LL Major game

[24sdad]

I have a friend who coaches his son's LL Major team. The league they are in uses only volunteer umpires, meaning each team is responsible for providing umpires for the other team's games. As it was his turn last night, he asked me to take the plate and he would do the bases. It has been a while since I have done this level.

I told him I would do it only if he actually looked like an umpire. No sweat pants, no fleece pullover, no HS BB hat. I would give him my base pants/jacket/hat and that we would have to have an actual pregame. One thing I did find interesting, as we both walked onto the field, I could hear some parents say, "look, we actually have real umpires tonight." First impressions and all that...

The game was a hoot. Second inning, R1/R2 no outs, swinging uncaught third strike (I know this is new to them this year). When F2 dropped the pitch, both runners and B/R took off running. On an swinging uncaught third strike with first base occupied, I give a fist and state "batters out" once or twice, which is what I did here. Of course, OT coaching staff is yelling for the batter to run, the fans are screaming run, so the batter does. After play relaxes, I point to B/R standing on first and tell him he is out. Coaches want to know why since F2 dropped the pitch. I explain the rule but they just don't get it. Since I called him out, DT coaches want to know if I can return the other two runners. Not because they left early, just because...

Couple innings later, F1 throws about a 35' pitch that bounces and hits batter in the leg. I call time and the batter takes off for first base. A mom in the stands yells out, "but the pitch bounced!" DT coach comes up to me and says I can't give him first base on a HBP because the ball bounced before hitting him. I am looking at him trying to determine if he is kidding or not. He is not and I can actually say this is the first time I had a manager come out to question a call and I could not think of anything to say.

All in all, fun game to work with my buddy. Ended up 15-4 in five innings (no mercy) but we hit drop dead. Five minutes after the game ended, players from both teams could care less who won as they munched their free hot dog and fries.

The coaches are pretty much clueless...but ya know, my hats off to em for volunteering their time so these kids can play. Same goes for the umpires.

[sdix00]

I have a friend who coaches his son's LL Major team. The league they are in uses only volunteer umpires, meaning each team is responsible for providing umpires for the other team's games. As it was his turn last night, he asked me to take the plate and he would do the bases. It has been a while since I have done this level.

I told him I would do it only if he actually looked like an umpire. No sweat pants, no fleece pullover, no HS BB hat. I would give him my base pants/jacket/hat and that we would have to have an actual pregame. One thing I did find interesting, as we both walked onto the field, I could hear some parents say, "look, we actually have real umpires tonight." First impressions and all that...

The game was a hoot. Second inning, R1/R2 no outs, swinging uncaught third strike (I know this is new to them this year). When F2 dropped the pitch, both runners and B/R took off running. On an swinging uncaught third strike with first base occupied, I give a fist and state "batters out" once or twice, which is what I did here. Of course, OT coaching staff is yelling for the batter to run, the fans are screaming run, so the batter does. After play relaxes, I point to B/R standing on first and tell him he is out. Coaches want to know why since F2 dropped the pitch. I explain the rule but they just don't get it. Since I called him out, DT coaches want to know if I can return the other two runners. Not because they left early, just because...

Couple innings later, F1 throws about a 35' pitch that bounces and hits batter in the leg. I call time and the batter takes off for first base. A mom in the stands yells out, "but the pitch bounced!" DT coach comes up to me and says I can't give him first base on a HBP because the ball bounced before hitting him. I am looking at him trying to determine if he is kidding or not. He is not and I can actually say this is the first time I had a manager come out to question a call and I could not think of anything to say.

All in all, fun game to work with my buddy. Ended up 15-4 in five innings (no mercy) but we hit drop dead. Five minutes after the game ended, players from both teams could care less who won as they munched their free hot dog and fries.

The coaches are pretty much clueless...but ya know, my hats off to em for volunteering their time so these kids can play. Same goes for the umpires.

My favorite part is when you told your partner to dress properly. Love that.

