That's a balk (video)

[bossman72]

Originally Posted by GarthB

Off the top of my head....check out Dodgeball ref's explanation of when a pitcher is considered throwing to an empty base.

Hey, Dodgeball was a good movie!!

I never knew Al Kaplon was the ref until you pointed that out! He looks totally different in Dodgeball than in the movie i own (his 90' mechanics video, which is much better quality than his balk video).


Also, to add an incorrect interp, off the top of my head, he says the "bounce" is considered a legal stop in NCAA ball- FALSE!!

[fitump56]

Originally Posted by David Emerling

This reminds me of the time when, at one our mandatory, preseason umpire meetings, when a DVD series was played regarding the rules. It was completely based on OBR rules. Even the rule reference numbers were of the OBR variety. This is for high school baseball!

Of course, much of it applied, but some of it absolutely did not apply - especially in the area of balks.

It also claimed that stepping on the plate, when hitting a pitched ball, was not a violation unless the entire foot is out of the batter's box when contact is made. That is true under OBR. Untrue under FED.

I looked around the room and everybody was watching the video as if nothing was wrong.

I felt like standing up a screaming, "Do you guys realize this is a video on the wrong set of rules????"

I just shook my head. It was typical. The meetings are supposed to be instructional and are completely useless. In fact, a lot of negative training gets done. We have a horrible organization. It's just a good ole boy network where all the guys who have been around forever listen to themselves talk and tell war stories.

David Emerling
Memphis, TN

Do you get your tests for the THSSAA (sp) handed to you prior to test day and get to take the test with no time limits, an open book and any notes you want?

[fitump56]

Originally Posted by canadaump6

Can you please explain to me what interpretations the video gets wrong? Nobody in my association has ever questioned it.

This is dangerous territory for you, Young Man. Ump orgs are full of witless doofi, especially the aged officers and management, and they have no real desire to upset their gravy train of money, power and influence.

You start spouting off the actual, obvious and real problems and you'll get banned. Wait, I got banned here.

Point being, learn all you can, become as good as you can, expect that this may not work in your favor. Sadly.

[fitump56]

Originally Posted by canadaump6

Watch the "See a Balk, Call a Balk" video if you are unsure about the balk rule. I learned almost everything I know about balks from this tape. It's great to have a visual reference to back up the calls I make. This video provides that visual reference.

That video is to balks what porn is to "Apocolypse Now", trash to greatness.

[fitump56]

Originally Posted by ManInBlue

(Adult league) LHP had an increbile move to 1B - I called R1 safe (I think I missed it due to my own surprise) - but became very aware of where F1 placed his foot. He tried it again, and I balked him. Of course he went ballistic saying that I can't call that in a two man, I can't see it.

"That's a balk for the rest of this game." Nothing else needs to be said, you don't have to justify your eyesight or angle. God, I love callin' these MSBLers.

[fitump56]

Originally Posted by David Emerling

This area is a hotbed of high school baseball talent. The state champion usually comes from the west Tennessee area and many of the players get Div I scholarships to big schools, some of whom are drafted directly into professional baseball. Baseball talent here is more recognized than football, which is rather atypical for the south.

David Emerling
Memphis, TN

You got climate issues in ETenn for baseball, you have UT football and baseball doesn't conflict seasonally with basketball in the Delta. And MSU football blows so no competition there.

WTenn feeds in EArk, NMiss players. The Tigers (yeah, I do my homework) are a big part of that.

Don't ask about my experiences with Bill Speros, McCarver, the Gaglianos, Mike Roos, ppl here call me names and yell at me, it hertz my feelings.

[ManInBlue]

Originally Posted by fitump56

The Tigers (yeah, I do my homework) are a big part of that.

Don't ask about my experiences with Bill Speros, McCarver, the Gaglianos, Mike Roos, ppl here call me names and yell at me, it hertz my feelings.

Which Tigers are you talking about? The UM Tigers or the Memphis Tigers?

I run into those guys you mentioned all the time.

[fitump56]

Originally Posted by ManInBlue

Which Tigers are you talking about? The UM Tigers or the Memphis Tigers?

I run into those guys you mentioned all the time.

Memphis, David is or was a Coach, my Boss as well. We called a bunch of their games, Tobey Field, Southhaven Ms, various parks. Boss' sons payed for them. I wonder if they still have those Godawful yellow/green uniforms

[ManInBlue]

Originally Posted by fitump56

I wonder if they still have those Godawful yellow/green uniforms

Yep - still yellow and green, although they don't look so bad

[David Emerling]

Originally Posted by fitump56

Do you get your tests for the THSSAA (sp) handed to you prior to test day and get to take the test with no time limits, an open book and any notes you want?

It's TSSAA (Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association)

We use the open book test as a group project during our mandatory meetings. We just go around the room and take turn reading and answering the questions. If anybody has any questions, we address right there on the spot.

