Batter's hands

[w_sohl]

That was his STORY and he is sticking to it.

[CO ump]

Originally Posted by jicecone

Your point is well taking however, if he is going to ask for the proper ruling and then imply that he was going to handle his own way anyhow, ("Thats was my ruling and I'm sticking to it").

Then why ask for help?

Agreed
But I felt that was a different issue

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by rngrck

Ozzy- I think it may be time for you to retire. Try to go back 30 yrs when you were a rookie and needed some clarification or re- assurance on something that was not in the rules. Give us newbees a break!! If you have nothing positive to offer, please refrain.

First of all, if you read my post I specifically stated that I was not admonishing the poster for the question.

Originally Posted by ozzy

Where do questions like this come from? I'm not admonishing the poster for asking, but almost 30 years in this business and I still can't figure out where some of these questions come from. My guess is that people are taught these fallacies by inept coaches when they were just kids!

Funny but it seems all I did was use your quote to pose a freaking question!

That said, the original poster's question seemed more like something that was dreamed up after tipping a few in the local bar. And from the looks of some of the posts, I am not the only one with that opinion!

Now to your comments:

1. I'll retire when I am damn good and ready!
2. If you need a hug, you are in the wrong place!
3. 30 years ago, I learned my craft by discussing with veterans with one difference, it was done face to face and I respected them - no matter what horse$hit came out of their mouths!
4. Don't tell me or anyone else on this board what to do, rookie!

Originally Posted by rngrck

Well I got news for you!! I had a batter extending hands so far over the plate, that the pitcher complained he couldn't see F2's target. Well, I agreed and had the batter back off the hands. In this case, The B1 was deliberately trying to distract the pitcher. Thats was my ruling and I'm sticking to it. LOL.

Well I can see that you handled this situation with a pure lack of any rule concepts. Then you come here and put the question to veteran umpires and coaches and completely ignore the correct answers! You are on your way to becoming a real "Smitty" there son! What's next, banging the poor little tykes out for turning left after they over run 1st base? Or maybe you'd like to give us your thoughts on the proper awards for a ball thrown out of play - it's the one he's going to plus one, right? Lord knows you must know everything there is to the DH rule in all 3 baseball codes! This mental midget doesn't realize the caliber of people he's insulting on this board!

Yeah, this Smitty really got my dander up, people! But you know what? Pi$$ on him! He's not worth our time!

[UmpJM]

ozzy,

No need to "sugar coat it" like that, just tell us what you think!

JM

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by UmpJM (nee CoachJM)

ozzy,

No need to "sugar coat it" like that, just tell us what you think!

JM

Heh, heh, heh! Medication gooooood, Master!

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by rngrck

Well I got news for you!! I had a batter extending hands so far over the plate, that the pitcher complained he couldn't see F2's target. Well, I agreed and had the batter back off the hands. In this case, The B1 was deliberately trying to distract the pitcher. Thats was my ruling and I'm sticking to it. LOL.

So you invented a rule? Not a recommended practice.

Exactly what level is this that a batter can hold the bat in such a manner that his arms blodk F2's vision all while staying in the batter's box?

[UmpJM]

Originally Posted by GarthB

So you invented a rule? Not a recommended practice. ...

Not only "not recommended", it's illegal per:

Rule 12.06

(c)(2) During the course of the game ONLY COACHES are allowed to make up rules which have no foundation in the text, official interpretations, or history of the rules. APPROVED RULING: While the umpire may, at his sole discretion, entertain discussion of such made up rules with the coach (strictly for the entertaiment value), there will be NO ENFORCEMENT of any such rules.

(I was a coach when I made that one up, so it's legal.)

BTW, the batter does not have the right to see the pitcher's eyes either, should that come up in one of your games.

JM

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by UmpJM (nee CoachJM)

BTW, the batter does not have the right to see the pitcher's eyes either, should that come up in one of yours game.

JM

I assume you meant one of youse games.

[UmpJM]

Well I AM from Chicago!

(How embarrassing. )

JM

[Steven Tyler]

Damn, there are some bipolar son of a bass fishermen on here.........

[UmpJM]

Steven,

Happy (belated) 60th!

JM

[canadaump6]

Originally Posted by ozzy6900

Now to your comments:

1. I'll retire when I am damn good and ready!
2. If you need a hug, you are in the wrong place!
3. 30 years ago, I learned my craft by discussing with veterans with one difference, it was done face to face and I respected them - no matter what horse$hit came out of their mouths!
4. Don't tell me or anyone else on this board what to do, rookie!

Well I can see that you handled this situation with a pure lack of any rule concepts. Then you come here and put the question to veteran umpires and coaches and completely ignore the correct answers! You are on your way to becoming a real "Smitty" there son! What's next, banging the poor little tykes out for turning left after they over run 1st base? Or maybe you'd like to give us your thoughts on the proper awards for a ball thrown out of play - it's the one he's going to plus one, right? Lord knows you must know everything there is to the DH rule in all 3 baseball codes! This mental midget doesn't realize the caliber of people he's insulting on this board!

