Most rule calls??????
 

Good evening,
I was just sitting here going over the 2007 NFHS rules and I was wondering besides balls and strikes and plays at any base what type of call do you see the most. I mean calls like interference, obstruction, pitching infractions, batting out of order. Calls that would make you reference the rule code. I hope I asked this question clearly.
Thanks mike

OK Mike,
 

Since my New Year's Resolution is to have NO ONE on my ignore list in 2007:

In order of importance to me:

1) Safe/Out
2) Fair/Foul
3) Ball/Strike
4) Balks
5) NFHS Re-entry
6) Batter Interference
7) FPSR
8) Catcher Interference
9) Fielder/Runner Contact (i.e. obstruction/interference)
10)Malicious Contact


Dare I say:

Since I have not had a "too dumb to bat in order" call in 15 years now I'll have at least two this year.

I should add somewhere the new NFHS "going to the mouth" since it has been called one way (the easy way) for decades I will need to pay more attention.

"One Rule ~ One Interpretation ~ One Mechanic"

Edited: as socalblue reminded me:"Surprise is the umpires enemy!"

Great reply, Tim!

p.s. I'd hate to see your business card, that's quite a title!

Tim,

The only change I would make on my list would moving 1 to 3. Think back to JE & what he advises ....

Regarding the "odd" calls- you see balks more often than the rest. Re-entry occurrs nearly every game, so you'll see the sub rule quite frequently.

Last year i had 2 or 3 batter's int calls, 2 or 3 catcher's int calls, 1 maybe 2 int calls in the field, 1 maybe 2 obstruction calls, zero FPSR calls and zero malicious contact calls.

REALLY rare ones i had this year-
*Batted ball hit Base Umpire in C position
*Fly ball, ball hits F8's mitt and pops up, R2 leaves bag, F8 then catches ball. (I had to correct my partner who forgot the rule and messed up the subsequent appeal)
*Seen an aluminum bat break (no rule reference here, just thought it was noteable :) ).


If you're asking this question to see which rules you need to "know better," you should learn them all. These things happen very rarely, but it's your job to know what to do when they happen.

It may be regional, so for my area I would reorganize. It has been a very long time since I have seen MC in a high school game. I also don't see many re-entry questions.
1) Ball/Strike
2) Fair/Foul
3) Safe/Out
4) Players out of the dugout without helmets
5) FPSR
6) Balks
7) Obstruction
8) Batter interference
9) Catcher interference
10) Runner interference

I never bring a rule book onto the field.

D3K and IFR
 

Has to be up there near 4 and 5.

These are just the answers I was looking for. Tim C nice answer and it's nice to see you putting things behind you it will only make this a better place to visit. And as far as knowing all the rules I would agree as that is my goal.
Thanks Mike :)

Teams Must Flow Btwn 1/2-Innings
 

8 prep. pitches 1st ing. and 6 afterward to be completed within 1 minute

There was a big discussion among the bigwigs in our state (I'm not one of them...but I was subsequently asked for my opinion by one of the bigwigs) about the following:

NFHS Rules apply: R1 and 0, 1 or 2 outs.

What is the penalty for a pitcher, who while in contact with the rubber in the stretch position but prior to coming set (that is, for example, he's looking in to get the signs from the catcher) goes to his mouth with his non-glove hand?

What is the penalty: ball or balk?

I'll tell you what I concluded later. But from what I understand this became a very heated discussion between the different regional booking secretaries and the statewide league office. The statewide league office issued a directive as to what the penalty will be in our state...but a number of people don't agree with it.

at first read sound like a "ball" to me...might be nice to see it though.

Balk since in FED, doing any movements that aren't related to throwing/pitching/coming set are balks (such as adjusting your cap or shaking the signs off with your glove).

Had he gone to his mouth, stepped on the rubber, and delivered a pitch, it would be an illegal pitch and a balk.


