Obvious Questions -- The "Why"

[Tim C]

Thanks for participating in my recent short threads.

Two of these plays were brought to the Oregon Athletic Association State Baseball Umpire Committee by the American Baseball Coaches Association and the others through the OSAA or Schools.

The Association (made up primarily of high school coaches) had their reasons to bring these questions to us.

1) The Oregon School Activities Association is considered a "friend" of the NFHS,

2) Oregon has had good success in bringing rules changes to the NFHS,

3) Oregon currently has more representation on rules committees, publication boards and research groups than any other state.

Here's the real story:

Play #2:

NFHS Rules

R1 and R3 and no outs.

2 balls 2 strikes on batter.

On the next pitch the batter swings and misses and falls across home plate where he contacts F2.

F2's throw in:

a) retires the R1 in his attempt and in,

b) the ball sails into centerfield.

On both plays R3 scores.

What do you have?

Barry Chasen, Chair of the ABCA High School Playing Rules Committee, wrote:

We also feel as a group that if the runner is retired, the interference is ignored, but if the catcher is prevented from throwing, the runner closest to home should be ruled out, and the other runner(s) is/are returned to the last base legally occupied, since no runners may advance when interference (offensive) occurs. In addition, you should see the 2007 casebook on Page 78. 8.4.2 Situation. In there, they say the batter is out, which contradicts their own penalty, as it is up to the umpire's judgment as per the rule, whether he is out or not. Their ruling is just what we want, in addition to what I said about if the runner is put out along with if the catcher cannot make a throw due to the interference.

Play #3:


NFHS Rules

When you arrive at the field you find that batter's boxes placed and marked perfectly.

You then notice that the cather's box is also 4' wide.

What do you do?

Again Chasen wrote:

Now that the NFHS has placed new significance in the lining of a field we ask that the catcher's box be sized the same as a batter's box so we can use the same frame to outline the box.

Play #4:

During the pre-game plate conference you say to the coaches:

"Are all your players legally and properly equipped including no jewelery?"

Both coaches mutter:

"Yes."

Now it is the fourth inning and the batter at the plate has complained, muttered, shook his head at a few of your calls.

You have reached the point that you would really like to dump him but he has not gone quite over your "line".

As you call strike three with your best Leslie Nielsen dance steps the batter walks past you giving you the REAL FU stare.

You notice at this precise instant that he is wearing a silver necklace.

You loudly announce to the crowd of seven:

"Your GONE for wearing jewelery!!!!"

Are you correct in your ruling?

This question was brought to us directly from a high school athletic director.

Oregon does not have any type of game protest system but we do review ejection.

The normal review of a baseball ejection (there were 82 last high school season) is to see if there could possibly be more information that could cancel the mandatory one game suspension that goes with an ejection.

This time it was slightly different:

The Oregonian Newspaper gives a high school sportsmanship award based on a points system covering all sports during the school year. An ejection is a heavy penalty that often knocks schools from this award.

The AD simply wanted to know if the OSAA would rescind the ejection as it was not done correctly under NFHS rules.

I was consulted only as to the "letter of the rule" and I ruled as did the majority of you.

It was a JV game and the ejction was rescinded by the OSAA.

Play #1:

NFHS

R2 and R3 1 Out

Fly ball to F8 which is caught.

R3 tags and scores

R2 does not retouch

After R3 has scored a successful appeal is made on R2 leaving.

Does the run count?

I only posted this one because for the first time in my career I was called at home on a Friday afternoon by my assignor who had an AD on his other line FROM A GAME and was upset that the umpires had allowed the run to count.

My assignor assured him that the run did count . . . he called me to get the "correct verbiage" so he could settle down the AD.

Sometimes I think we have too much technology.

Thanks again for all your help.

[Ump153]

So the correct answer to number three is "contact NFHS and ask for change in the rulebook to make it easier for coaches."

Wow. I wish I had that much time on my hands.

[w_sohl]

Originally Posted by Tim C

Play #1:

NFHS

R2 and R3 1 Out

Fly ball to F8 which is caught.

R3 tags and scores

R2 does not retouch

After R3 has scored a successful appeal is made on R2 leaving.

Does the run count?

I only posted this one because for the first time in my career I was called at home on a Friday afternoon by my assignor who had an AD on his other line FROM A GAME and was upset that the umpires had allowed the run to count.

My assignor assured him that the run did count . . . he called me to get the "correct verbiage" so he could settle down the AD.

Sometimes I think we have too much technology.

Thanks again for all your help.

Why do I always want to think this is a force out.

[DG]

Originally Posted by w_sohl

Why do I always want to think this is a force out.

I don't know but possibly because you don't have to tag the runner.

[w_sohl]

Originally Posted by DG

I don't know but possibly because you don't have to tag the runner.

That has to be it...