Can someone help me?

[rwest]

I'm heading up a group of volunteer umpires at my Church. We'll be calling both FP Softball and Baseball. I've done SP ASA Softball but never baseball. So here are my questions.

1. Any websites you might recommend to answer these questions? I don't have a copy of the rule book.

2. What are the rules regarding balk?

3. What are the rules regarding the drop 3rd strike? Does any one know if they are the same as Federation FP Softball?

4. What are the rules regarding stealing?

Thanks in advance for any help you can give me!
Randall

[bluezebra]

Baseball

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/

Arrow down left column, click on Rules.

Third strike not caught rule is same in all baseball and softball, except LL, and possibly other youth rules.

FP is a different game than SP.

[His High Holiness]

Originally posted by rwest
I'm heading up a group of volunteer umpires at my Church.
1. I don't have a copy of the rule book.

2. What are the rules regarding balk?

3. What are the rules regarding the drop 3rd strike? Does any one know if they are the same as Federation FP Softball?

4. What are the rules regarding stealing?

Thanks in advance for any help you can give me!
Randall

If anyone wondered why umpires are held in such low regard for their incompetence, this post says it all:

Randell starts out:

"I'm heading up a group of volunteer umpires..."

If this guy is heading the group, how incompetent must the rest of the umpires be. He hasn't even taken the trouble to buy a rulebook.

Maybe he used to work Little League...

Anyway, he's a volunteer. God love 'em.

Peter

[DG]

For unpaid volunteer umpires only:

2. Anything the pitcher does that is sneaky looking that tricks the runner into getting picked off a base is a balk.

3. If the catcher drops a 3rd strike the batter can try to make it to 1B but only if 1B is not occupied, or if there are 2 outs he could even try to make it to 1B if it is occupied.

4. You can try to steal. If you get thrown out you are out.

Try this website for additional info.

http://www.eteamz.com/baseball/rules/obr/index.cfm?m=1,2,3,4,5

[woolnojg]

His High Holiness -(genuflect, genuflect)
If anyone wonders why umpires are held in such low regard because of their arrogance, this could be the answer.

" 'I'm heading up a group of volunteer umpires...'

If this guy is heading the group, how incompetent must the rest of the umpires be. He hasn't even taken the trouble to buy a rulebook."

He came here looking for help and this is what he gets.

[Tim C]

Why is Peter wrong asking why this gentleman did not even invest in a Sporting News Rule Book?

This post is an exact representation why in every commercial on TV that feature an umpire he is big, fat and wearing his hat backwards.

I am trying to figure out which is worse:

Untrained umpires who show little interest in preparing to work games,

OR

Experienced umpires who post rules questions on Internet Umpire sites without first trying to do even the smallest amount of investigation on their own.

As Papa C was heard to mutter,

"Lah Me!"

(I post this 'wool' becasue I know how much you value my opinion on things!)

[gobama84]

Originally posted by Tim C
Why is Peter wrong asking why this gentleman did not even invest in a Sporting News Rule Book?

This post is an exact representation why in every commercial on TV that feature an umpire he is big, fat and wearing his hat backwards.

I am trying to figure out which is worse:

Untrained umpires who show little interest in preparing to work games,

OR

Experienced umpires who post rules questions on Internet Umpire sites without first trying to do even the smallest amount of investigation on their own.

As Papa C was heard to mutter,

"Lah Me!"

(I post this 'wool' becasue I know how much you value my opinion on things!)

I didn't see anything in Peter's reply mention The Sporting News Rule Book. Maybe this person has never heard of The Sporting News Rule Book. I know plenty of "so called" good umpires that have never heard of it.
We all enjoy blasting other umpires on boards like this from time to time, but this gentleman never admitted to being an umpire. Since I am an umpire go ahead and blast away.

[His High Holiness]

Originally posted by gobama84
I didn't see anything in Peter's reply mention The Sporting News Rule Book. Maybe this person has never heard of The Sporting News Rule Book. I know plenty of "so called" good umpires that have never heard of it.
We all enjoy blasting other umpires on boards like this from time to time, but this gentleman never admitted to being an umpire. Since I am an umpire go ahead and blast away.