The closed book exam is taken individually, with books closed, and no time limit. The taking of the closed book exam is not mandatory. But failure to do so, and score 90% or above, prohibits an umpire from getting any District, Regional, or State playoff assignments.

Also, there is no feedback on test results. We take the test and that's the last we hear of it. We don't find out if we "passed", "failed", or what our score was. We hand it in, walk out of the room, and that's it.

David Emerling
Memphis, TN

[David Emerling]

Originally Posted by fitump56

Memphis, David is or was a Coach, my Boss as well. We called a bunch of their games, Tobey Field, Southhaven Ms, various parks. Boss' sons payed for them. I wonder if they still have those Godawful yellow/green uniforms

I was never the head coach. Didn't have the time. I just helped out with the pitchers. But, yes, I did coach a Memphis Tiger team. We played a lot of tournaments at Snowden Grove (Southaven, MS).

Who in the hell are you?

You're creepin' me out, man! I hate it when somebody knows me but I don't know them. Where do you live?

David Emerling
[email protected]

[fitump56]

Originally Posted by David Emerling

I was never the head coach. Didn't have the time. I just helped out with the pitchers. But, yes, I did coach a Memphis Tiger team. We played a lot of tournaments at Snowden Grove (Southaven, MS).

Yep, Snowden in MS, hmm thinking of Memphis Snowden, Farigrounds, Davis and Bartlett Park.

Funny story, Boss was just out of college, came back to call Tiger ball (after starting it see below) at CBHS. Tiger coaches moaning and groaning about how bad the field was. Boss was one of three who planted all the pine trees on the hillside, infield grass, etc as an Alumni. Beat the penal Farm and the old CBHS - Parkway.

Who in the hell are you?

You're creepin' me out, man! I hate it when somebody knows me but I don't know them. Where do you live?

David Emerling
[email protected]

I live in far away SW FL these days, island bound. I'm PWL, didn't you know? No, that's Tyler, I'm, oh hell, I fergit.

I hear your boys turned into players, congrats. We knew Hagan when he called US on how to coach and the crap about Donato and Mills starting the Tigers is just that...crap. Boss came up with the concept in '64.

Saw Mike Shannon, the last game of the old Chicks, and Sputnick over Tobey at the same time. Watched Russwood Park burn down.

I'm tragcally hertz you don't know me, ole SLL Cards fan, we talked on our Sprint phones and about our new GPS devices. Here, I thought you loved me.

[Blue37]

Originally Posted by David Emerling

The closed book exam is taken individually, with books closed, and no time limit. The taking of the closed book exam is not mandatory. But failure to do so, and score 90% or above, prohibits an umpire from getting any District, Regional, or State playoff assignments.

Also, there is no feedback on test results. We take the test and that's the last we hear of it. We don't find out if we "passed", "failed", or what our score was. We hand it in, walk out of the room, and that's it.

David Emerling
Memphis, TN

David,

What you described is the way it worked in my area prior to last year, but my baseball and football associations in Middle Tennessee took our "closed book" tests online last year, and I thought the TSSAA went to online testing statewide. We had a week-long window in which to complete it. An official could go online and print the test early in the week, use the books (and other officials) to complete it, then go back online and enter the answers anytime prior to the end of the week. Feedback was immediate. It told us our score and which ones we missed as soon as we hit submit.

One neat thing about the testing procedure was each individual test was pulled from a pool of approximately 200 questions. That eliminated the ability of anyone just getting the answers from someone else, as there was only a small probability of two officals having the same identical test.

The passing score was 80% last year. It was 70% prior to the online testing. I like the 90% level, and hope they do go to it if they have not already done so. If you cannot make 90%, especially open book with other officials assisting you, you probably have no business in the playoffs.

[fitump56]

Originally Posted by Blue37

.....my baseball and football associations in Middle Tennessee took our "closed book" tests online last year, and I thought the TSSAA went to online testing statewide. We had a week-long window in which to complete it. An official could go online and print the test early in the week, use the books (and other officials) to complete it, then go back online and enter the answers anytime prior to the end of the week. Feedback was immediate. It told us our score and which ones we missed as soon as we hit submit.

I am all 4 online testing, but it is impossible to determine who took the test (unless you are the NSA ). Not like massive cheating doesn't already exist..

One neat thing about the testing procedure was each individual test was pulled from a pool of approximately 200 questions. That eliminated the ability of anyone just getting the answers from someone else, as there was only a small probability of two officals having the same identical test.

Good idea.

The passing score was 80% last year. It was 70% prior to the online testing. I like the 90% level, and hope they do go to it if they have not already done so. If you cannot make 90%, especially open book with other officials assisting you, you probably have no business in the playoffs.

The better idea, IMO, is to have mandatory online courses, with quizzes and a online and in-person test with required ID. This should close most of the cracks for cheating.

http://forum.officiating.com/showpos...30&postcount=1