Little League Problem

[Forest Ump]

Originally Posted by aceholleran

With each year (this my 32nd), I try to see how few words I can exchnage with anyone (save the catcher) during a ballgame.
Ace in CT

Great advise.

Varsity game last week. I called the runner safe at first. Hard sell, very loud. Jog out to B and low and behold home manager is coming out to see me. He gets up close and says "What did you see". I responded “Batter touched the base before the ball got there". He looks at me for about 3 or 4 seconds and starts walking away. He gets about 15 feet away and turns and says “You want to know what I saw". I said "Nope, not interested". Next time I'll just say no.

[celebur]

Originally Posted by TussAgee11

I would see checking his swing as an attempt not to get hit by the ball...

Unless the batter actively flinches at the ball as it comes in (perhaps with the knee or elbow), or just stands there with absolutely no movement, he's getting first base. Pretty much every other thing he can do is an attempt to not be struck with the pitch, including checking a swing.

I'd have to be there though to say 100%... but the way you described it, I'm awarding first.

Thanks for that answer; I found it very helpful because I had the same question as did Paul L (but I didn't have the b*lls to ask).

[Dave Reed]

If the pitch is high but over the plate--Paul L's scenario, and the pitch hits the batter's hands, I'm not buying the idea that the check swing is a result of the batter trying to avoid getting hit. More likely the swing wasn't really checked, and it is therefore a strike.

Guess you had to be there, except it was a hypothetical situation to begin with!

[mick]

Originally Posted by mbyron

Be careful with smart-a$$ery: it does not serve us well. The comment I make when I get "the hands are part of the bat" is: only in cricket, coach.

Cricket ?
Anyway..., Good call.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by mbyron

Be careful with smart-a$$ery: it does not serve us well. The comment I make when I get "the hands are part of the bat" is: only in cricket, coach.

Just declare an LBW and go home.

[HokieUmp]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

Just declare an LBW and go home.

No way, RichMSN! Hawkeye shows the ball was clearly missing off-stump.



Edited to say: Unless you've seen cricket on TV, you'll have no idea what that meant. Trust me, though: it was funny.

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by mick

Cricket ?
Anyway..., Good call.

In cricket, the hands are considered part of the bat.

[PeteBooth]

What is the difference in your response of only in cricket, coach.

vs. the posters response of


I asked him when he bought the bat did the batters hand come with it.

Both are smart a$$ answers. When someone asks a smarta$$ question they deserve a smarta$$ answer.

Months ago Garth (btw I hope your are doing well Garth - if you still "peak" in from time to time" ) gave us a link to a conversation between Haller and Earl Weaver. Talk about smarta$$ comments.

Pete Booth

[TussAgee11]

Earl: You see in 5 years who's in the hall of fame
Haller: You're going to the hall of fame? For f****** up World Series?
Earl: I've won more than I lost.
Haller: Oh no you haven't....
Earl: Games! count Games!

Classic argument.

[Welpe]

As unprofessional as it may be these days, I love that video, especially when Haller goes "BOOM!" as he ejects Weaver.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by Forest Ump

Great advise.

Varsity game last week. I called the runner safe at first. Hard sell, very loud. Jog out to B and low and behold home manager is coming out to see me. He gets up close and says "What did you see". I responded “Batter touched the base before the ball got there". He looks at me for about 3 or 4 seconds and starts walking away. He gets about 15 feet away and turns and says “You want to know what I saw". I said "Nope, not interested". Next time I'll just say no.

My oldest son, MTD, Jr., is a senior in H.S. and became an OhioHSAA Class 2 (jr. varsity and below) baseball umpire this year. Two weeks ago on a Sunday afternoon he was umpiring a boys' 14U travel team baseball DH at a diamond close (2.5 mi) to home while our assigner had me umpiring a girls' 12U ASA fastpitch softball DH not so close to home (25 mi). At the family dinner that night he told me how he handled the offensive head coach on a bang-banger at first base where he called the batter-runner out: The OHC asked him what he saw and Mark, Jr. calmly told him that he saw an out. The OHC stopped dead in his tracks and couldn't think of anything else to say. And the game resumed post haste.

By the way, Jr. made $80 for his DH, while his bald old geezer of an ol' man made $60 for the softball DH. There is no justice in this world, except that his monthy room and board fee went up $20.

MTD, Sr.

[mick]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

By the way, Jr. made $80 for his DH, while his bald old geezer of an ol' man made $60 for the softball DH. There is no justice in this world, except that his monthy room and board fee went up $20.

MTD, Sr.

Ha!