[AJtheUMP]

I HATE the bouncing HBP argument. But I just say "yes he does get the base coach" and resume play. Some of them will never understand. A lot of that is because the league had to have a coach or the kids wouldn't have a team, not like the select leagues I call for where they just don't read the rules. So in a game like that I try to enjoy calling for people who wont have a heart attack over every little thing.

[mstaylor]

I love it when you go do a 9/10 game and you show up in full gear, uniform, the whole bit and the kids ask if I am a professional umpire. Good stuff.

[yawetag]

I love it when you go do a 9/10 game and you show up in full gear, uniform, the whole bit and the kids ask if I am a professional umpire. Good stuff.

I love it more when the other umpires of the league think you're trying to show them up by dressing the part.

[mstaylor]

I've never encountered that problem but if I did I would tell them to pack sand.

[yawetag]

I've never encountered that problem but if I did I would tell them to pack sand.

I've gotten underhanded comments at the local park. I didn't take them personally.

[KLAH316]

Couple innings later, F1 throws about a 35' pitch that bounces and hits batter in the leg. I call time and the batter takes off for first base. A mom in the stands yells out, "but the pitch bounced!" DT coach comes up to me and says I can't give him first base on a HBP because the ball bounced before hitting him. I am looking at him trying to determine if he is kidding or not. He is not and I can actually say this is the first time I had a manager come out to question a call and I could not think of anything to say.

The coaches are pretty much clueless...but ya know, my hats off to em for volunteering their time so these kids can play. Same goes for the umpires.

As the UIC for my local little league, I have to have this discussion and clarify the rule at least 2-3 times a season!!!

[kylejt]

At my local LL park, I answer questions all day long. Parents, coaches, players, board members all start with the same "I've got a question. What if......". Most revolve around a play in a previous game, maybe where one of my Junior umpires may have botched call, or a ruling (it happens). Others might have to do with MLB stuff they see on TV. I don't shy away from it, but rather encourage the questions. I want my local folks to be smarter at the end of the day, so it gives them an advatage come tournament time.

The touchy part is when one of my crew gets one wrong, and how to handle it. It's a case by case basis. You don't want toss them under the bus right away, so I always have "did the manager protest the ruling?" in my back pocket, ready to go.

[JaxRolo]

At my local LL park, I answer questions all day long. Parents, coaches, players, board members all start with the same "I've got a question. What if......". Most revolve around a play in a previous game, maybe where one of my Junior umpires may have botched call, or a ruling (it happens). Others might have to do with MLB stuff they see on TV. I don't shy away from it, but rather encourage the questions. I want my local folks to be smarter at the end of the day, so it gives them an advatage come tournament time.

The touchy part is when one of my crew gets one wrong, and how to handle it. It's a case by case basis. You don't want toss them under the bus right away, so I always have "did the manager protest the ruling?" in my back pocket, ready to go.

People always text me or call me asking me Rule questions.

[mstaylor]

I have gotten my share of phone calls from the local fields, while the party is going on. Today I was doing an USSSA tournament. I had the 12s yesterday and today. Today I had a cat wrangler today that got a Big Gay Al picked off first. His complaint was the Justin Beiber made a move to first without coming set or stepping off, the Justin Beiber was partway to set when made his move. I told the manager he was correct but he didn't have to do either. He was absolutely sure he had to set for a second, that's what he said the umpires at home required. Also he couldn't spin from the rubber. I assured him he could do both. He said he would look it up to prove it. I told him to read 8.01b.

[ukce1861]

The other day I was getting dressed for a HS game and got a call from a buddy of mine who was in the middle of umpiring a LL game - he had a rules question they couldn't resolve...

[Welpe]

The other day I was getting dressed for a HS game and got a call from a buddy of mine who was in the middle of umpiring a LL game - he had a rules question they couldn't resolve...

I had an acquaintance call me at half-time of a varsity basketball game he was working with a rule question. :no:

[mstaylor]

The best was during a FP softball tournament. I was having a conversation with an umpire about getting rules question. Phone rings, a JrLL coach wants to know what the ruling is when the player is in fair and the ball is foul. I explain it matters where the ball is, not the player. Then he asked if it mattered before or after the base. I again explained the rule. Then he reads me the rule from the book. I told him that's correct. Then he asked me to explain it to the other coach, which I did. The first coach gets back on the phone and says," So the rulebook is correct?" Ahhhh, yes! In the meantime the other umpire is in tears.

