Search the Community

R2, outs don't matter. I'm the base umpire in the C position. B1 hits a "dying quail" to short left center. I turn and step a few steps toward the outfield as F7, F8 and F6 all sprint for the ball. The ball drops ticks off F8's glove. R2 was part way to 3B and as soon as the ball drops, he takes off. F8 bobbles the ball a bit and R2 rounds 3B. After I see the ball hit to ground, I say/signal the no-catch and then back up further into the infield watching to see where the ball is going to go. Play ends up at 3B with R2 busting back to the bag. Throw from F8 beats the runner, but it's not clear to me that the tag made contact with R2. Runner dodged slightly toward foul territory on his dive. I call the runner safe at 3B. There was no objection from the defensive team. I will note that I saw my partner was on the 3B line. All of this happened fairly quickly, I tried to get more of angle, but could only get so far because I didn't know where the the throw was going. In my post game, partner lets me know he saw a clear tag from his perspective. (I specifically asked about the play). So here's my question. Other than working to get a better angle, should I? Call the runner safe and wait for the DC to ask me to check with my partner (This is what I would have done had he asked), Before making a call, shout to my partner "Rick, do you have a tag?" and make my call accordingly (and hope Rick was paying attention -- note from above, I did see him on the line, looking at the play), or Call the runner safe (or out), call time and then go to my partner and ask him privately before I'm asked (this doesn't seem right to me). Thank you in advance, -Steve

Just a weird hypothetical based on a play in an MLB game the other day: Close play at the plate on a Sac Fly, runner is sliding headfirst, catcher swipes the tag and gets the runner on the helmet just before he touches the plate. But it's a one-flap helmet, and is coming off his head as the tag is applied. Question: how "off" does the helmet have to be for it to be for the runner to be safe?

R3, 1 out, Fly ball to F8. Runner tags...and here is what happened. I know you want me on 3BX, but I have always done 1BX and can't break the habit. Offensive coach was asking about blocking the plate without the ball. I felt that F2 gave the back of the plate. I made the out call after seeing the ball. Any comments?

Your browser does not support iframes.

I certainly do not see a tag here....... Your browser does not support iframes.

I certainly do not see a tag here....... Your browser does not support iframes.

Runners on 1st and 2nd when a pop fly is hit to the second baseman. At this point, the umpire immediately calls "Infield Fly" and declares the batter out. The runner on second started running to 3rd when the ball was hit and before the ball was caught. The 2nd baseman catches the ball and immediately throws to the shortstop who tags 2nd base before the runner returns to the base. The umpire states that all force plays are "off" when the infield fly rule is in effect and declares the runner safe at second stating he needed to be tagged out since there is no force. Is this the correct call? I understand there in no longer a force at 3rd base since the batter is declared out but does the "all force plays are off" hold true for the runner leaving the base early on a pop fly? That seems nonsensical. What is the correct call?

Jr Legion; Fed rules; R1 & R2, 1 out; bottom 5 Ball hit to F9 on a hop and runners are moving on contact. I move to 3BLX as F2 is setup inside the foul line awaiting the ball. A play at the plate is imminent. R2 arrived just after the ball, which I saw in F2’s glove. R2 slid feet first outside the foul line and F2 applied the tag below R2’s left knee prior to R2 touching the plate. As F2 rotated his body to tag the runner, I rotated counterclockwise to follow him and clearly saw F2 apply the tag. F2’s knees were on the ground blocking most of the plate. There was nothing close to any kind of obstruction. As I waited to make sure F2 still had the ball, F2 held his position, with his glove in front of him on his left thigh, with the top of the glove touching the ground between his legs. From the HT bench I heard, “It’s on the ground!†The catcher never seemed to move either arm, and I rotated around to the front of F2 while looking to see if the ball was on the ground between his legs. It was not. I called the runner out as the catcher held up his glove, holding the ball. Based on what I had heard from HT bench, I went to my partner almost immediately and asked if he had seen the ball on the ground. He did and I changed my call. I cannot for the life of me figure out how I was not able to see the ball on the ground, nor see F2 move to grab it off the ground. Is this something that is avoidable through a different mechanic? When I saw the tag, I was just outside the LH batter’s box, near where 1B foul line met the box. After the tag, I kept my eyes on F2 looking for anything that could have been a scramble to pick up the ball, yet saw nothing apparent. Ultimately the call was correct, but did I make more difficult than it should have been?

Last Thursday, local rivalry double header (2 of the 3 high schools in the same town) ...   First game I'm on the bases, bottom of 2nd, R1, 1 out ..... F1 gets R1 leaning, ...makes a perfect throw and F3 makes a beauty of a tag right on the forearm "YES,  GOT HIM"  (not sure why that came out, but ....)  As I trot back to "A", calmly the first base coach says "you had a tag on that sir?"  Me: "yes, and a nice one at that"  coach: "there was no tag there he missed him".   Me: "no he didn't" ...............and that was it, nothing else ..... calm as can be ...be that's what was said.   FAST FORWARD TO their next inning, bottom of 3; I put a water bottle down first base line on the fence, grabbed a sip before going to shallow right, and as I'm about to go I hear:  "Hey blue .... you know he was out right?"   I think to myself, what the? .....  I turn and there's the first base coach going to his positiion, ...I said "I'm sorry?"  He came up to me and said ...."he was out at first here on that pick-off"   I said, "I know, that's why I called him out" (with a smile).  He says, "I questioned you to stick up for my guy".  I said, "wait a minute, ...you knew I nailed the call, and you questioned me twice about it just to stick up for your player who didn't say a thing, or react at all?"    He said, "yep, ...sorry, ...nice call by the way" ...smiled and walked away .....   Man this game is strange sometimes

2024 UPDATE Hi All, ... When you post something on the buy, sell or trade forum and your item is no longer available, please do the following: Post a reply on your own thread that the item is sold, and utilize the "mention tool" that we have here, and tag me; for example: @Thunderheads ... sold, lock it up, please! This will alert me, I'll see it, and can lock it once your item moves as it sends me right to your post! If you have questions, send me a message. Thanks for your cooperation as always!

http://wapc.mlb.com/play/?content_id=30940821 Ummmmm....... wow.

Nice call on the steal here by Wally Bell ..........   http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=25991373&topic_id=9782246&c_id=mlb&tcid=vpp_copy_25991373&v=3   http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=25991373&topic_id=9782246&c_id=mlb&tcid=vpp_copy_25991373&v=3