I guess it dries when the pants are in the dryer or at the cleaners. Never mind.

...and any defensive players leaving their positions are gone too.

Wow, you call college ball and help out with youth leagues? You're a better man than me, LOL!

My pet peeve is shoes. I worked a high school state tournament a couple of years ago, we worked 3-man crews, I had previously worked with one of the guys in an earlier state tournament. Our crew leaves the hotel together after meeting for the first time to work 3 games at the same site. We are escorted to our locker room by the site coordinator, pleasantries exchanged, etc. Anyway, we get situated in our locker room, begin unpacking, etc. and the guy that I already knew and I both had our shoes already polished to a mirror sheen. We laid out our uniforms and equipment as did our new partner. His plate and base shoes were awful, I mean hideous. I had the first plate. We started getting dressed, doing a thorough pregame, going over situations, coverages, rotations, etc. My new partner starts getting dressed for the field and never even starts to polish his shoes. My other partner and I look at each other like, "no way he is going to the field like that is he?" As we are finishing the pregame, my friend points to me and says, "well you're the crew chief for this first game" and kind of nods to me. So, I say to the new guy, "you might need to throw a little cleaning on those base shoes, I've got everything you need if you don't have it." He says," I never polish my shoes, they'll just get dirty anyway." I tell him, "You are not going onto the field with us with shoes like that, if you don't want to clean and polish them, hand them to me and I will do it." He looked at me in complete disbelief and said, "you're serious aren't you?" My partner chimed in and volunteered to help him too. Long story short, his mechanics were very similar to his shoes, don't know how he got to the State tournament. Like I said to start, shoes are my pet peeve.

I may have you tied at least. 2 pairs of Gerry Davis, for high school, 2 pairs of Honigs Poly Wools, for college, a new Diamond 33" bag, a Lids cap keeper, a Majestic Therma Base jacket and a Premium membership to Umpire-Empire! Unfortunately, no deer for the wall this year, but 2 does for the freezer!!!

Sometimes, you just have to umpire.

Leave it alone. It is bush league behaivor by a coach. Nothing more. Do your normal plate meeting with the coaches. If their behaivor during the game violates a rule, then do something. Never prewarn the managers or coaches for something that might happen.

Then you can say no more. They are the same thing, there is no difference, runner struck by a batted ball. And if you've already looked it up and found my rule cite has nothing to do with your question, WHY DON'T YOU CITE THE RULE THAT APPLIES AND ANSWER YOUR OWN QUESTION? TTS nailed it

jj, You asked a question and requested a rule cite. I think I gave you what you asked for. If you already looked it up, why did you ask the question? Just saying...

I don't work lower levels, so I can't really speak to that. In high school and above, I expect the COACHES to call me by name. I make it a point to address them by name, I even write it on their lineup cards as well as the catcher's names so I'll have it in case I forget it. I'm gettin' old!

From 2012 NFHS Rules Book: Rule 7, Section 3, Article 2...A batter shall not..Hit the ball fair or fould while either foot or knee is touching the ground completely outside the lines of the batter's box or touching home plate. PENALTY: ...the ball becomes dead immediately and the batter is out. For future reference, it helps you if you look these up yourself. You'll remember them better. Just a suggestion.

I've got interference. It's not that simple. As described in the OP, it is exactly that simple. Change the OP to, ball hit to second baseman, as he is attempting to field the ball, the runner from 1B collides with him. What do you have? Don't complicate this situation.

I've got interference.

Thanks guys, I appreciate all of the input and the suggestions for stretching. The All Star will definitely be my birthday present to myself in January. Thanks again.

I am really seriously considering purchasing one of these new All Star chest protectors. My only concern is the fit around the neck. I wear a 17 1/2 to 18 dress shirt and have read some concerns about neck room. I was just wanting to get input from guys that have worn the CP. Thanks.

February 11th here.

Maybe this would work in a Men's League. I doubt I would try this in high school or college ball. Then again, I really doubt any of the coaches would throw their hats down in high school or college ball here. Great topic.

Now let's not go too FAR. I am a huge Tennessee football fan. I also have 2 kids that graduated from UT. I just always like Kentucky basketball for some strange reason.

Kentucky Wildcat basketball!

I am as guilty as anyone on this board for getting bent out of shape about conflicting comments. For that, I apologize. However, what most upsets me and provokes rude comments from me the most, is responses I consider as smart-ass, talking down to me, hitting me with your resume, or holier-than-thou. This is the best umpire board on the net. I will work to improve.

:clap: I would agree with this, except: 1. Go out if either the center fielder or right fielder is coming in toward you is a good rule of thumb. If the center fielder is coming straight in, your partner probably has a better look. 2. Only go out if center fielder is going toward right field or right fielder is going back. If the center fielder is going back toward left field or straight back with his back to you, don't go out, your plate guy has a better view.

You really can't address a point you missed. If one were to make the claim that a defensive position cannot be projected (as you did,) then the intent of the rule does not match its wording. A CR can only exist for whoever LAST played that position, not who will NEXT play the position. Hypothetically, a team can use CRs every inning without ever using one for who is actually going to be in that position the next half. Hence, to make the claim that a defensive position cannot be projected is not only incorrect, but irrelevant. I guess reading and comprehension a truly fundamental. THIS is the point you made: By that logic, you will never know who your catcher is the next half-inning, and the courtesy runner rule is useless for its intent. This is my ANSWER to your point: In the OP, the catcher was substituted for, his sub reached base and the catcher re-entered under the re-entry for starters rule. To address your point, the catcher is not substituted for every time at bat and is still the catcher of record. The courtesy runner is not a substitute. The courtesy runner rule is absolutely USEFUL for it's intent to allow the catcher time to equip himself and thus speed up the game by not having to wait for him. You said: Hypothetically, a team can use CRs every inning without ever using one for who is actually going to be in that position the next half. Hence, to make the claim that a defensive position cannot be projected is not only incorrect, but irrelevant. The CR is not for the PLAYER, it is for the POSITION. And, after a substitution is made, for a pitcher or a catcher and that pitcher or catcher is re-entered, you cannot project which position he will play. That is absolutely correct and relevant. The CR's might be made for various players during the game, but it is always for the position. Players still must establish their positions. GET IT?

By that logic, you will never know who your catcher is the next half-inning, and the courtesy runner rule is useless for its intent. Apples and oranges. The courtesy runner is a speed up rule. In the OP, the catcher was substituted for, his sub reached base and the catcher re-entered under the re-entry for starters rule. To address your point, the catcher is not substituted for every time at bat and is still the catcher of record. The courtesy runner is not a substitute. The courtesy runner rule is absolutely USEFUL for it's intent to allow the catcher time to equip himself and thus speed up the game by not having to wait for him.

I'm pretty sure once the starting catcher is pinch-hit for or substituted for, after the pinch hitter has reached 1st and the catcher re-enters, he cannot be courtesy ran for. The starting catcher is only using his re-entry privileges as a starter and a defensive position cannot be projected.