[sdix00]

"So. . . the rule book is correct?"

Awesome.

:rollinglaugh:

[mstaylor]

Definitely a facepalm moment.

[BT_Blue]

"SO THE RULEBOOK IS CORRECT?" Wholly Cow! Thats excellent!

As for the HBP on a ball that bounces. I always ask if they have ever seen someone hit the ball after it bounces. Most will say "yes". I reply "The HBP is the same situation. You can hit the ball on the bounce as well as be hit". Heck, there is a famous story of Willie Mays hitting a home run on a bounced pitch.

[Rich Ives]

"SO THE RULEBOOK IS CORRECT?" Wholly Cow! Thats excellent!

As for the HBP on a ball that bounces. I always ask if they have ever seen someone hit the ball after it bounces. Most will say "yes". I reply "The HBP is the same situation. You can hit the ball on the bounce as well as be hit". Heck, there is a famous story of Willie Mays hitting a home run on a bounced pitch.

Another way is asking them why the batter can't advance. Chances are they'll say it's because the ball i s dead. So then you ask them if that means runners can't advance on a WP. Then the light will go on.

[umped up]

"SO THE RULEBOOK IS CORRECT?" Wholly Cow! Thats excellent!

As for the HBP on a ball that bounces. I always ask if they have ever seen someone hit the ball after it bounces. Most will say "yes". I reply "The HBP is the same situation. You can hit the ball on the bounce as well as be hit". Heck, there is a famous story of Willie Mays hitting a home run on a bounced pitch.

Another way is asking them why the batter can't advance. Chances are they'll say it's because the ball i s dead. So then you ask them if that means runners can't advance on a WP. Then the light will go on.

Funny you say that. I just did a tournament this weekend where a coach argued this very thing. The ball hits the dirt then the hitter, I send him to 1B. He came to argue that the ball was dead, I said to him, " if you have a runner on first and the pitcher bounces one past the catcher and the runners takes off for second, what would you say if I sent him back to first and said it was because the ball was dead "? He said, " we'll it wouldn't be dead unless it hit the batter". Exactly! So it remains live "unless" it hits the batter meaning the ball is live and well if it hits the ground. Bingo. He got it.....

[KLAH316]

"SO THE RULEBOOK IS CORRECT?" Wholly Cow! Thats excellent!

As for the <acronym title='Hit by Pitch'>HBP</acronym> on a ball that bounces. I always ask if they have ever seen someone hit the ball after it bounces. Most will say "yes". I reply "The <acronym title='Hit by Pitch'>HBP</acronym> is the same situation. You can hit the ball on the bounce as well as be hit". Heck, there is a famous story of Willie Mays hitting a home run on a bounced pitch.

Another way is asking them why the batter can't advance. Chances are they'll say it's because the ball i s dead. So then you ask them if that means runners can't advance on a <acronym title='Wild Pitch'>WP</acronym>. Then the light will go on.

Funny you say that. I just did a tournament this weekend where a coach argued this very thing. The ball hits the dirt then the hitter, I send him to 1B. He came to argue that the ball was dead, I said to him, " if you have a runner on first and the pitcher bounces one past the catcher and the runners takes off for second, what would you say if I sent him back to first and said it was because the ball was dead "? He said, " we'll it wouldn't be dead unless it hit the batter". Exactly! So it remains live "unless" it hits the batter meaning the ball is live and well if it hits the ground. Bingo. He got it.....

This post is too funny! I just had a LL Juniors game tonight and had that exact same talk with a coach after a HBP on a skipped ball!

[mstaylor]

I always ask idf they teach their catchers to block pitches. The answer is always, of course! I then ask why, if the ball is dead when it hits the dirt. It's what I explain as the mythical sometimes automatic dead ball.

