Originally Posted by teebob21
Since I do not yet have any assignments for HS playoffs here, and Juco is all wrapped up, I'm assuming the meat and potatoes of this year is over for me. Not a bad spring: I worked 70 games or so. Here are three situations that came up that I am interested in hearing fellow umpire's opinions about. What would you have done?
Situation 1 (Rules): BR interferes with F3 (NFHS)
(I was base umpire) Bases loaded, IFF situation. BR hits a pop-up to F3 near the bag over the baseline. I have my signal up, no verbal, and I did not hear a call from PU. BR interferes with F3's attempt to catch the ball, and is declared out by PU. Defense wants R1 on 3B out as well for interference by a retired player.
I got together with my partner on his request (not sure why, it was 115% his call and I was in no position to help judge the batted ball) and no, he had not yet declared IFF and "I dunno" if the ball was fair or foul at the time of INT. We stayed with the original call of BR out, runners return.
I know we can rectify an uncalled IFF, but we can't apply the retired-runner INT penalty to a player we haven't declared out yet, can we??
I think you did the only thing that you could do on that play. Since the IFF only applies to a fair ball, and the status of the ball has not been determined to be a fair ball, it is a foul ball. Since the BR interfered with the opportunity to catch the foul fly, she is out for interference. You did the right thing in post gaming this situation. There is a reason we are taught status first on flies near the line. A play like this the status means everything (as well as making the call, which goes to knowing the situation and communicating with your partner(s).
As for when you can call it, I think the note at the bottom of 8-2-9 says it all (from the 2013 book). When an infield fly is not initially called, the batter-runner is declared out if brought to the umpires attention before the next pitch. Since it would not have been declared until after the interference, the retired runner interference would not apply (in my opinion). You would have some explaining to do to the coach DC, who likely would be correct in that it were handled properly by the PU, it would be multiple outs.
Situation 2 (Field Mechanics): Runners on corners; stealing 2B (NFHS/NCAA)
Runners on 1B and 3B, I am base umpire. R2 on 1B steals, and F2 throws to 2B. F6 takes the throw, attempts a tag....and all I can see is F6's backside. I had stepped in from C position in a line between 2B and 3B to see a 90-degree angle of R2 coming into the base. I got blocked out like this at least twice this season. This isn't a problem when F4 takes the throw. Should I be moving somewhere else when I read a throw? Should I pay more attention to which fielder is covering?
Honestly, I agree with the other comments, you do the best you can. If you are were you are supposed to be on the play, and this happens, you have the umpire manual to fall back on. You were in the proper position and circumstances lead you to being blocked out.
Situation 3 (Game Management): Who do you eject? (NCAA)
Close ball game, I'm on the plate, 4th or 5th inning. Visiting team (on defense) crosses the line by saying a magic word regarding a ball/strike call (Assistant coach: "This guy is horrible!" among the rest of the comments). I warned the dugout that the zone was not up for discussion, and I'd heard all I was going to hear. Assistant coach wants clarification and I walk down to the bench and tell the hitting coach, assistant, and junior assistant coach to knock it off. Next pitch: swinging strike on a rise ball. Someone on the near end of the visiting bench, while I am signalling, with my eyes on the pitcher: "Blue, you sure?"
I know someone needs to leave, but I don't know exactly who that is because I wasn't looking that way. Who do you think needs ejected?
Edit (forgot to include in OP): Unfortunately, I made a knee-jerk reaction: called time, and emphatically ejected.....someone. I knew I needed to decide quickly, so I walked the 25 feet to the end of the bench and told the AC whoever said "you sure" was done, and if no one said it, he was done. The junior assistant coach got nominated by the AC.
I generally will not listen to much to the bench, unless it is so loud it can be heard by all parties in the general vicinity. Maybe this is the basketball official coming out. I tend to take more than some others will in terms of behavior. I used to be rabbit ears and it got me in trouble. I have yet to eject a coach or player from a FP game. (Tossed one SP guy for multiple F-bombs at me). With all of that said, I will ignore for awhile then warn. That generally goes the trick and I normally don't hear anything else. In this case, once you warned through, and the comment came, you needed to eject someone. I personally would have gone to the head coach and told the HC that you need to find out who said it, or it will be you exiting the game. Ultimately, even if it is not specified in the rule book, the HC is responsible for the conduct of his/her team.
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