Rough first scrimmage behind the plate....

[scrounge]

2nd scrimmage of the year but first plate, mid-level high school varsity game. Took a couple innings to get the cobwebs out and straighten out the mechanics. Also trying a couple different strike motions, one of which I didn't like at all and have shelved. Strike zone could have been a little more consistent but it wasn't bad, only a couple questions all game from each side.

Two plays got messed up, though. With R1 and R2, 1 out, for some reason I rotated to third on a single. I don't know why. Anyway, the inevitable happened - fast runner goes right by me as I recognize my mistake too late. And of course the throw is right there as I'm not only straightlined but still moving. To be honest, I didn't have a clue - I messed up bad and knew it. But I had to say something and the catcher sold it so I called it out. Coach didn't really get too mad but he did let me know that it wasn't really close.

2nd play was an odd balk. R1 and R3, F1 looks at me the whole time, doesn't make an arm motion but does sorta step towards 3B on a third to first feint. The upper body non-motion kind of threw me and at first I didn't think he stepped to 3B but then realized it as the word "BALK" echoed around the diamond. Even now I'm not sure it was a real feint - it was a half-step to 3B but he did make distance, about 6 inches or so. But it was weird - no arm motion and he was looking at home plate the whole time. Would you call that a feint?

Oh, and of course, the very first warmup pitch bounced off the ground, goes uncaught, and clips the very bottom of the Shock Doctor cup. Welcome to the 2012 season.

[JaxRolo]

At least you got the bad game out of the way!

Nothing but good games ahead!

[ukce1861]

Coach didn't really get too mad but he did let me know that it wasn't really close.

He didn't get too mad? That's very kind of him considering it's a scrimmage... That's what scrimmages are for - shaking the rust off.

I am curious on the first to third move - not sure what the call is there. The fact that he was looking to the plate wouldn't concern me, but I'm not sure if an arm movement is required.

I had a game last month - first warm I took drilled me right in the face mask. I was pretty proud of myself though - I was locked in and watched it all the way till it clanked me in the forehead...

[mstaylor]

A step is all that is required, an arm movement is not.

[scrounge]

Today's scrimmage was far better, much better timing, no missed rotations....no shots to the cup, always a good thing. Well played too, 1-0 game heading into TOP of the 7th. Many well-hit balls but either right at someone or defense made plays, no real errors to speak of. Visitors get 1 in the TOP but they had bases loaded no outs, so it could have been worse. Home did get a couple in the bottom and we played it out. Great day.

Only major mistake? The dramatic "THREE" ringup....on strike 2. Still a little rust in the system.

[Cajuncubsfan]

Only major mistake? The dramatic "THREE" ringup....on strike 2. Still a little rust in the system.

I did this is a scim this year as well. The catch said "Mr. Scott that was only strike two" I look at my indicator and said "Your right Eli" and LOLed. It was funny and I hope no one noticed.....

[Thunderheads]

Scrimmage is your operative word! Knock off the rust, you'll be fine!

Called 3rd strikes on strike 2 can be funny sometimes,...it's up to you...

I did it in an early season tourney (u13) last season, the offensive coach (who I had earlier in the tournament...nice guy) says ..."Jeff, that's strike 2" .....I said, ...(realizing) ..."I know, I know, . ...I'm just making sure everyone's paying attention!"

The whole field laughed! :wave:

[ukce1861]

I was working a relaxed scrimmage between two Canadian high schools a few weeks ago. One of the batters walks away from the plate after a strike and I go, "That's only strike two" so he comes back to the plate, while I'm looking at my indicator - "Oh, nevermind, that's strike three...." Both coaches laughed anyway...

[mstaylor]

I almost did that the other day. TOP of the first of my first plate of the year, I caught myself but I tried. When I do that, thankfully not often, I tell them it is my Reader's Digest count. Some get the joke, some are too young.

[yawetag]

I called a batter out on strike one in my first year of high school umpiring. :)

[detailshp]

Varsity scrimmage two nights ago. ( 82 degrees out ) Check swing and batter still manages to nick the high floating curve ball, while he's pulling the bat back and twisting out of the way. Catcher is diving inside ( it was that poorly thrown ) and somehow manages to snag the ball on the foul tip, directly back to the mitt. I throw my hands up "time" and the catcher turns and shows me the ball in his mitt. Next mechanic for me was standard hammer for a swinging strike three ( it was strike two )

We all had a good laugh on that one. Coach for the batter sends out the 8 year old bat boy with a water bottle, figures I need it. I mustve turned about 40 shades of crimson. Partner worked the state finals last year, and hes got hands on his knees turned away from me cause he's trying hard not to bust out laughing.

[grayhawk]

I called a batter out on strike one in my first year of high school umpiring.

Me too! It was a 3-0 count. At the start of the at-bat, there was R1. Amongst several pick-off attempts were the three pitches, and R1 stole second on one of the pitches. This was before I had a notched indicator and I was working on NOT looking at my indicator all the time. I rang him up with the chain saw and the look on the kid's face was priceless. I check my indicator and see 3-0. All I could do was turn to the stands and bow.

