Runners playing games...

[mjr_2013]

LL Majors good teams... R2, outs don't matter... Batter (who has already hit a HR and 3B in the game, and whose team is winning by 3) smacks a double. F6 gets the ball as BR gets to 2nd and BR takes two steps off the base (R2 has already scored)... F6 looks at him and BR grins. They don't know each other or anything. F6 walks towards him and he returns to within a couple inches of 2nd base, still obviously off, and still grinning.

F6 tags him quick but he gets his foot back. It was close but he was safe and I was in a good mood (plus the game was going quick)... I call safe, and just look at the runner with a disapproving look that tried to constray "Don't ever do that again."... The runner was cracking up laughing so I just went to my position.

Coaches didn't do anything... I know in the upper leagues, these kind of things take care of themselves on the field, but at this level (thankfully) they haven't learned it yet.

Is there anything we can do as umpires besides what I did? What would you do in this situation?

[The Adjudicator]

The way you described it I would not do anything 11 and 12 year old kid are going to mess around and as long as they do not delay the game or make a mockery if it I let it go. If the runner kept messing around I might kill play, tell the, to get the ball to the pitcher and play ball but only if they start getting silly.

[mjr_2013]

It only annoyed me because the defense was annoyed... I mean, he is crushing them, and by teasing them it is kind of adding insult to injury... That's unsportsmanlike in my book.

[umpcoachfather]

if he plays at a higher level and continues that, he will learn a valuable lesson.

[SanDiegoSteve]

It only annoyed me because the defense was annoyed... I mean, he is crushing them, and by teasing them it is kind of adding insult to injury... That's unsportsmanlike in my book.

As annoying as it is, it's not against the playing rules. It may be unsportsmanlike in your book, it's not unsportsmanlike in the rules. It's irrelevant how badly he is beating up on the other team, it means the other team is getting beat. If he does it at the higher levels, players will kick his ass after the game and he will stop showing off.

[James Walker]

Do nothing.. in 12u, things like this have a way of evening out eventually. In higher levels, it definitely evens out... Most likely with a fastball to earhole next trip to the dish.

[Jeremy_UEFL]

Bang him out. He won't do it again. :)

[mjr_2013]

Bang him out. He won't do it again.

That's the type of answer I was hoping for.

I know that older kids will hit the next batter or the next time he's up... I'm not about to go tell the pitcher to go hit the next batter! LOL

[Jeremy_UEFL]

Bang him out. He won't do it again.

That's the type of answer I was hoping for.

I know that older kids will hit the next batter or the next time he's up... I'm not about to go tell the pitcher to go hit the next batter! LOL

Haha exactly. I mean, I hate tos ay it, but if we are talking about smaller kids and a guy did this in a blow out, I'd bang him. Seems like it was still a reasonably close game.

But I hear you. You just can't say that to kids....dear god if something happened and got hurt...bad news, liability issue. But when the kids figure it out, they figure it out. Baseball has plenty of unwritten rules that we shall not get ourselves concerned with :D

[SanDiegoSteve]

First, it's frikkin LL Majors. They're kids. They do that kind of thing at that level. Second, you can't "bang em out" when you know they are safe. That's cheating. It doesn't matter the score. The team that is winning deserved to be winning. They aren't supposed to stop trying. If the team that's behind wants to quit, then let them wave the white flag. Me, I'm not letting up the throttle on the team that's behind if I were coaching, so as an umpire, I'm not going to create an artificial out to "punish" a kid for tricking a doofus infielder into trying to tag him a couple inches off the base.

[Jocko]

I've seen this at several levels. Kids having fun, but if it gets bangbang....... Inner city school system (and all that implies) in Birmingham Varsity area game. Home team down like 143-1 in the bottom 3rd. Catcher (running for himself because they only had 9) gets BB and swipes 2b (actually defensive indifference but I'm not scoring). He's goofing around and draws a throw. Same scenario, back safe but taunts F4 who tags at him 2 or 3 times. Safe safe safe. I tell him to knock it off (grinning because I think it's funny). F4 fakes throw to F1 still in the grass. R2 steps right into the tag. Realizing what he did, he laughs and trots off. I didn't even give a signal. These things handle themselves.

[SanDiegoSteve]

The way you described it I would not do anything 11 and 12 year old kid are going to mess around and as long as they do not delay the game or make a mockery if it I let it go. If the runner kept messing around I might kill play, tell the, to get the ball to the pitcher and play ball but only if they start getting silly.

