Signs of Rubber

[ozzy6900]

Here's a question for you all.

How do you know when F1 is taking signs?
How do you know that the "signs F1 is taking off the rubber are the real signs?
How do you know that when F1 steps on the rubber another sign or set of signs is not being given?

The answer is you don't know. And that is the answer that I give to the complaining coach!

As long as F1 does not step on the rubber and into to a quick pitch, he is not violating anything. OBR and NCAA is a "don't do that". FED says balk but as was previously stated, the pitching restrictions don't start until F1 intentionally contacts the rubber so there cannot be a balk.

Most important, go back and read my first 5 lines of this post!

[PFISTO]

I sort of remember asking this question to my instructor last year and I believe he had said that there is not any rule against it but if he saw it he would tell the pitcher to stop doing it and if he continued to do it it could lead to an ejection. Now I am assuming that F1 is not stradling the rubber to decieve the runner as that would be a violation as mentioned eairler

[Jerry]

http://www.amateurumpire.com/mech/mech08.htm

The above link has one of the best explanations on the subject that I've ever seen. Scott Ehret's no stranger to baseball rules either.

Jerry

[justanotherblue]

OK, I have to give BigGuy a break on this one. I got one hell of a headache following the other post, but on this one, I have to give him a break, before you guys totally eviserate him. ONLY in FED land that I know of is this distinction made, and put in print. Start with 6-1-1, he's right that in Fedland, you must be in contact with the rubber to take a sign from the catcher. Can he look and get a sign from his girlfriend in the cheap seats, sure, but he must be in contact with the rubber per fed to get his sign from the catcher. How do you know, well as PU, you won't, if you truly look, you can tell, is it worth the argument, not to me. I've seen and allowed pitchers to look into the dugout for his sign, why not, it slows him down. If that coach doesn't care that the catcher doesn't know what is coming, I don't either till I get hit the second time! If I think he is quick pitching, I'll stop it directly, which is probably feds thinking in it's warped way that is. As BU in A, you won't. In B or C, if you look for it you will see it, I would say in almost every JV or under league, you could call it every game if you choose, again, not worth my time unless quick pitching. Why does Fed make a big deal about it, because someone sometime who doesn't really understand the game was/is on the rules committee. Yep, (p.42 of 07 NFHS, for the anal to read it) penalty confirms it. Also 6-2-4C, he quoted the wrong rules reference. It's one of those, yeah I read it, know it and understand it. Do I call it, NOPE not even in the Sunday Mexican league! (It pays good!!) It's not in OBR, J/R, NCAA or any other rules set I have read. AS it is said time and again throughout the board, Umpire with the rules not by the rules, your games will go sooooooo much better and your move up and get far away from the black and blue leagues. As for the guy with 50 years experince etc etc... good for him, he probably should have retired to little league 20 ago. To BigGuy I will say, it's good your scouring the rule book, and reading it. Digest it, think through it, don't live and die by the written word of it, especially the FED rules. Grab a cold one and relax.

[LMan]

Originally Posted by ctblu40

The obstruction argument was good,

No, it wasn't.

[kylejt]

Originally Posted by jkumpire

Everyone understands that FED writes the rules so any gerbil can learn the rules and umpire, ......

OMG, I have to clean my keyboard. THAT explains everything.