Yeah, this Smitty really got my dander up, people! But you know what? Pi$$ on him! He's not worth our time!

Maybe you'd better stop drinking for a few hours. It's clearly not good for you. By the way, I thought he handled the situation just fine. The batter is making a travesty of the game by putting his hands in the strikezone. Better to have him move his hands than risk suffering a broken hand. Plus as another poster suggested, this could be seen as an intent to make the pitcher balk. You're welcome.

Originally Posted by CoachJM

No need to "sugar coat it" like that, just tell us what you think!

Don't encourage him.

[UmpJM]

canadaump6,

You're "backsliding".

Originally Posted by canadaump6

What I am saying is that it doesn't hurt to present your arguments, even when you know they're wrong.

Try no ejections in 5 years of umpiring, equalling about 270 games in total.

The reason I said it was good that they walked off the field was because things were so out of control, and it would have been hard to know who to eject and why. I would've yelled for the head coach to get his team under control, otherwise he's gone, then toss him and the guy that called him an idiot.

If a batter bats out of order and nobody appeals it, does the batting order stay that way the next time through the order?

What is the reason for plate umpires not making the call on the check swing in the first place? Do they usually get blocked by the catcher, are they more focused on whether the ball was in the strike zone, or do they not want to give the teams something else to argue with them about?

I do not see the point of paying $80 for a pair of plate pants, not to mention whatever it would cost to buy base pants.

By my second game of the season I have my strikezone consistent to within one to one and a half inches on the corners, an inch on the low part of the zone, and I've got a general idea of the high part of my zone as well. Usually just takes me one plate game to get me back in the swing of things.

My problem with such a practice is that it is hard enough to call a consistent strikezone regardless of how the catcher catches it. Now add in the variable of how the catcher catches the ball, along with where the ball was, and things could get pretty variable and subjective. What used to be a matter of "did it cross through the zone or not" now becomes a matter of "did it cross through the zone or not, how did the catcher catch it, now combine both those variables and come up with a decision as to whether it is a ball or strike". I can't imagine anyone being able to combine both those variables and still call a consistent game. That is why I don't pay too much attention to the catcher, unless of course he makes one really ugly looking lunge at a pitch that was a tad off the plate anyways.

Why can one not uneject someone? An ejection is a judgement call, and judgement calls can be reversed. I wouldn't usually do this, but I'm just saying it is possible to uneject someone, so long as another pitch is not thrown before this happens.

I think a big part of my being disrespected is the whole ageism thing that older umpires have going on.

When we walk onto the field, it is best to do so as quickly as possible, and to not do anything that will attract peoples' attention. When calling the game we should try to be unnoticed, but this cannot always happen. Now and then there will be a tough rule to apply, or one that the people involved are not familiar with. In this case we have to sacrifice invisibility for getting the call right.

I have a hard time understanding why anyone would put fitump on their ignore list. Are his comments too truthful to handle? Does his knowledge of the game intimidate you? Are his questions about rulings and plays to complicated for some to understand? I need answers.

There isn't much point to having a pregame mechanics and positioning discussion when you're only working a 2 man system.

One week ago, 15 and under girls softball tournament. I go near the backstop, take off my base pants, put my jock on over my underware, then put my plate pants on.

I had a feeling that I was being held back in my association from higher level games, because of my age and not looking very old. Now I realized that that is the truth.

just realize that this is my place to vent and act spoiled, so that it doesn't carry over into real life.

I think that it is up to partners to communicate effectively, and to always be on the same page. However the base umpire should not have any say in the suspension of a ballgame due to inclimate weather or light failure. If the plate guy can't see it, then that is just too bad.

It does seem odd to me how a catcher can frame a pitch that is 18 inches off the plate, because those pitches that are apparently that far outside are often perfectly framed and held there by the catcher.

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.
If I say something that is so ridiculously stupid that there is no way I could be serious about it, then it's just comedy. I've joked twice on here; this thread, and the time that I said I used rule 9.10c four or five times a week. It's not that hard to tell when I'm kidding.

Now run along, and come back when you're ready to grow up.

JM

[DG]

Originally Posted by rngrck

Well I got news for you!! I had a batter extending hands so far over the plate, that the pitcher complained he couldn't see F2's target. Well, I agreed and had the batter back off the hands. In this case, The B1 was deliberately trying to distract the pitcher. Thats was my ruling and I'm sticking to it. LOL.

No legitimate rule I know of to prohibit batter from loitering over the plate as long as his feet are where they need to be. A good pitcher will get him off the plate rather quickly.

[umpduck11]

Originally Posted by UmpJM (nee CoachJM)

Not only "not recommended", it's illegal per:



(I was a coach when I made that one up, so it's legal.)

BTW, the batter does not have the right to see the pitcher's eyes either, should that come up in one of your games.

JM

Are you implying that you'd allow a pitcher to wear sunglasses?? That would be dangerous.......