Greetings!

[JP_blue]

Getting back into "the life" after a 10 year break, and wanted to drop a note of intro and a thank you to the regulars -- especially for the Rules and Situations boards.  This site is awesome and confirms my belief that umpires are the true caretakers of the world's greatest game.  I worked for three years, doing youth ball (LL and PONY).  I've been reading for several months and thought it's time to join the site.  Interesting that the spark for umpiring again started from watching my nephew's games the past year, finding myself watching the umpires more than the kids...old habits obviously die hard.  Then, I was at a LL 11-12 Section 2 tournament last summer and watched a crew allow a run on a what they judged to be a timing play...  Bases loaded, two outs.  Ground ball to F6 in the hole.  He throws to F5 who tags R2 (before the bag) for the third out.  The PU allows the run (R1), judging it to be a timing play since there was a tag play at third (his words).  I was in the stands wondering if I missed something, since no one said anything.  I was sitting next to the tournament director and told him that the run should not count, and even he was unclear about rule.  Finally, the DC came out and questioned it between innings.  The umps discussed the play and the PU wouldn't change the call, so they ended up calling the LL Mission Control to get an instant resolution on the protest (or appeal -- not sure how they classify this since all the defensive players had left the field).  Run came off the board and the OT's coaches and fans went ballistic (predictably).  Not sure if this was a volunteer crew or not, but as a former umpire, I felt a bit shocked that this ruling could be made in a Sectional game and decided to dust off the gear when I got home.  I started re-reading the rule book the next day, made a few phone calls, and now I'm in a local association getting ready to take the FED test and work as many games as I can this year -- any level.  Anyway, very glad to be here and thanks for reading the mini-novel. 

 

JP

[JaxRolo]

Welcome!

[tjwoelfel13]

_{Welcome to the boards.}

[maninblack69]

Welcome to the boards, JP.

[alex7]

Welcome, and glad to have a passionate guy back in the game!

[grayhawk]

I would hope that at least one umpire in a Section crew (which was likely 4-man) would know that the tagged runner was still a force in that situation.  At least it was corrected.  Welcome to U-E!

[JP_blue]

Thanks for the welcome here. 

I would hope that at least one umpire in a Section crew (which was likely 4-man) would know that the tagged runner was still a force in that situation.  At least it was corrected.  Welcome to U-E!

 

Those were my thoughts also.  I can imagine what would've happened had that LL hotline not been working.  Coincidentally, the team who protested the call (Sherman Oaks) easily won the game anyway, and went on to win the Section and the So-Cal North Sub-Division.  But, they went on lose to that great Eastlake Chula Vista team in the So Cal Championship in Long Beach.

[Mike Prince]

Welcome!

[Umpire in Chief]

Welcome JP back into the umpiring sub-culture.