Dean

I was umpiring a college game (NAIA) 5th inning, runner on 1st base, no outs. Runner steals on the pitch; batter swings the bat and steps from the RH batter’s box to the left hand batter’s box. The catcher is forced to double cutch the throw to avoid the batter, I call interference and turns out the runner was safe, so we enforce the interference call. Batter said that was horrible umpiring so I dump him. The coach then comes up saying it was horrible, blah, blah blah, that I need to remember that “we are just umpires, and these players work hard.†Then he brings up a balk call from the first game of the double header, I calmly explained that game was over and we were not going to discuss the previous game, he kept on about the balk and that I was making things up – so he was dumped. I hate ejecting people but they earned it.

True in FED False elsewhere. Fed rule # please. Pops, 7-1-1 - third from the last sentence (p. 42 in the 2011 Rule Book). JM Makes sense - but why does FED need to be diffrent. The Coach just needs to keep their mouth shut in any rule set and its a double play.

Thanks - I knew it was the name - but couldn't find it - I didnt think to look in the rules - I thought it was in the instructions to Umpires.

I saw two break in my first game of the season. Coach said he has had 3 break in last few games as well. Anyone else seen that? with that rate; might as well get wood bats.

NAIA game (so OBR with some changes) Hernadez bats, then Enriquez, then Rice. Line up cars looks like this: Hernadez #12 Eriquez #10 Rice #3 However, the jerseys each wear are listed as #10, #12, #3 respectively - by the way the team had names on the jersey's as well. Does the Umpire use the name or the number to determine Batting order? I know how I handled it, but I looked through the PBUC, NCAA, the J/R book, but coudl not find a definiant ruling.

Really, just another day in my book. Ain't like its my wife's or children's birthdays.

Last year i was at a contest and was checking bats & helmets and noticed a crack one of the batting helmets, I advised the couch - who proceeded to tear the helmet into tow pieces to make sure no one would mistakenly wear that helmet. Yes we check.

My HS umpire partner JP and I were awarded Umpire of the Year (newcomer) as voted by the Iowa HS Baseball Coaches Association for 2010. .

With this, understand that not all umpires follow the mechanics correctly. Also, some organizations may use different mechanics. I've found that the coaches that know our job are ones that have been around a long time. Yes this is true, I would not recomend using your knowledge to belittle the umpire for being out of position, but may let you realize what all the umpires should be watching for, and who usually handles that - so a long fly ball to center with runner on third - you can glance at the plate guy - is he watching the ball? if so look at the base guy - is he watching the ball - who saw the tag up? Reading the Mechanic book will give you insight and allow you to better judge good umpires to ones who are not,when it comes to recommendations and such.

bpate - I have bought EVERY book mentioned on this forum. Understanding that you are a coach who cares about the rules, I will give you my recommendations. #1 Baseball Rules in Plain English (Jim Booth, Amazon) An excellent way for a coach to learn the rules the right way. No nonsense, no cross referencing. Just a simple explanation of each topic. He doesn't leave anything out, he just tells you what you need to know to use the rules to your advantage. #2 Official Baseball Rules - get it anywhere, including a PDF download from MLB.com You need it in order to cite specific rule numbers and to reference the double speak missing from Booth's publication. #3 Jim Evans Baseball Rules Index. - UmpireAcademy.com Many folks will tell you this one is not necessary for a coach, BUT, I actually learned a lot just by reading the index. Evans reverse engineers the OBR book in to a list of topics and applicable rules. The first thing you should do when you receive the index is look up Interference. Runner's interference alone has 7 separate references and interference in general has over 30 references. You will never find all 30 needles in that OBR haystack without this index. There may be more that are appropriate for a coach which I am sure will get posted. If you are really serious about learning the rules you might consider: #4 Rules of Professional Baseball (Jaksa/Roder) or simply "J/R" expensive but lots of great info. It was a must for me as a new umpire. Additionally, consider: Baseball rules illustrated. - This book has history behind many of the rules. I didn't find it very helpful or entertaining, but I am in the minority on this forum. I may find a new appreciation for it the more I learn later. Hope that helps. I would add "understanding the 2 man system" by Jim Evans or the CCA manual. If I were a couch I would also want to know what the umpires are supposed to be doing.

I have done enough of these games - I also know that unless they are very new most tell me :"I know I balked" had one tell me after the game he did it on purpose to put the kid back to first. So yes I would do a game, yes I will warn them but guess what - they are balked ASAP, (within reason to the age playing) , now we don't have to worry about balk warnings for that pitcher. And I still bet the team where the kids don't have a clue about balks, know the hidden ball trick - and they practice it.

Just pondering....most of the balk warning rules come from leagues that the balk is new to them, and or they are younger players.... Shouldn't the runners get a lead off warning if they are picked off as well? After all most kids its their first year or so of learning to lead off and read that pitcher that gets a pass when they balk. What other rules should be bent? perhaps 5 balls and 4 strikes? always start with someone on first? Of course this is full of ridiculousness. But the balk warning is just a way the coach can be lazy...I bet that same team knows the hidden ball trick though. Oh but I AM in favor of balk warnings - coach it was a step balk - don't come out here, don't come out here, bye bye LMAO . (JK) Seriously though, Umpires and referees in other sports teach by penalizing unfair advantages. We are there for the integrity of the game. So the children of the children of the players playing that game will be able to play the same game, because umpires kept it honest.

This happened in a fall ball game - I just ignored it so did the opposing team. If the batter complained; I would have made him (the pitcher that is) get a hat that fit or a batting helmet. Have the pitcher fix it just like any other distrating article the pitcher has on.

I wear the Platinum vest and about 3 or 4 times during the season I get a ball bouncing through the catcher into my stomach. So I took the metatarsal shields from my shin guards, (I removed them from my shin guards as my shoes have the metatarsal protection.) I glued dense foam rubber on the back of the plates and attached to my Platinum with shoe strings. Easy stomach protection.

1. The PU shouldn't delay. If there is a delay the BU should give an honest assessment of the check swing (i.e. a ball or a strike.) a. The offense knows there is a chance for a reversal of the PU ball call, so they should be running. That is the offense's issue, not the BU. Just like when B1 thinks it was ball four and heads to 2nd but then is tagged out when the check swing is changed to a strike. The offense has to be aware of how to play baseball and the rules. 2. I like the BU immediately coming in with the call (on check swing D3K) not needing to be asked. I cover this in my pregame. 3. I don't like saying "No, he didn't go." as it does appear to the uneducated that the two umpires are coaching each other or contradicting each other.

Getting ready for baseball, physically I have been refereeing basketball pretty much everyday for the last two and a half months, so it’s like running 1-3 miles every game, lifting weights (well using my handy dandy “Total Gym” – great product) and of course shoving snow, and then shoveling some more snow and yet even more snow. Studying the rules and mechanic books, reviewing my DVDs on balks, mechanics, etc…

That's not accurate. Seniors may have graduated this year, and still are eligable. Also 8th graders going to freshman are eligabe for the Freshman team. The best thing is that College is in Spring and ends and then HS starts so can do both easliy. :P