BHanlon

Also, if you have an oppurtunity to do any fast pitch softball games, it can be excellent practice. I have never done it but have been told by others that it's banger after banger. If you could get a base assignment in a scrimage or something you can work on it. - Actually, this is where I am having most of my problems as I am also doing mens modified. Most players are hard core baseball players one or two years removed from Legion ball. I suspect it is a tunnel vision, " focussness" (Jim Thome-ism) problem. In fact the other night I had a play at 1B where F3 dived and I was so focussed on watching the tag/no-tag on BR I completely missed the glove landing on the bag a half step ahead of the runner. I was spot on with the missed tag, everyone else saw the golve hit bag first. Pretty embarrassing when I reversed after consulting with partner as I knew I never followed glove toward bag. I'll try to work the sound of the ball into the glove and relax more before I get exiled to arm-chair umpiring. Thanx all!

I seem to be having problems with bangers at 1B this season, I believe I have proper distance and angle but fall apart when the play happens immediately doubting my call. Even when I have proper distance in B or C the plays seem to be exploding. At the same time if I am watching a partner make a call I see it perfectly. I have tried following the throw (ball) from the player to the golve, other times I have just focused on the glove once I know a play is evolving waiting for the ball and the runner to arrive. I do not use sound. Any suggestions?

I don't have anything on this. I would certainly have a tough time considering this a substitution. Time was out during the conference so whatever goes on I am not going to worry about as long as the game moves along.

Then I am returning the runner to 3B on OBS

Of course he was technically out, but the old adage still exists that you do not reward the offense on a play like this. Rolen had the tag down in plenty of time and it is pretty much accepted in the pros that this will be an out to avoid the potential of injury. The umpire probably should not have said anything but Jeter has beeb around long enough to know this. I imagine Jeter reacted this way to cover up his own stupidity of trying to advance. The umpire was probably in shock Jeter would question this and snapped back with a smart a$$ answer.

Does anybody have any stories about annoying spectators? It's hard not to get rattled by a loud mouth know-it-all, but it gets a lot easier as you eventually learn that these blow-hards are just making fools of themselves. Enjoy the ride, it is part of the game, give them the rope to hang themselves. Usually it is someone who has never read the 50 myths of baseball or is absolutely clueless on mechanics. How can you let a fool like that get under your skin? My experience has been that "true baseball people" know enough about the rules that they respect the game.

A little late on the reply but what I do is just take notes on the back: Everything has an up or down arrow to signify top or bottom then the inning. #34 for #5 v 3 (bottom 3) SPR #6 for ^ 4 OC (offensive conf) ^5 Renter #5 for #34 ^5

Kill the play the second the on deck batter touches the ball. Then evaluate the situation and position the runners as they would have been nullifying the INT.

I am trying to break this down to two individual actions. A: I would not have OBS on the fly ball as the runner is entitled to the bag. So lacking anything intentional I have allowable contact. B: I would not have an out on the runner if the fielder knocks the runner off the bag that he is entitled to.

I am not that far away either.... Grew up in Rhody