OBS if you don't see it?

[Swifty]

First year umpire and poster. Had a 5 and 6 year old coach pitch/T-ball game this evening. R1, grounder to F4, I clear the plate and face the ball as the coach/pitcher is coming off the field and turns to me and says 'He can't do that, F3 ran into him. I never saw it, and as I looked in that direction, still couldn't see F3, R1, or BR, as coach is directly in my line of sight, and about 2 feet from me. F4 tags second. I call him out, as I never saw the obstruction, though it's fairly logical to conclude that it happened, as R1 was just standing there crying his eyes out.

Question is, can/do you ever call what you didn't see? How would you have handled it?

[mstaylor]

No, you can't. Will something else ever happen that you don't see, sure will. Which coach was in your way, the one setting the ball on the T? Tell him you can't call anything with him in the way. He puts the ball on the T and gets his butt to the screen out of the way. 

[Swifty]

Thanks. That's what I told him, I can't call something if I didn't see it. The coach pitches to his own players, then after 5 pitches, they get out the tee. He pitched, then as the ball was hit, was directly between me and the OBS. I didn't get on him, it was just one of those things. He was trying to do the right thing by moving towards foul territory, while I was clearing. Just happened to be directly in my line of sight. Can't say for sure that I would have seen it out of the corner of my eye or not, but we'll never know.

BTW - love the forum. Have been soaking it all up for the past few months and has absolutely helped. Still have a lot to improve upon, timing specifically, but just wanted to say thanks to all!

[Wesley]

Swifty - I was in your shoes last season.  Moved up this year to LL middle minors with my son.

 

A question regarding this sitch: when R1 & F3 collide, F4 has not yet fielded the ball or the play is still otherwise developing, do I call OBS and then "pick up the flag" latter if F4 fields it cleanly and in my opinion would have retired R1 regardless of OBS?  Or do I not call OBS unless I am convinced on the spot that the OBS cost R1 at least one base?

 

Thanks

[KLAH316]

Why are there umpires in a 5/6 year old coach pitch game?????

That is the issue!!

[Swifty]

Yeah, I'm not sure either. Was thinking the same thing while I was there. Can't they just ump them themselves on a volunteer basis? Oh well, I'm not going to turn it down. Other than that one play, it was a lot of fun, and that's why I do it.

[Swifty]

James, I think it's OBS regardless of whether or not the runner would have been out. In other words, if in your opinion, F4 cleanly fields, flips to F6 for the force, and not even Usaine Bolt could have made it, I believe the OBS still gets called.

[bam]

Must be Texas.

[mjr_2013]

Yeah, I'm not sure either. Was thinking the same thing while I was there. Can't they just ump them themselves on a volunteer basis? Oh well, I'm not going to turn it down. Other than that one play, it was a lot of fun, and that's why I do it.

 

How much do they pay per game?

[carolinablue]

Why are there umpires in a 5/6 year old coach pitch game?????

That is the issue!!

 

Might be a red flag. I did a MS game at a LL field last year and after the game got a call from my assignor and he asked me if I would do a LL coach pitch game before I left. My response was  . He said they were having problems with the coaches fighting and decided to get paid umpires. I did the game with no problems but it was obvious both coaches hated each other. If they need real umpires then it could be a sign of trouble, so beware.

[UmpJM]

Swifty,

 

Where do you position yourself in the coach pitch games?

 

JM

[Jocko]

Swifty, Where do you position yourself in the coach pitch games? JM

Behind F1, of course!

: :horse:

[umpcoachfather]

The coach should be banned for life, T-ball??? Come on man....

[Swifty]

It's Florida - 30 bucks per game.

The kids get 5 pitches - no balls or strikes - to put it in play.  After 5 - they get 3 cracks at it off the tee.

Position is 1BLX or 3BLX - depending on righty/lefty in the box.

[Mike Prince]

It's Florida - 30 bucks per game.

The kids get 5 pitches - no balls or strikes - to put it in play.  After 5 - they get 3 cracks at it off the tee.

Position is 1BLX or 3BLX - depending on righty/lefty in the box.

 

Sounds similar to Machine Pitch here (without the three extra swings off a tee) and we get $25/game.  No drama like you describe though.

[Swifty]

No big drama - coach didn't really like that the runner was called out - but when I told him I can't call something I didn't see - he was like - OK...  I just wanted to get opinions/reassurance that I did the right thing.

You know, trying my best to 'not suck'.

[Mike Prince]

Oops, confused your post with carolinablue's where there was a bunch of obvious hatred between coaches.  Sorry.

 

Yes, you did the right thing.  Bet he doesn't get in the way next time.

[Jocko]

Umpiring 101 - Call what you see, See what you call

Never play detective or take a guess. If you didn't see it, you can NOT call it.