[sdix00]

This is why I notch at 3-2-2 instead of 0-0-0.

So much changes with those counts. I always squeeze the indicator just before I make the call.

[grayhawk]

This is why I notch at 3-2-2 instead of 0-0-0.

So much changes with those counts. I always squeeze the indicator just before I make the call.

Mine is notched on every number so that I know the count no matter what it is without looking. It's kind of like umpire braille (insert blind umpire joke here). It took some time to master, but it's a great indicator.

[Hackman61]

You fellas are killing me. My first is Saturday. Hopefully, I won't have a story like you guys.

[umped up]

Good stories! We all have them and it's great to laugh at them. I had a similiar story. Last week, the pitcher stepped off the mound and feinted a throw to 3rd, gets back on the rubber and does it again very quickly but this time not stepping towards 3rd, I called balk. Everyones like.....What? The pitcher has his hands up like "WTF". I walked out and explained that the initial time he stepped back but not the second time. After all that was settled the insuing pitch was a strike and I'm thinking "what the hell is the count"? I went through my KS3 call but as I started doing this, in my mind, I wasn't sure of the count so I kinda let up on my mechanic in wonderment. It was like a bottle rocket that fizzled. I Started off hard and ended with a dud. That was my motion. I looked down at my indicator and there were 2 strikes on him. That was the lamest KS ring up ever.

Someone told me when I used the word "scrimmage" that it was inappropriate. I'm like "what"? He said, when you say scrimmage, that's a football term not baseball. Ok! So I guess it's a practice game. Food for thought.

[grayhawk]

Good stories! We all have them and it's great to laugh at them. I had a similiar story. Last week, the pitcher stepped off the mound and feinted a throw to 3rd, gets back on the rubber and does it again very quickly but this time not stepping back. I called balk. Everyones like.....What? The pitcher has his hands up like "WTF". I walked out and explained that the initial time he stepped back but not the second time. After all that was settled the insuing pitch was a strike and I'm thinking "what the hell is the count"? I went through my KS3 call but as I started doing this, in my mind, I'm wasn't sure of the count so I kinda let up on my mechanic in wonderment. It was like a bottle rocket that fizzled. I Started off hard and ended with a dud. That was my motion. I looked down at my indicator and there were 2 strikes on him. That was the lamest KS ring up ever.

Someone told me when I used the word "scrimmage" that it was inappropriate. I'm like "what"? He said, when you say scrimmage, that's a football term not baseball. Ok! So I guess it's a practice game. Food for thought.

Why did you balk him? Did you mean he feinted to first? If it was third, then I have nothing as long as he stepped towards third.

[umped up]

Good stories! We all have them and it's great to laugh at them. I had a similiar story. Last week, the pitcher stepped off the mound and feinted a throw to 3rd, gets back on the rubber and does it again very quickly but this time not stepping back. I called balk. Everyones like.....What? The pitcher has his hands up like "WTF". I walked out and explained that the initial time he stepped back but not the second time. After all that was settled the insuing pitch was a strike and I'm thinking "what the hell is the count"? I went through my KS3 call but as I started doing this, in my mind, I'm wasn't sure of the count so I kinda let up on my mechanic in wonderment. It was like a bottle rocket that fizzled. I Started off hard and ended with a dud. That was my motion. I looked down at my indicator and there were 2 strikes on him. That was the lamest KS ring up ever.

Someone told me when I used the word "scrimmage" that it was inappropriate. I'm like "what"? He said, when you say scrimmage, that's a football term not baseball. Ok! So I guess it's a practice game. Food for thought.

Why did you balk him? Did you mean he feinted to first? If it was third, then I have nothing as long as he stepped towards third.

My bad. When he stepped back on the rubber, he feinted a throw to 3rd without making any step towards third. He just swung his arm in that direction. I guess the reason I even mentioned him stepping back was because he did that the first time, which didn't really matter. but the second time was the same except for the step.

[mstaylor]

And it is certainly a scrimmage. If you want to call it anything else it be a preseason game.

[HokieUmp]

I was working a relaxed scrimmage between two Canadian high schools a few weeks ago.

No way. That's like trying to tell us you own a unicorn.

Between stories from ump_24 and ... was it TopCop? on ABUA, I can't see the phrases "relaxed scrimmage" and "Canadian" necessarily being in the same sentence.

[mstaylor]

I was working a relaxed scrimmage between two Canadian high schools a few weeks ago.

No way. That's like trying to tell us you own a unicorn. Between stories from ump_24 and ... was it TopCop? on ABUA, I can't see the phrases "relaxed scrimmage" and "Canadian" necessarily being in the same sentence.

That's a fact. Anybody heard anything from TOP Cop. Several years ago he had some serious health issues but I quit going to ABUA not too long after that happened.

[ukce1861]

Some Canadians from Montreal come down to Dodgertown every year. I've done some of their games the last two years and you won't hear a word or have the least problem from them. They're just so glad to be warm, I don't think they care... Nothing better than 14U wood bat baseball either...