However, i think the new rule for 2007 states that it's a ball no matter what now, although i'm not sure about this by any means.

casebook 6.2.1 SITUATION A: F1 places his pitching hand on his mouth and distinctly wipes off his pitching hand prior to touching the ball (b) while touching the pitcher's plate. RULING: (b) illegal, a ball shall be awarded to the batter.

You did not say whether he wiped it off or not. If he does BALL, if not BALK. I can't find another reference or case play to call this balk. Carl will probably cover the change in BRD. It was item 363 in last year's issue.

This appears to be a rule change for 2007.

And all this time I've been giving 8 and 5.

Is this a new rule? An extra pitch now?

"Control of the ballgame is the difference between umpires that show up for the players and the managers."

Did Bruce really say that? It makes no sense. The thought is incomplete. When you say something "is the difference between..." you need two items to show the difference.

So control of the ballgame is the difference between umpires that (sic) show up for the players and managers, and what?

Hot dog and a Coke?


Tim.

I thought it was 8 and 5 also, did this change?

Is it ... the difference between umpires that [sic] show up for the players, and those who show up for the managers?

That reading would make it more of a complete thought, but has any umpire ever showed up for the managers, but not for the players?

"8 prep. pitches 1st ing. and 6 afterward to be completed within 1 minute"

Must be a Texas JV game rule.

One Rule ~ One Interpretation ~ One Mechanic

According to Baseball Almanac, Froemming did indeed say those exact words! You can check out the quotes by clicking here.

See More Often
 

1 Game 2 Teams 3 Strikes 4 Balls 5 Skills 6 Outs 7 Innings 8 Warm-up Pitches 9 Players 10-Run Rule

Maybe that's one of those new innovative mechanics they teach at that San Antonio clinic he's touting. :)

A Better LL/OBR Rule
 

Don't the FED/NCAA rulemakes realize the situation? A ball leads to a walk, a walk leads to a runner, a leadoff runner leads to a run, and a run leads to a longer game. I don't even want to get into an ejection report, let me just say I would have saved more time ignoring the ONE extra pitch. The PITCH at best warrants a "don't do that" and at worse should be completly ignored.

Translation = "I didn't know it was only five pitches."


Tim.

Eval Report
 

SAump doesn't count pitches. :D

I think Bruce meant to say that control of the ballgame is the difference between umpires that show up for the players and the managers and the ones that just want a paycheck and hide behind their partners. You know, from the previous sentence? Bruce just didn't state it properly.

Guess it's time to pick a new signature line.:cool:

Most Common Rule 2.00
 

Common Terms Part 2 - Neutral
1 Field 2 Play 3 Fair Ball 4 Foul Ball/Tip 5 Dead Ball 6 Conference 7 Award 8 Penalty 9 Re-enter 10 Malicious Contact
Common Terms Part 3 - Offense
1 Safe 2 Batter 3 Runner 4 Substitute 5 DH 6 Base on Balls 7 Slide 8 HBP 9 Bunt 10 Retouch 11 Interference
Common Terms Part 4 - Defense
1 Fielders 2 Catch 3 Pitch 4 Force 5 Tag 6 Third Strike Not Caught 7 Infield Fly 8 Balk 9 Obstruction 10 Forfeit
Note: Parts 1-4 were done on the FLY and still under construction.
Note: Part 5 - Scoring and other things were left off the list. Ex. Plate, Box, Batted Ball, Time, H, E, FC, SAC, K, DP, SB, etc.

Tee gave you an excelllent list but in a FED game I would know and be able to auote the rules for when a ball is immediately dead vs. delayed dead and also the base awards.

In the FED rule book they have a concise table concerning the aforementioned.

Another rule that doesn't come up from game to game but you need to know is the Malicious Contact Rule.

Example:

B1 is obstructed by F3 rounding first base but B1 levels F3. In OBR (even in LL), you let play continue until it's completion. You penalize the OBS and you might have an EJ.

In FED, the Malicous act Supercedes the OBS and you call B1 out.

A coach might request time and ask "Hey Blue why isn't the OBS penalized, I can replace the ejected player with a bench player and put him on second base.

Pete Booth