Little League Questions?

[LMan]

*chuckles*


www.eteamz.com

[BigUmp56]

Originally Posted by LMan

*chuckles*


www.eteamz.com

That's right. Laugh at the guy and try to send him elsewhere. I didn't realize Brad had set this forum up for all officiating questions except Little League.


Tim.

[Rich Ives]

There is a "Special Pinch Runner" rule.

7.14 Once each inning a team may utilize a player who is not in the batting order as a special pinch-runner for any offensive player. A player may only be removed for a special pinch runner one time during a game. The player for whom the pinch-runner runs is not subject to removal from the lineup. If the pinch runner remains in the game as a substitute defensive or offensive player, the player may not be used again as a pinch runner while in the batting order. However, if removed for another substitute that player or any player not in the line up, is again eligible to be used as a pinch runner.

[BigUmp56]

7.17 Note

Does not apply if the local league adopts the continuous batting order. See rule 4.04.


Tim.

[RPatrino]

Good answers, Tim and Rich.

Some of us were lucky enough to start in the LL program, we were well trained, and now have moved on. To disrespect a fellow blue because we perceive the program he works to be "inferior" is not fair.

Welcome to the forum, Jack.

Bob P.
CA D57 Ump
SRUA UIC
D57 Staff

[jackthyref]

Thanks for answering those questions for me..And screw mr. chuckles there...I'm a umpire in a little league that isn't really part of the little league organization but goes by their rules and they make the kids slide no matter what at home. Then when the ball lodges in the fence they call it a dead ball and they make the runner stay at first...They just really screw everything up so I was going to have an umpires meeting and correct them on some things.

[RPatrino]

Jack, it sounds like you have experienced the dreaded "house rules". This is where well meaning but ignorant coach's and board members attempt to fix rules that they don't agree with. Most organizations frowns upon this, and your league should avoid trying to make the rules better by changing them locally.

What is your league going to do when a player slides at home because he was forced to by the league rules and breaks his leg?

Bob P.

[BigUmp56]

You should consider asking them why they feel the need to punish the offense when the defense messes up. After all it's not the offenses fault there was a WP/PB in the first place, so why should their runners be returned. On a small diamond the runner will almost always get at least one advance base on a passed ball that doesn't become lodged anyway. It's extremely rare to see a catcher throw out a runner on a WP/PB in Little League. The basepath's are too short.

Bob's comment on the "must slide rule" is right on the money. Such a rule is not only stupid, it can be dangerous.


Tim.

[LMan]

Originally Posted by BigUmp56

That's right. Laugh at the guy and try to send him elsewhere. I didn't realize Brad had set this forum up for all officiating questions except Little League.


Tim.

*chuckles again* Wrong, Tim, the level of ball has nothing to do with it. The point was, all these questions can be answered in a few minutes in the rulebook, they are black-and-white. Umpires are supposed to be beyond asking "See Dick run" questions, so I assumed he was a fan/dad/whatever....and eteamz is a useful resource for these questions.

...but, of course, I attempt to send no one anywhere, 'twas but a suggestion for additional information. I was confident you would be following shortly in the thread Thank goodness you are here to cut n' paste the rulebook for such hapless souls.

[TussAgee11]

I love doing LL, its alot of fun. In general the atmosphere is much more intense than a Freshman HS game, perhaps because of the closeness of the field. Something is lost when you move to the big diamond for sure. The kids that are mediocre players just seem to stop caring from age 13 on, which is very sad.

And don't anybody go ragging on LL umpires who do just LL. Those guys umpire in front of thousands come tournament time. And its just as difficult as doing a state HS playoff game, if not more difficult because everything is so much faster.

Just a pet peeve of mine, I love the big diamond as well because its more real baseball strategy (no more running to 2nd on a walk with a man on 3rd).

[jackthyref]

By the way I just dont have little league expierence. I have done high school and college before but I got out of it because of the politics...I will give you an example of what I was dealing with at the time...I had this big Triple A school rival game my first year umpiring high school...I got to be in that postition so quick because I was good at what I did..But anyways the situation was I had pitcher that was chewing tobacco...I learned that he was chewing tobacco from the other teams coach that came up to me in the middle of the inning..He asked me if I would check the pitcher for tobacco in his mouth..So I told the pitcher to come here and open his mouth and what do you know he was chewing it..So I ended up tossing the pitcher who was of course the star player on the team..He ended up getting suspended for a couple of games and got a huge fine from the board of ed...

Well the moral of the story is that when I got home that night the umpire that was in charge of all the umpires called me and told me I should have handled the situation differently..He said I should of just want up to the pitcher and seen what he was chewing and told him to spit it out and tell the other coach he was just chewing beef jerky...Well I thought about it and I got pissed so I quit umpiring in the higher levels...I beleive if you cant follow the rules then you dont need to be out on that field playing...That is why they hire us to adminstrate the rules and I just thought I was doing my job out there...

The real kicker to this story is that the next summer I was reading the newspaper and I was reading about this same player playing for a summer league team..And his coach was the man in charge of all the umpires..I was furious...

It is also why I kept on umpiring at the Little League level..I like what I do and I have fun doing it...I dont have bosses or anything..I just goto the field and do my job..If they dont like me then they dont call me back...I havent had many problems though..There has been a few problems with those rule questions from last year..But they were house rules that were made up...And I knew what was in the rule book by the way..I was just making sure I was reading it right..Im trying to help fix this little league in the same sense....

[SAump]

So much for trying to save a kids life. Chewing tobacco rules have been in place for a number of years. Just hope the kid gets help and stops chewing tobacco before its too late.

[SAump]

"Hurdling or going over the defensive player that has the ball and is waiting to make a tag is a legal maneuver. Rule 7.08(a)(3) does not prevent hurdling nor makes it illegal."

Hmmm, Steal cleats to the FACE. I don't think this is allowed. I do remember reading on this website that hurdling is only allowed if the defensive person was flat on the ground. Perhaps someone can clarify it for me.