[SanDiegoSteve]

The game was a hoot. Second inning, R1/R2 no outs, swinging uncaught third strike (I know this is new to them this year). When F2 dropped the pitch, both runners and B/R took off running. On an swinging uncaught third strike with first base occupied, I give a fist and state "batters out" once or twice, which is what I did here. Of course, OT coaching staff is yelling for the batter to run, the fans are screaming run, so the batter does. After play relaxes, I point to B/R standing on first and tell him he is out. Coaches want to know why since F2 dropped the pitch. I explain the rule but they just don't get it. Since I called him out, DT coaches want to know if I can return the other two runners. Not because they left early, just because...

I am a little confused, and again, I don't work LL games anymore (or any right now), so is the uncaught third strike rule new to LL Majors this year? And they still can't lead off base? Can somebody explain this so I'm on the same page? Thanks.

[24sdad]

The game was a hoot. Second inning, R1/R2 no outs, swinging uncaught third strike (I know this is new to them this year). When F2 dropped the pitch, both runners and B/R took off running. On an swinging uncaught third strike with first base occupied, I give a fist and state "batters out" once or twice, which is what I did here. Of course, OT coaching staff is yelling for the batter to run, the fans are screaming run, so the batter does. After play relaxes, I point to B/R standing on first and tell him he is out. Coaches want to know why since F2 dropped the pitch. I explain the rule but they just don't get it. Since I called him out, DT coaches want to know if I can return the other two runners. Not because they left early, just because...

I am a little confused, and again, I don't work LL games anymore (or any right now), so is the uncaught third strike rule new to LL Majors this year? And they still can't lead off base? Can somebody explain this so I'm on the same page? Thanks.

It changed this year, uncaught 3k is applicable to majors only (I think, correct me if i'm wrong if it applies to minors) and the same criteria applies like juniors, HS, etc.

No lead offs.

[SanDiegoSteve]

The game was a hoot. Second inning, R1/R2 no outs, swinging uncaught third strike (I know this is new to them this year). When F2 dropped the pitch, both runners and B/R took off running. On an swinging uncaught third strike with first base occupied, I give a fist and state "batters out" once or twice, which is what I did here. Of course, OT coaching staff is yelling for the batter to run, the fans are screaming run, so the batter does. After play relaxes, I point to B/R standing on first and tell him he is out. Coaches want to know why since F2 dropped the pitch. I explain the rule but they just don't get it. Since I called him out, DT coaches want to know if I can return the other two runners. Not because they left early, just because...

I am a little confused, and again, I don't work LL games anymore (or any right now), so is the uncaught third strike rule new to LL Majors this year? And they still can't lead off base? Can somebody explain this so I'm on the same page? Thanks.

It changed this year, uncaught 3k is applicable to majors only (I think, correct me if i'm wrong if it applies to minors) and the same criteria applies like juniors, HS, etc.

No lead offs.

So, it's really different than Juniors and high school, since they can't lead off base. I'm trying to figure out the reasoning for changing the rule, that's all.

[carolinablue]

The game was a hoot. Second inning, R1/R2 no outs, swinging uncaught third strike (I know this is new to them this year). When F2 dropped the pitch, both runners and B/R took off running. On an swinging uncaught third strike with first base occupied, I give a fist and state "batters out" once or twice, which is what I did here. Of course, OT coaching staff is yelling for the batter to run, the fans are screaming run, so the batter does. After play relaxes, I point to B/R standing on first and tell him he is out. Coaches want to know why since F2 dropped the pitch. I explain the rule but they just don't get it. Since I called him out, DT coaches want to know if I can return the other two runners. Not because they left early, just because...

I am a little confused, and again, I don't work LL games anymore (or any right now), so is the uncaught third strike rule new to LL Majors this year? And they still can't lead off base? Can somebody explain this so I'm on the same page? Thanks.

It changed this year, uncaught 3k is applicable to majors only (I think, correct me if i'm wrong if it applies to minors) and the same criteria applies like juniors, HS, etc.

No lead offs.

So, it's really different than Juniors and high school, since they can't lead off base. I'm trying to figure out the reasoning for changing the rule, that's all.

The games weren't long enough. :D