Making a mockery is found nowhere in the rules of baseball. It's an invented term.

[AJtheUMP]

I have one team who will let the pitcher or catcher walk them back, then when they pull up to throw it to F1 or he turns and goes to the mound. They take off a few steps again only to keep repeating it. It doesnt bother me up to a point. At this age the defense needs to learn to not turn their back and to be on their toes. At the same time once it happens 5 or 6 times im calling "Time". Its obvious hes not going to steal, hes just delaying the game.

[Jocko]

The way you described it I would not do anything 11 and 12 year old kid are going to mess around and as long as they do not delay the game or make a mockery if it I let it go. If the runner kept messing around I might kill play, tell the, to get the ball to the pitcher and play ball but only if they start getting silly.

Making a mockery is found nowhere in the rules of baseball. It's an invented term.

true, the word "mockery" isn't ruled, but after a certain point it detracts from the integrity of the game, and to THAT, I take exception. I love and respect this great game, and consider it my DUTY to protect her integrity. Baseball is a beautiful woman and she must be treated with reverence and respect. I demand it on my fields and consider it an honor to have answered the call to serve my country, and her national passtime. God, I love this game!

[Rich Ives]

The way you described it I would not do anything 11 and 12 year old kid are going to mess around and as long as they do not delay the game or make a mockery if it I let it go. If the runner kept messing around I might kill play, tell the, to get the ball to the pitcher and play ball but only if they start getting silly.

Making a mockery is found nowhere in the rules of baseball. It's an invented term.

true, the word "mockery" isn't ruled, but after a certain point it detracts from the integrity of the game, and to THAT, I take exception. I love and respect this great game, and consider it my DUTY to protect her integrity. Baseball is a beautiful woman and she must be treated with reverence and respect. I demand it on my fields and consider it an honor to have answered the call to serve my country, and her national passtime. God, I love this game!

It's not your game.

They're not your rules.

If you can't deal with things as they are perhaps you should select a different avocation.

[HokieUmp]

It's not your game.

They're not your rules.

If you can't deal with things as they are perhaps you should select a different avocation.

Now that you've moved from Coach to Protector Of The Game, how's this for a solution by a lowly umpire?

When they start playing their little "eff eff" games: "Time. Throw it back to the mound. And cut it out."

Now, they've gotten to screw around a little, and we get back to playing baseball. Which is the point of all of us being out there.

Maybe somewhere sunny and bright, where the fields are green and lush (and they don't have dirt infields), and all the moms are good looking, and the water bottles are actually filled with sweet, sweet unicorn tears, we have time for that horses--t. But in the real world of rec baseball - which sometimes seems more like the opening sequence to Blade Runner - we have time limits. I'm sure, as a coach Protector Of The Game, you'd prefer to spend your 80/90/105/120 minutes playing it. Rather than watching your future Brian Lawrie act like an ass.

Edited to add: Even if they're not OUR rules, Mr Protector, we umpires are the ones in charge of the conduct of the game and authorized to administer the rules. Not saying "make s--t up," but during the game, WE are representing the game. So they are kind of our rules. That's from Rule 9, the one most people don't look at.

[Dragon29]

Wow. OK - First, the word you're looking for is 'travesty' and it's mentioned only once - in the section on running the bases backward.

Second - you're kidding - right? Bang him out with absolutely no supporting rule because you don't like what he's doing?

That's not umpiring - That's 'Smitty 101.' What's next - the FU call on LL Minors?

Sorry.

[Jocko]

The way you described it I would not do anything 11 and 12 year old kid are going to mess around and as long as they do not delay the game or make a mockery if it I let it go. If the runner kept messing around I might kill play, tell the, to get the ball to the pitcher and play ball but only if they start getting silly.

Making a mockery is found nowhere in the rules of baseball. It's an invented term.

true, the word "mockery" isn't ruled, but after a certain point it detracts from the integrity of the game, and to THAT, I take exception. I love and respect this great game, and consider it my DUTY to protect her integrity. Baseball is a beautiful woman and she must be treated with reverence and respect. I demand it on my fields and consider it an honor to have answered the call to serve my country, and her national passtime. God, I love this game!

It's not your game.

They're not your rules.

If you can't deal with things as they are perhaps you should select a different avocation.

