Dean

Two triple plays this year in High School. 1st one: Top of 7th Visiting team down by 2. Runner on 1st and 2nd. Batter hits a dropping line drive to F5, Runners are moving. (why I don't know) Third baseman catches the ball, while the runners stand on the base they were advancing to. Third baseman throws to second, to first- triple play. Visiting coach is saying to us - "you gonna let the game end that way?" - Didn't say it but was thinking, "yes, 3 outs your behind in 7, game over." 2nd one: This was last Saturday in district play. Line to short (runners going) catch; tag on runner advancing to 3rd, throw home gets the runner out. Triple Play. That was in bottom of 5th - that runner would have been the 10 run rule - and game over - but had to play one more. Only play that team did correctly all game.

Totally against the rule changes, in the Millionaire Baseball League. Amateur level sure, but grown men - read stories of old and what they did - Ty Cobb, et al... This rule change moved baseball from a sport to a game. (To be a sport one MUST be able to legally hit someone according to the rules, everything else is a game.)

I use it for the first couple of innings - but just to the catcher - so he has and idea of how I am seeing them. He can tell the coach in the dug out if he likes. After about the 3rd I stop and they should have an idea

not just for profanity's sake. This is a ball field, not a cathedral. I don't know - its kind of my second church/home/spouse/et al.

I don't think he's in the act of fielding any more. The defensive player by home is now picking up the ball when the contact (or near contact) is happening. By rule, I think this should have been OBS. The throw sucked. In the dirt and toward 1B side of the play. Fielder turned and bent over to attempt to get it. A miniscule amount of time later R3 had to dodge. Not obstruction. FWIW - stupid baserunning or stupid base coaching. Rule 2-54 A.R. 2—When a fielder has made an attempt to field a batted or thrown ball, has missed and is in pursuit of the ball, he may no longer be considered “in the act†of fielding. (Not applicable o this video - but included for completeness.) A.R. 3—After a fielder has misplayed a batted ball and the ball is “within a step and a reach†the fielder is still considered “in the act.†(Note: Live I probably have nothing, but by strict rule reading it was obstruction)

I think he is referring to rule 2-17.

Yes obstruction. Clearly, (after watching it 3 times ), the defender, that missed the ball, turned into to baseline causing the runner to hesitate. (Stop at the 8 - 9 second mark) Runner alters his path to miss the fielder. 2-54 Obstruction: The act of a fielder who, while not in possession of or in the act of fielding the ball, impedes the progress of any runner. A.R. 2—When a fielder has made an attempt to field a batted or thrown ball, has missed and is in pursuit of the ball, he may no longer be considered “in the act†of fielding. (Not applicable o this video - but included for completeness.) A.R. 3—After a fielder has misplayed a batted ball and the ball is “within a step and a reach†the fielder is still considered “in the act.â€

hmmm, interesting. I have a few questions - like he waited 5 innings to warn the coach about balls and strikes comments? First time he hears it shut that down. Chest bumping by the coach - call the police have them arrested for assault. I do not know him, i can only go off the article he wrote but by his own admission he used very poor game management skills.

Great, I'm glad we have those definitions squared away. So why is it that you do not give a 'Do not pitch' signal (in essence - Time) with nobody on while a batter requests time to set up his box? Is there a safety issue? if not - then why would an umpire violate the rule? 2nd part - why do you grant that same batter 'time' just because there are runners on base? Did you not read the text of the post? Again, was there a safety issue or was the pitcher freezing the batter? if yes, then Time, in not then no time. By rule Is it always this cut and dry - no, but someone is wanting to be obstinate.

A.R. 1 - Umpires may grant a batter's request for "Time" once the hitter is in the batter's box, but the umpire should only do so for safety reasons He is in the batters box when he has 2 feet in the batters box. Art. e. A batter's legal position in the box shall be defined as having both feet completely within the box (lines are part of the box). That should give everyone a common sense approach.

