umpkid7

For those of you who (heaven forbid) didn't watch the allstar game today, something notable happened in front of millions of viewers. In the first, Jeter was struck in the hands by a high and tight Lincecum fastball and, OMG, received first base because, believe it or not, the hands are not part of the bat. Words can not express how happy I am that this occurred infront of a large television audience, and even more unbelievably, the FOX announcer (joe buck I assume) called it correctly and didn't try and say the hands are part of the bat. I now have indisputable evidence to convince my coach that the hands are part of the bat, and now, millions of television viewers will cease to believe this myth. :wow:

I forget when, but in a game earlier this season a pitcher throwing against the Giants balked 3 times. I want to say Diamond Backs, but I could be totally wrong, all I recall is that he balked thrice. But nothing is worse than armando Benitez balking twice in an inning to bring in the tying run Back when he closed for the Giants

For this post, I am speaking from the point of view of a player, not an ump. Here's the situation, Babe Ruth, runners on 2nd and 3rd, one out, Home team up 1, bot 7. I'm pitching. I throw a good change up and get a ground ball to short, as the SS is about to field the ball, the runner knocks his glove running by. Seeing this, I immediately yell, only problem, what do I say? "Thats obstruction! THATS OBSTRUCTION! COME ON BLUE!?" imo, the umpire really kicked this one, The runner clearly knocked the SS's glove and the ball went up and kicked off his leg. My coach comes out of the dugout and calmly checks with the short stop, "Did he knock you?" to which the ss replies, "yeah, my glove." To this point I haven't realized I mean interference, not obstruction, and my coach comes over and asks the ump "Isn't that obstruction?" To which the umpire replies flatly "No, first of all, I think you mean Interference...":banghead::banghead: I couldn't believe I just made that mistake. I sheepishly go over to my battery mate and say to him "You know, for some one who considers himself a pretty good umpire, I can sure say some dumb things.":smachhead: The umpire ended up keeping his call as it was, and my team ended up losing on a walk for a walk off. The zone was inconsistent, but thats a whole other story.

Couldn't agree more

I was just using the term 4-3 for the purpose of the post, of course I would never say a count is 4-3 or 3-3 or 4-2 etc.

First, thanks for the late birthday wishes, and yeah, it was a little funny.

I walked over to the local Mustang 2 field to watch a game today. Last season I had the pleasure of assistant coaching a M1 Traveling all star team with the visiting coach and they had just come off a close win against a very talented team, so I figured I would watch their game. What I wasn't counting on was the Home team's coach was the same guy I was refering to in my OC on "trips to the mound and dead balls. http://www.umpire-empire.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5578 If you haven't read it yet, I'll summarize, if you have read it, skip the next section. Basically, I charged a trip to the mound on this guy for going to his pitcher between innings while his team was warming up. It was kind of an OOO call, but it didnt excuse the fact that he went BALLISTIC about being charged with a trip to them mound. And then there's a little more back ground you should know about this coach... Last year, It was my first plate game of my short umpire career (I'm only 15*) and he went crazy because I called his batter out on strike 3 when he was sure the count was 2-1 not 2-2. I had told the score keeper on the previous pitch the count was 2-2 and made sure that everyone can hear it. Low and behold, he waits till AFTER his batter strikes out to get in my face about the count. Anyways, in the game I was watching today, In the 3rd inning, the Home team's batter strikes out on a 3-2 pitch and the HC goes ballistic claiming the previous pitch was ball 4 and the count was now 4-3, so his batter should get first base. I wasnt paying attention to the count, so I don't know who was right, but it still raises the question, why did he wait till after the batter struck out to question the count? as the umpires and one score keeper have the count at "3-3" they rule it a strike out and the coach pulls another "come on you guys, are we playing baseball or not?" And then, in between the 3rd and the 4th, while the Visiting team's defense is warming up, the DC goes out to talk to his pitcher. What do you know, the OC comes running out yelling "THATS A TRIP, THATS A TRIP!" And With a smug look on his face says, "an umpire called it on me earlier this year". I could not believe that I had actually taught him a rule and it stuck in his thick head. I find it hard to believe this guy is gonna be in the league much longer the way he has been treating umpires and his players....but that is another, much longer story. *Turned 15 two days ago :)

Does any one else on the forum switch their indicator to say 0-0 for balls and strikes on a full count. I've always done this and am curious to know if I'm the only one.

One nice helmet from Wilson through west vest is the A3191. Its very similar to the Shock FX minus the shock absorbers. You get all the same comfort, the same titamium face mask, and at 150 dollars less. IMO, Unless your taking 90 mph fastballs to the dome, you probably don't need the shock FX technology. I own it and couldnt be happier with it. Only available from the Joe West site. http://www.cowboyjoewest.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=CJW&Product_Code=A3191&Category_Code=

just my 2 cents, he should be called out. In my opinion the underlying differnces lie in that: On a "standard" appeal, it is on a runner running not touching a base as he ran on to the next base, in this case, it is a force play and since the fielder touched the base with his foot with the ball in his possession prior to the runner touching the base, he would be out. Additionally, since the runner will return to the base in a few seconds it creates a situation in which an appeal play would happen with the runner at fault standing on the base that is being appealed to. That at least from a player's POV would be incredibly confusing. Again, just my 2 cents, and nothing to back it up but logic.

That is a really good point I never even considered. its Pony. For M2, we only need to watch the runner on 3rd for leaving early, so then its not as big of a deal, but for M1, where no runners can leave early, that's a really good point, i'll bring that up with my league directors.

lets just say, my partner has good intentions, but is neither particularly cordinated, nor has good reflexes. It's weird, i have had my partner get hit in the last 2 games i have umped (different guys). Could be the 60' bases.

Thanks willv28, and your right, I did neglect to mention that, but of course I gave him first base. Thanks so much to everyone for all the input!

I guess i could have been a little more clear, he didn't call me a kid to my face, the direct quote was "what's wrong with this kid" and it was said to his assistant coach.

I got a coach very mad at me today by calling this on him. The league told us to call this, and wow NFUA_44 is right, it is picking a biiiig booger