1) If I'm on the field, IT'S MY FIELD. 2) If I'm in the game, IT'S MY GAME. 3) If I'm umpiring, THEY'RE MY RULES. 4) People that have no respect FOR the game get no respect FROM the game, and in turn, from me. You don't have to agree with me. You don't have to like me. But if you're on MY field, in MY game, you do have to OBEY me. You wouldn't last 1 inning on my field. The measure of a man is easily taken. I see right through you. IF you ever played the game, it was maybe a couple years. Probably somewhere less than mediocre. Never made the school team. Probably never go to live games outside your local LL. Never watch MLB. You probably prefer watching marching bands than baseball games. Love of the game doesn't come close to describing your outlook. No respect given, none earned.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Wow. OK - First, the word you're looking for is 'travesty' and it's mentioned only once - in the section on running the bases backward.

Second - you're kidding - right? Bang him out with absolutely no supporting rule because you don't like what he's doing?

That's not umpiring - That's 'Smitty 101.' What's next - the FU call on LL Minors?

Sorry.

Well, I do appreciate a good FU call on a LL Minors player. Teach the little turd a lesson! :Spit_20Laugh:

[Replacematt]

The way you described it I would not do anything 11 and 12 year old kid are going to mess around and as long as they do not delay the game or make a mockery if it I let it go. If the runner kept messing around I might kill play, tell the, to get the ball to the pitcher and play ball but only if they start getting silly.

Making a mockery is found nowhere in the rules of baseball. It's an invented term.

true, the word "mockery" isn't ruled, but after a certain point it detracts from the integrity of the game, and to THAT, I take exception. I love and respect this great game, and consider it my DUTY to protect her integrity. Baseball is a beautiful woman and she must be treated with reverence and respect. I demand it on my fields and consider it an honor to have answered the call to serve my country, and her national passtime. God, I love this game!

Lighten up, Francis.

I may not know what I'm talking about (I only started umpiring 17 years ago, and have only about 1600 games in that time, many at levels which a lot of umpires dream of working, 467 days in Iraq in nine different provinces, 17 rockets land within 200 meters of me, and driven over 1 IED,) but baseball is not that important.

[Jocko]

The way you described it I would not do anything 11 and 12 year old kid are going to mess around and as long as they do not delay the game or make a mockery if it I let it go. If the runner kept messing around I might kill play, tell the, to get the ball to the pitcher and play ball but only if they start getting silly.

Making a mockery is found nowhere in the rules of baseball. It's an invented term.

true, the word "mockery" isn't ruled, but after a certain point it detracts from the integrity of the game, and to THAT, I take exception. I love and respect this great game, and consider it my DUTY to protect her integrity. Baseball is a beautiful woman and she must be treated with reverence and respect. I demand it on my fields and consider it an honor to have answered the call to serve my country, and her national passtime. God, I love this game!

Lighten up, Francis.

I may not know what I'm talking about (I only started umpiring 17 years ago, and have only about 1600 games in that time, many at levels which a lot of umpires dream of working, 467 days in Iraq in nine different provinces, 17 rockets land within 200 meters of me, and driven over 1 IED,) but baseball is not that important.

In the grand scheme of things, life and death, you are correct. But to me, baseball is a very big part of my life. I love what I do and being on that diamond is important to me. I am passionate about the game. It's not just a source of income. Btw.... 3rd Bn/ 5th Mar. Div. You have my respect for your service in combat, wshatever your MOS. But don't try to tell me baseball isn't important. Sure, there are higher ranking things (family, Corps, country), but isn't the freedom to love what you do and do what you love the very reason we enlisted? Baseball is as much America as the flag and statue of liberty. I'm sorry you don't feel the same.

[Jocko]

Why did that post that way? I was quoting Matt and it got mixed in together.

[Replacematt]

I'm not saying not to enjoy what you do. In fact, it's almost a necessity for this vocation. I'm also not saying not to take it seriously. However, there is no duty to protect baseball from anything...it's a game. That's it--nothing more, nothing less. While culturally iconic, America would exist without it (or the flag or the Statue of Liberty, for that matter.) America is a generally shared set of ideals of a state and nation. That is something that is in need of defense.

[Jocko]

I agree to disagree. Baseball is much more than a game. Good thing there are people like me to counteract those who don't feel the same. Have a nice day.

[UmpTTS43]

:shakehead: