Don't like to be green

[Wesley]

Gentlemen!

 

The site is great!  I've picked up much good information lurking around!  I appreciate the experience being shared.

 

I grew up playing PONY; I had no idea how much I didn't know about the game until I started reading the rules.

 

My boy's LL coach-pitch team last year sends out an email shouting EVERY TEAM NEEDS TO SUPPLY AN UMPIRE.  So I'm an old guy, I figure I can umpire as well as any of the other parents, so I sign up and go to the clinics. 

 

I have a habit in life that whatever I undertake I like to try to be as professional as possible (not always sucessful, but I try).  I acquired my own equipment and league uniform.  I did my best to memorize the rule book (still working on it).  Spent the offseason lurking and reading the rule book a hundred times.

 

I know from working in industry that the newest/most uninformed have the most difficult/steepest learning curve; that's where I am. 

 

Unfortunately my league is not the best resource:

 

Last season, third game I called, 7U.  R2, no outs, B1 grounds to F6.  Ball deflects off F6 glove then hits R2 running by behind F6.  I know R2 is not out, but following training, I try to slow down the call and take a split second to get my mind around whether I kill the ball or if it's live.  In that split-second, UIC-HC-3BC-R1 dad jumps into fair territory and bangs out his own runner/son for being hit by a batted ball!  Time!  Discuss the rule with him, but R1 is already in the dugout, UIC insists "that's how we always call it".  I learned some lessons that day... (I would handle it differently now)

 

This year: 8U. No runners, no outs.  B1 grounds to F4.  F4 boots it, can't find the handle.  No throw.  BR agressively rounds 1B.  Crowd/coaches go nuts.  Instead of a tag attempt, F4 in a panic airmails to 1B.  Ball goes OOP.  Time!  Put BR on 3B.  Play on.  After the game, league muckety-muck jams me and says I should only have awarded to 2B.  I quote 7.05(g) and Approved Ruling, BR already acquired 1B prior to TOT, award therefore based on TOT.  Muck continues to jack with me until he realizes I'm not going to surrender professional demeanor or doubt myself.  Hands my rule book back to me and walks off.

 

I have called 25 games and 23 have been solo.  I have an opportunity to league-up and call some games with the LL District guys, but I have so little BU knowledge I'm hesitant to make a fool of myself and end up out of position (clinics offered locally have all been one-man mechanics). 

 

So I am still trying to pull myself up by the bootstraps (try to be professional) and not suck!  I appreciate the input on the site.  Thanks!

 

Play on...

 

 

[th3]

isn't it TOP since 1st play from infield?

[Wesley]

Little League Rule Set, 2013, pg 77.  7.05(g) two bases...  "Approved Ruling: If all runners, including the BR have advanced at least one base when an infielder makes a wild throw on the first play after the pitch, the award shall be goverend by the position of the runners when the wild throw was made."

[th3]

there ya go..I'm still green!

[sdix00]

http://umpire-empire.com/index.php/topic/3199-umpire-manuals/   FTW

[mstaylor]

Welcome to the site. I had a longtime varsity coach at our plate meeting tonight say he learned something new in a LL umpire clinic Sat. He says a runner deeper than the fielder after it goes through the fielder the runner isn't out. He has played or coached baseball all his life, simply amazing he is just hearing about this. 

[JaxRolo]

Welcome

[Richvee]

Welcome. Sounds like you have a decent start and a good handle already on some rules. I would highly recommend "Maximizing the two umpire system", and the Baseball Virtual Umpire Camp CD. Either or both will give you a great understanding of 2 man mechanics.  

[Jocko]

isn't it TOP since 1st play from infield?

if little johnny runs into the dugout after it, it's still live.

[th3]

you must be ragging on me but i dont get it

[Wesley]

Thanks for the welcome!  I'll do some shopping tonight...  I think right now I have a decent handle on the rules, especially for 8U.  I might be challenged at a higher level doing a good job calling balks...

 

If the ball richocets back out of the dugout, live ball, play on...  hey, how do I do that lighter fluid thingy???   oh, never mind!

 

Thanks gents!

[Umpire in Chief]

Good to have you here welcome to your new addiction.

[Wesley]

Advice was a great help, I ordered Maximizing the Two Umpire System from Jim Evans.  We'll see how fast I can choke it down and implement it.  Thanks again sdix00 and Richvee.

 

The thread is dead, but I should mention in the OP the UIC was the UIC of the league.  I was calling the game solo, but in my third game ever as an umpire I didn't feel confident to run the UIC of the league for arguing.  A little discouraging when the guy who is supposed to be the final word on rules interpretation apparently had not read the rule book very much (and the same with the league board member in the second sitch).  Anywhoo...

 

I looked at the thread with the ballparks y'all have worked.  I'm humbled.  I'll just be quiet now and listen...    

[FearNot]

Welcome bro!

[HokieUmp]

Mr 1v1 - may I call you James?:

 

I will admit I only scanned the situations you described, so I'm not going to comment on the right-or-wrong of the calls.  And I'm pleased to see that you're ordering materials, and plan to be a student of the game;  we all love that.

 

My advice, while you're building the experience, is to lay the smack down, by neutralizing the  -wits that you discuss.  Your UIC needs to understand if he's not on the field in an umpire capacity, then in that game he's a rat esteemed member of the coaching community rat.  And the league muckety-muck that approaches post-game needs to just go away.  Glad you held your demeanor, but you probably should throw in a "...and don't ever approach me after a game like that again" for good measure - just in case he feels like, while he didn't break through the last time, he can keep trying in the future.

 

Again:  welcome, and keep reaching.

[mstaylor]

When I started I was a teenager, it was back in the days of LL where the managers were not allowed on the field inside the foul lines. I had an odd call at second the manager questioned. While going to explain it I called him to meet me. We discussed it, he was fine and away he went. After the inning I see him leaving, I asked why. He told me he had been tossed. I asked by who. He said the VP came over and threw him for being on the field. I told him he was because I called out, the VP has no authority, to get back in the dugout and if anything is said, send them to me. Last I ever heard about it.  

[Wesley]

Yes, call me James.  The 1v1 is a (not so) secret message.

 

Thanks for the input.  Noted.

[24sdad]

James, welcome to the site.  Lots of good guys here and good information.

 

Where in So Cal are you?  If you are close to where I am (Inland Empire) I can hook you up with a guy who assigns most LL and PONY in these parts.