nolanadair

Now a days the Rules Instruction Manual is being posted online. Each and every year I download the Rules Instruction Manual and put it inot a binder with sheet protectors. I use this instead of the rule book, because it is bigger and has comments about interpretatiosn of the rule, etc. I put it in an equipment bag that I take to every game (just in case I have to do plate if the plate guy gets hurt, etc.). I find it very useful. Their is also a rules index that is made for the RIM. I also print this out and put it at the back of the nibder. This way I can easily search for what I am looking for with out having to remember exactly what rule it falls under.

Every umpire makes mistakes. We are all humans. I would not show the coach how close you are to the plate. They are already know how close you are, they are just trying to get you to change your call. As umpires, we need to stay away from demonstrating because we ask that coaches not demonstrate to us. We don't want coaches showing us how the pitcher did not balk or showing you how the pitcher did balk but you did not call it, etc. So we need to try and avoid demonstrating to the coaches.

From looking at the picture I would have called Jeter out. But in real life, I do not know if Jeter's hand ever was touched by the glove. Looking at the replay of the play involving Jacoby Ellsbury, I would have called him safe.

I would not mention anything. If the other team saw you coaching the kid on how to throw a better curveball, then that would really tick off some fo the parents and coaches. Also, without the game even starting, they already have a reason to hassle you. They will think that you are biased and will hassle you throughout the entire game. Now if you were teaching the kid how to throw his curveball another day and another time, then that would be a different story. When you are an umpire, that is your one and only job. You are not there to coach.

I would give the coach a warning and tell him that next he says something negative about you or your partner he is gone.

I understand where you are coming from in an age perspective, but when I get on that field, I feel as I should be treated like any other umpire. I come to every game with my shoes nicely polished, my shirts and pants very clean. My point is that I look professional, act professional, and speak to everyone ont he field professionally and politely. I don't always ask the coach if he wants to umpire, I just do it if he has done it a couple of times now. Thank you for your input MSTAYLOR.

Frenchblue (I mean Matt - lol) I actually did that once and the manager flipped out. I then proceeded to tell the manager why I had done that. After he had finished talking (he was still animated about the whole situation) I politely asked him if he would of rather had me throw out his player for showing up the umpire (I have replied to a thread that goes more in depth on showing up an umpire). He then quickly shut his moutha nd returned the dugout. I did not have another problem with that team nor did I hear any complaining from that side of the field the rest of the game.

I have a couple of things on a play like this. First of all I would have interference and the runner heading to first would be out because of the malicious slide of R1 into 2nd base. Also, only Juniors division and higher can players wear metal cleats (I assume that if the slide left the fielders arm bleeding, the player must be wearing metal cleats). Also if I ever found a player wearing metal cleats, I might toss out the manager. The reason i might do this is because at the plate meeting I would have asked the manager if his players were properly equipped. If he said yes (and they all should), then he lied at the plate meeting and he is held fully responsible for his player cleats. I would not toss the player unless the cleats were used in a harmful way. Getting back to the point, I would eject the runner sliding into second base. The way you described it, he clearly meant to break up the double play by sliding into the fielder and not the bag. Very interesting situation you posted catoblue. Also, if you knew the umpires that were umpiring the game I might do the following. After the game I would politely ask them about both of the situations you mentioned in your first post. Ask them what they saw and if they saw something that resembled interference and if they did ask them why they did not call it.

I think that this call was deserved if Shane was showing up the umpire. I don't care where you are on the field, if you are showing up an umpire you are probably going to get tossed (I would probably warn the player, manager, coach the first unless it was a severe action towards the umpire). I believe that Shane said he was one of the best umpires in the game is because he did not want to face a possible fine or suspension (unlikely) for his actions towards the umpire. I don't care if a player thinks I missed a call, but I am not going to have any body on the field showing me up or constantly arguing about the strike zone or any call I make.

I use Fabreeze during tournaments to get the smell out of them. I first use water though to get any dirt or anything off of the equipment. If you have back to back game and have enough time in between games you might want to try the foloowing: Right after you are done with your first game, spray water and get any dirt or stuff off your equipment. Then Fabreeze your equipment. After about 20 or 30 minutes spray fabreeze again. This will insure that your equipment does not smell like stinky feet.

If you did not call infield fly and in your judgement and your partners judgement the ball was not an infield fly then you would have a no call. You would have bases loaded with no outs.

This is in response to the first post on the thread. Even if your league uses continuous batting order, you should still receive a line up card because you can still have batting out of order. Event hough you don't have subs or anything you still need to have have a line up card in order to know the batting order.

Hello everybody. I am 16 year old umpire out of Orange County, California. I instructed the Junior Umpire School in San Bernandino in June of this year. It was a great experience. I had been a student the previous two years and just absolutely loved it. I started umpiring when I was nine years old. My good friend referred me to this website. I have already posted about 3 replies to threads. I look forward to posting more answers to peoples questions and possibly posting some questions of my own.

Here are some of my pet peeves: A base umpire who does not have confidence in himself. Also I become fustrated when the base umpire I am working with is constantly out of position (i.e. is in D position with a runner on 2nd or 1st and 2nd, etc.). I understand that people doing little league games may not have done any games before but you need to at least know where to position yourself on the field. Also I do not like it when managers wait for the umpire to come out to the mound to tell him that the pitching visit is over to simply just ask where that last pitch missed. Coaches who think they know the rules but dont even know the definition of a strike. Also, I hate it when coaches try to tell umpires what position they should be in to make a call. If this ever happens in a game, I simply ask the mangaer if he would like to come umpire himself. (That usually diffuses the situation and ends the conversation there).

It only counts as a pitch (in regards to the pitch count) if the ball is delivered to the plate.

I always do it at the start of every half inning. After every floul ball you need to do it. This becomes important when you do umpiring at levels where the runners can lead off. Because if you dont put the ball in play and their is a pick off, then theoretically the umpire base umpire can make no call on that play because the ball has not been put back into play. I always do it after time has been called (i.e. pitching visit).