I'm certain to get plenty of flak about this play from yesterday's select 18u tournament game:<blockquote>R1 only, stealing. He beats the throw easily as the ball hits the dirt well in front of the base. But I can't find it. The <i>runner</i> stands up, then flips the ball to the second baseman, who throws it to the pitcher.</blockquote>"Did you catch the ball?" I ask the runner. Says the fielder: "No, he just picked it up and handed it to me." Said I to the runner: "Son, don't do that." Said he: "Oh, I wouldn't do that in a real game, Carl."

I pointed to the plate umpire. He pointed to the pitcher and said "Play." Of course, the ball was still alive as far as I was concerned.

The defensive coach yelled: "I wish he was on my team!"

I'd be interested in your comments as long as they are not profane.

Genie says: You only have two wishes left.


These are our future leaders.

Carl,

Judging from the way you've described the play, I would have done the same thing. Playing action was relaxed and no advantage was gained. It sounds like R1 had already legally obtained second, so it's not like they were going to make another play on him.


Tim.

As someone (Jim Booth?) has said, "It's only interference if there's a play to be interfered with." (or something like that)

In your example, the play was over. No interference.

Carl, what type of cup do you wear on the bases?

As to the play, I have no interference.

Bob

The player presumes that "real" baseball is interscholastic competition in the spring or American Legion in the summer.

A runner in foul territory in the Pioneer League picked up a foul ball that had stopped rolling and threw it back to the pitcher. The defensive coach protested when the umpire did not call out the runner. The president of the league upheld the protest.

Perhaps <i>that</i> is the issue.

The player presumes that "real" baseball is interscholastic competition in the spring or American Legion in the summer.

A runner in foul territory in the Pioneer League picked up a foul ball that had stopped rolling and threw it back to the pitcher. The defensive coach protested when the umpire did not call out the runner. The president of the league upheld the protest.

Perhaps <i>that</i> is the issue.

Bob: Don't be so funny. In a three-man crew a pick-off throw from a senior pitcher who regularly hits the 90s went off F3's mitt and hit just to the right of the shin on my right leg.

I was released from Home Nursing Care last Thursday, after four months of wound dressing.

My doctor has said she won't be responsible unless I wear shin guards <i>on the bases</I> did it once, and nobody said anything.

They don't say anything when I start in B either. They're just happy to have someone with my expertise on their field. (grin)

Oh, a junior college coach about six or seven years ago said something like: "What the hell are you doing starting in B?"

I said: "Umpire are you?

He said: "Yes. With nobody on...."

I said: "With nobody on, I <i>start</i> where you <i>stop</i> after you have pivoted into the infield. Think about it!"

At the end of the game, he said: "I'm gonna try it. It worked for you."

I never heard back from him. Likely, his association fired him. After all, according to some people on The Forum if you coach <i>and</i> umpire, the coach-half rules and you are a rat!

The player presumes that "real" baseball is interscholastic competition in the spring or American Legion in the summer.

A runner in foul territory in the Pioneer League picked up a foul ball that had stopped rolling and threw it back to the pitcher. The defensive coach protested when the umpire did not call out the runner. The president of the league upheld the protest.

Perhaps <i>that</i> is the issue. [/B][/QUOTE]
Did the umpire call the ball foul yet? Prez' can do as they wish but gee whiz, that's a stretch if we have a dead ball, if not, then R deserves to be called out (even if he is being a sweet boy).

"Nice as rice will get you diced". -Chinese baseball player circa 2004 4Q [/B][/QUOTE]Ok, I suppose I wasn't clear. The ball had stopped rolling and was obviously, clearly foul. In my system of mechanics, we don't yell "Foul" unless runners are moving and the umpire's opinion is needed.

You DID wear them on the INSIDE of your pants, didn't you?
;)
JJ

I was always told to wear them inside the pants when I was calling the plate. You mean I should wear them inside on the bases as well?

after a long abscence...Papa C, I got nothing. I think you got it right.

Pioneer League is PRO ball. We ain't pro-ball umpires. If this was a real game, I MIGHT pick this booger, but I better be convinced that there was interference in some way.

From your description, I don't have anything worth pickin'.

Foul ball, dead ball
 

Carl Childress- I might be missing something but why can't a runner or offensive player pick up a foul ball? They are taught to lead off in foul territory when on third- if they get hit it doesn't matter. Batters pick up foul balls and had them to the catcher all of the time. I've seen that in the pros. If the ball is foul it is dead. Unless it is really close and the runner one hop snags it before you make the call, the blame lies with the umpire not the player. We make the standard foul call with the uprised arms as you do. I've seen plenty of coaches argue that an umpire has raised his arms but not said a thing on a foul ball. They want the ball dead. The pros do this mechanic too. It sounds like that league administrator had a case of the needtojustifyhisjobitis. That's just my 2cents, so if it isn't worth much, I admit it. Thanks for reading this.

Re: Foul ball, dead ball
 

Pete: I agree with you. But the president of the Pioneer League did not.

I said we shouldn't go to war in Iraq. The President said we should.

But when the ball is OBVIOUSLY foul, we don't raise our hands. For example, the batter fouls the ball straight back to the backstop. Do you raise your hands and say: "Foul"?

The batter fouls the ball over the first-base dugout and into the stands. Do you raise your hands and say: "Foul"?

The batter bunts the ball toward third. It comes to a stop about fifteen feet from the foul line. Do you raise your hands and say: "Foul"?

In our games, when the ball is foul with no possibility of becoming fair, I don't care if Golum picks it up.

I don't care much for either President.

Thanks for the quick and courteous response. By the way, what is going on with thomaswhite? This seems to be a major distraction. I also read about your shin injury. Try the soccer shin guard, it's really light and very strong.

Great minds....

But, hey, I use the GD stance, so I wear kids' soccer shin guards on my forearms as well.

And I've heard all that junk about taking it and why wimping out isn't necessary.

Amateur umpires in Mexico don't wear chest protectors, by and large. The contusions on their chests are probably large also.

The first umpire to wear a chest protector with upper-arm padding was thought to be a little pantywaist.

Lah, me.

As for the pair of presidents, I disagree with both. But Claude Engberg of the Pioneer League was a hell of a nice guy.

As for the new troll in town, I imagine he's giving WCB nightmares. But, to be honest with you, I have no idea who or what thomaswhite is.

Or even <i>IF</i>.

I agree, Carl. Someone has figured out a way to double post and it looks like he is as clueless in this persona as the other. I loved how he thinks a coach assisting a runner is Obstruction. His insistence on this call bordered on comedy. Thankfully, Bob helped him realize his folly. I believe sepuku may be in order for the lad with the tiny sword.

BTW, the shin guards work. I know a guy who broke his radius and ulna last year (fell off a ladder, not a foul ball). He wears a youth guard over the injury and looks funny after a season in the sun. But, he is fantastic on the dish and he doesn't have to worry about nuisance injuries to his arms. His nickname is BattleBot but he's the one laughing.