So if the batter is getting into the box with his hand up, you won't allow him time to get ready if the pitcher is committed to pitch at that point? Seems that you have it backwards. With no runners on, you CAN hold your hand up to the pitcher without recourse. Runners on base, you don't want to put your hand up bc it kills any possible play that could happen for/against the runners/defense. Just manage the game and make it fair for all (in this case the batter). He/she already has to hit a round ball with a round bat. Al Would that not be a quick pitch by definition? Al I do not have it backwards - why would a batter need time with no one on base unless it is for safety reasons? If runners are on the pitcher may be stalling (freezing), in case that is time ... Pace of play - keep 'em in the box and keep the ball live. NCAA : 7-1- A batter shall not leave his position in the batter's box after the pitcher comes to the set position or starts the windup unless permission is granted by the umpire. A.R. 1 - Umpires may grant a batter's request for "Time" once the hitter is in the batter's box, but the umpire should only do so for safety reasons. A.R. 2 - Time may be granted if the pitcher holds (freezes) the batter too long in his batting position [see Appendix F, 5]

If no runners on - no time granted , - "batter I will make sure he doesn't quick pitch you, but you get in and get ready" - Works every time. Runners on - usually grant time, unless the pitcher is coming. "Sorry batter - pitcher started his delivery." Batter taking his sweet time holding his hand up - pitcher, pitches and not a quick pitch - pretty much a strike if I can get it. "get Ready batter, you are in the box" This sounds harsher on paper than in real life. But they get the idea.

Hurdling - In Fed,- Hurdling is also illegal in Fed Football, but legal in other levels. The football rule stems from when there were no face mask and players were getting cleated in the face - long since the days of no face mask. I am sure that the baseball rule stems from a similiar philosophy.

I too have "special" things in my car! That might be a felony where I live.

- I will try to paint a picture with words....Fed rules of course (3.3.2 sit C & G) So F2 drops down and blocks home plate from the runner without the ball, however the runner is still 50 feet away. The ball is relayed to F1 to F2 and ball beats runner to F2 and F2 tags runner. No malicious anything. I am thinking when this is happening (I hate this blocking rule – just kidding I wasn’t) So F2 cannot block the entire base without the ball – but had the ball when the runner arrived. But it was close. What do you have?

LOL - That is the Insurance racket.

Well it could be a fair ball or foul ball,depending on the path the ball takes after hitting the bat (knob of the bat in this example) and where the ball is first touched by the defensive team, or where the ball comes to rest. I actually had a fair ball off a hit bat when the batter ducked - it was mens league so they knew it was fair - so no issues - another time it happened to my partner but as soon as it hit the bat my partner yelled foul ball - and it went 10 feet fair. His mistake was before my incident - but I learned from his error.

So R1, 2 out 2 strikes.... Inside pitch, checked swing - easily went around. I believe it got the knob of the bat, so foul ball. Offensive coach insist, I mean he insist, the pitch hit the batter, and demanded I get help. So - sure coach I can check. Partner says he thought the pitch hit the batter, and confirmed we had a strike on check swing. "Coach - you were correct. We have deadball, batter hit - strike three batters out." Look on coach's face - Priceless.

No OBS. Watching the film at 6 seconds the ball is in glove and that is also when the runner arrives at the plate. This was a great call.

"In my judgement, F4 has a chance to field the ball but it goes under his glove and a split second later F4 and R1 collide and both end up on the ground." Just curious - in that split second where was the ball? "...and the ball dribbles into RF,..." It sounds like the ball was moving slowly, so was it within a step an a reach of a misplayed ball? Should the fielder have been still protected? I will assume that based upon your remarks that the ball was not playable. But something to consider.

Maven, good advise, just curious if the coach would have said - "you made a crap call just like the one 2 innings ago." Would you dump him then?

What were the opposing coaches reasoning for a balk? (NFHS 6-4-e: (illegal when) Taking a hand off the ball while in a set position, unless he pitches to the batter or throws to a base or he steps toward and feints a throw to ­second or third base as in (6-4-b). (Oh I know - his runners were tricked into staying close to second - so it has to be illegal.) .

As most have noted, eyes on ball. Eject coach also. and remember umpires (in a sense) are like a base if a player runs into an umpre or what have you, in a word - tuff luck for the player.