Kudos to U-E on helping me nail this!

[grayhawk]

JV High School game yesterday with two pretty good teams. I'm solo and felt GREAT about my zone all day - maybe would have taken 3 pitches back. Was focused, hustling and having my best game of the year. Had several bangers which, of course, had half of the crowd whining but I'm on a roll. Two situations that happened mid-game (both conversations were cordial and at a conversational volume level):

 

1. R2 & R3. Batter hits a hard grounder to first and R3 is breaking. F2 calls "four!" and F3 throws home (didn't touch 1B) and hits BR right in the helmet. BR is running a step inside the foul line and is ducking/protecting himself as he gets hit. There is no question in my mind that he was not intentionally interfering. The ball deflects into the infield as R3 scores and R2 reaches third. While all this is happening, F2 is asking "isn't that interference?" Play relaxes and DC calls time, I grant it and he and comes out. Of course, he wants interference because BR was not in the lane. I explain to him that the running lane is only relevant on throws to 1B, and in my judgement, BR did not intentionally interfere so it's nothing. He isn't happy, but we play on.

 

2. R2 & R3 again with 1 out. Grounder hit to F6 who is charging in. R2 runs into him (not MC) and I call, "That's interference! Time! Time!" but both sides keep playing. Oddly enough, F6 was actually able to make the play on the BR. Finally, as play relaxes and everyone hears me calling time, I reiterate, "That was interference (pointing to where it happened), You're out (pointing to R2 who's standing on 3B), You (pointing to R3 who had crossed the plate) back to third. You (pointing to BR) first base!" DC (same one as previous play) comes out and says, "You've got to let that play out - you shouldn't kill it immediately." I explain that interference is an immediate dead ball, and since in my judgement it was not going to be a double play, then BR is placed at 1B. I tell him that I am 100% certain of the ruling and he says the rule is bullSH*#. I tell him that I don't write 'em, I only enforce 'em. They end up getting the 3rd out without R3 scoring.

 

There's NO WAY I was going to get #1 above correct without the fine community we have here at U-E. Not sure which thread or how long ago it was, but the BR getting hit with a throw home from 1B was covered and as a result, I frickin nailed it. Second play was a no brainer - but I guess that coach just isn't too familiar with the rules which made it a fun test of game management.

[sdix00]

Yeah, I remember that thread in #1.   I took note of it and posted a similar sitch on my HS Association board.   There are only a couple guys on that board, but 3 out of 120 of us know the rule now, lol. 

 

I wish I knew where the thread was. 

[Big Red]

Sdix/all,

Here are two, with the first being most relevant...

 

http://umpire-empire.com/index.php/topic/5424-running-lane-violation/

 

http://umpire-empire.com/index.php/topic/31738-runners-lane/

 

Great job hawk and congrats!

[D62 blue]

JV High School game yesterday with two pretty good teams. I'm solo and felt GREAT about my zone all day - maybe would have taken 3 pitches back. Was focused, hustling and having my best game of the year. Had several bangers which, of course, had half of the crowd whining but I'm on a roll. Two situations that happened mid-game (both conversations were cordial and at a conversational volume level):

 

1. R2 & R3. Batter hits a hard grounder to first and R3 is breaking. F2 calls "four!" and F3 throws home (didn't touch 1B) and hits BR right in the helmet. BR is running a step inside the foul line and is ducking/protecting himself as he gets hit. There is no question in my mind that he was not intentionally interfering. The ball deflects into the infield as R3 scores and R2 reaches third. While all this is happening, F2 is asking "isn't that interference?" Play relaxes and DC calls time, I grant it and he and comes out. Of course, he wants interference because BR was not in the lane. I explain to him that the running lane is only relevant on throws to 1B, and in my judgement, BR did not intentionally interfere so it's nothing. He isn't happy, but we play on.

 

2. R2 & R3 again with 1 out. Grounder hit to F6 who is charging in. R2 runs into him (not MC) and I call, "That's interference! Time! Time!" but both sides keep playing. Oddly enough, F6 was actually able to make the play on the BR. Finally, as play relaxes and everyone hears me calling time, I reiterate, "That was interference (pointing to where it happened), You're out (pointing to R2 who's standing on 3B), You (pointing to R3 who had crossed the plate) back to third. You (pointing to BR) first base!" DC (same one as previous play) comes out and says, "You've got to let that play out - you shouldn't kill it immediately." I explain that interference is an immediate dead ball, and since in my judgement it was not going to be a double play, then BR is placed at 1B. I tell him that I am 100% certain of the ruling and he says the rule is bullSH*#. I tell him that I don't write 'em, I only enforce 'em. They end up getting the 3rd out without R3 scoring.

 

There's NO WAY I was going to get #1 above correct without the fine community we have here at U-E. Not sure which thread or how long ago it was, but the BR getting hit with a throw home from 1B was covered and as a result, I frickin nailed it. Second play was a no brainer - but I guess that coach just isn't too familiar with the rules which made it a fun test of game management.

Good job Steve !!

 

marc

[Thunderheads]

Situation 2 happened to me last spring in our opening tournament, .... OC went NUTS when my partner called the INT and banged him out and REFUSED to understand that we got it right.  The on-field rep for the tourney was there and everything saying "you guys nailed it, that's textbook INT" ....they just thought we were screwing them of course .... 

 

Steve, ...great job!

 

It''s amazing what can happen when you pay attention to little things on a website, right?!

[noumpere]

Glad I could help.  LOL

[Umpire in Chief]

...

 

There's NO WAY I was going to get #1 above correct without the fine community we have here at U-E. Not sure which thread or how long ago it was, but the BR getting hit with a throw home from 1B was covered and as a result, I frickin nailed it. Second play was a no brainer - but I guess that coach just isn't too familiar with the rules which made it a fun test of game management.

 

 

It is this exact reason I wanted to create Umpire-Empire. What are the chances you will ever see that play again? Pretty low. But because of your drive and interest in umpiring beyond just showing up at the game you aced those situations. Good job congratz!

[grayhawk]

Thanks everyone - it's a great feeling when you nail a sticky situation.  It certainly makes the game management aspect of it easy when you have absolute confidence that you got it right.  Big Red - thanks for finding the thread from last year - the first one is the one I was thinking of.

 

I hope I'm as on my game Thursday as I was for this one.  I have my first official varsity game and my partner is the ratings committee chairman for the association and he is going to be evaluating me.  I'm not nervous, I am excited to show him what I've got!

[UMP45]

If this is FED rules wouldn't you get 2 outs on the second sitch?

[grayhawk]

No, R2 didn't prevent a double play - he was not going to get tagged. F6s only play was going to be on the BR at 1B.

[Magic]

Greyhawk have you ever been evaluated by him before? Shoot me an email or give me a call, and I can give you some advice. I have been evaluated by him 3 times in the last 2 years. I was evaluated Saturday and today. Talk about overkill....