I would have been happy if he had any rulebook, Sporting News or otherwise, but you answered your own question.

You wrote:

"Maybe this person has never heard of The Sporting News Rule Book. I know plenty of "so called" good umpires that have never heard of it."

There's the problem, right in your quote. Umpires who consider themselves good without ever knowing the basics - like what rulebook to buy. Can you imagine someone calling himself a doctor in America who had never heard of the "New England Journal of Medicine." But we can imagine "good" umpires who don't know the basics of how to research the rules - like the BRD. I know many NCAA umpires who call an OBR or FED rule in an NCAA game and when I mention that the BRD might be a good investment, they say "What's that?"

I join Tee in saying again "Is it any wonder that the umpiring profession is held in such low regard?"

Peter

[Tim C]

As the Official Baseball Rule states in the opening statement:

(Paraphrased)

The Sporting News Offical Baseball Rules book is the only official book of baseball rules for games played under those codes.

I assumed that Peter was speaking of "real baseball" rules.

Tee

[David B]

Peter is exactly on target here.

We wonder why we hear so many stories of parents jumping on an umpire, or we hear umpires who talk about I would never go back to calling LL (or any other kids leagues) because the parents are horrible etc.,

It's because we have allowed umpires to get on the field and I'm sure many times its economics, but they have no clue. (many don't even have a rule book)

This umpire makes up his rules based on what "he or she": learned while playing ball 20 years ago.

Now we fast forward three years and this same kid is playing "real" baseball as Tee calls it. (not the 60'
cage match)

The umpire makes his calls and the parents and coaches go crazy. Now the umpire is trained and has read his books and knows the rules, but the parents and coaches have no clue.

But, the umpire is chastised and characterized as being "horrible" "he cost us the game" "why don't you go back to umpiring school" "where did you get that mask - walmart" and etc, etc., etc.,

As Peter states, umpires across the country have less and less credibility and its only going to get worse.

Anything we can do as umpires and as local leagues to help is certainly worth the effort.

Thanks
David

[rwest]

Since much has been assumed and said about me by those I've never even met, I'd thought I give you some information about myself. Not that it will change your opinion of me, but I'd thought it would be the right thing to do.

First, I've been calling ASA Slowpitch Softball for 2 years now. This is my 2nd year, so I'm still new and have lots to learn. I've not been involved in baseball since I was a kid. I hope to do fastpitch softball and maybe even baseball sometime in the future. In my two years of officiating, I've already been to two clinics. I mention this not to impress you but just as an indicator of my dedication. Why did I go to these clinics? To improve my understanding of the game and my mechanics. That's also why I come to this board. To learn from those who have vast more experience than I. I believe if you need help, you should go to those who can help. That's why I'm here.

Second, I had not heard of the Sportings News Rule Book until yesterday. Also, when I joined my association down here in Atlanta, I received a rule book with my registration. I wouldn't have known where to get one had they not provided me with one or provided me with a website where I could purchase it. I haven't seen many rule books in the local bookstore. Now I understand you can get the Sporting News Rule Book in a bookstore, but I've never seen one. Of course, I also wasn't looking for one. So forgive me for not going out to buy one.

Third, I have scheduled two clinics at my Church to go over our league rules, one umpire and two umpire mechanics and to clarify some of the least understood aspects of the game. If I didn't want to do a good job, why would I do this? I want our umpires to be the best they can be in the short time I have before the season begins. You have to remember, these are volunteers. Many have not called a game in their life. They also have jobs and families. They've volunteered to help out. They don't have time to spend a complete weekend going over nothing but the rules. They want to be involved and we have to rely upon what knowledge they do have from their own experience and supplement that understanding with some brief training. The Church can't afford to pay for umpires, so we need volunteers. I don't think they or I should be looked down upon because we volunteer. I don't think we should be held up as an example of why the profession is looked down upon.

Respectfully submitted!
Randall