ouch!!
 

YouTube - Be The Umpire!

I know that baseball is a contact sport, but......

Appears to be malicious contact on the defense.

interesting that the umps are still there to watch them shake hands...game's over...outta here!

Normal at our place.

They don't even shake hands around here anymore. Too many brawls over the years. We definitely don't stick around to observe it. The teams are free to kick the crap out of each other, the umpires leave when the game is over. Toss the baseballs toward the home dugout and walk.

Interesting...is there a reason? Or is it something you've always done?

In Massachusetts, it's now mandatory for umpires to remain on the field to observe the handshakes.

If there's a good reason not to remain for the handshakes (contentious calls, etc.) the umpires have to fill out a form and send it to the state board.

A good reason would be "the game is over".

We've always done it - not as observers - they congratulate the kids too. The coaches thank them for umpiring.

The umpires are part of the league, not a foreign legion. They know many of the kids. For most of them, it's a way to stay involved after their own kids graduate.

Those who think their objective is to umpire and hightail it wouldn't like it here.

And it's a good lesson for all - the game is over - get on with it.

We think we're doing it the right way.

Disclaimer: this man is referring to Little League Baseball, where it's for the kids and all that. Shaving age players tend to get rowdy when they lose and are not in the mood to shake hands, and would just as soon kill the umpires as shake their hands.

Let's also remind the good people out there that MA also does not use FED rules for HS games, either!

I love that MA uses OBR-based rules.

I'm ambivalent on the handshake. They don't require us to be within a "step and a reach" of the handshake line, just on-the-field.

I'm with Steve. Shaving age and up, I roll out ASAP. Don't want to see or hear anything, especially comments toward my crew and myself.
However, I did a 12U travel game last Sat. First time I did that young in years. I had the plate. After the last out, I tossed the balls and walked to the gate to wait for my partner. He began shaking hands with the kids. Then he began walking over to the gate and the kids nearly chased me down to shake my hand.
It was a nice gesture, I just wasn't used to that.:)

No malice meant about not using FED rules, we just don't want the newbies to go running to the FED rulebook on this.

What does MA want you guys on the field for, anyway? Are you supposed to break up a confrontation or take names? (maybe we should start a new thread)

No intent to injure, just a bit of carelessness on the part of the pitcher. Looked like he tagged him hard to make sure he got the out. Pitcher went away right after the tag, a sign of no aggression.