Home plate appeal costs HS Conn team Championship.

[JRutledge]

I do not like the demonstration from the umpire about how he touched the plate. Just make the call. But of course if he did not step on the plate, he did not step on the plate. That will just make him a legend to make a tough call in a tough situation. Good for him.

Peace

[Rich]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I do not like the demonstration from the umpire about how he touched the plate. Just make the call. But of course if he did not step on the plate, he did not step on the plate. That will just make him a legend to make a tough call in a tough situation. Good for him.

Peace

I agree with this. I'm not letting the coach demonstrate and would likely eject a coach for the same kind of pointing to the ground, etc.

"He missed the plate. He stepped right over it." Good enough. I made a similar call about 8 years ago and I ended up having to eject the player and the manager soon thereafter. I'd make the call again in a heartbeat. How hard is it to touch the plate on a dead ball?

[TussAgee11]

Standing where he shouldn't be at least 30 feet away from home plate. Should have been point of plate 15 feet back, maybe rotating 3B side to see him touch as the celebration comes out of the 1B dugout. Not where he was... awful umpiring bottom line. If he missed it, he missed it, but don't tell me he SAW him MISS from where he was. And even worse job dealing with the situation.

Listen, nobody's perfect and we all miss calls and mishandle situations. But I know this guy was not the most qualified to work this game, period. Its nothing against him as an umpire, and everything against the state board who let this crap go on over here on a year in, year out basis. It's an embarrassment to our profession.

[jicecone]

Originally Posted by TussAgee11

But I know this guy was not the most qualified to work this game, period. Its nothing against him as an umpire, and everything against the state board who let this crap go on over here on a year in, year out basis. It's an embarrassment to our profession.

Is been five years since I worked in that area and with the official that worked that game. I have no idea what shananigans have taken place since but, I do know the official at the plate was more than quailified to be there.

"But I know this guy was not the most qualified to work this game, period." I have heard this a thousand times and it usually means, why didn't they choose me.

[TussAgee11]

Originally Posted by jicecone

"But I know this guy was not the most qualified to work this game, period." I have heard this a thousand times and it usually means, why didn't they choose me.

Well, don't assume I meant it that way because I didn't. Was actually speaking to the politics of the situation and why in CT our best officials are not put on the best high school games. I know of several officials in this state who are highly-qualified and capable umpires yet who are stuck with an average varsity schedule and an early conference/state appearance.

Then the "seasoned vets" who have been on boards for 30 years and appeased enough of the higher-ups get the big game, despite not knowing where to stand on touches of home plate and simulating out what he saw in his explanation in the dirt like he is in a Pee Wee huddle. That violates umpiring 101, plain and simple.

We as a state should be doing a better job of putting our best officials on our best games. Sadly, it doesn't happen.

[MikeStrybel]

I was working a high school game a number of years ago when we had a walk off home run. The dugout erupted on the swing and they charged out of it towards the plate. I was on the dish and as my 1B partner signalled the homerun, I put both hands forward and told the boys to stay off the dirt. Within seconds of opening my mouth, the HC of the defensive team was yelling at me for preventing an infraction and possible missed touch of home plate. I pretended not to hear him and after the kid touched, walked off with my crew. The HC and his assistant met us at the gate (the only way out was through the side closes to them) and continued to bait me. Only when I got to the car did one of my partners say something about it and he agreed with the HC. I commented that we have been asked to keep players away from the dish and he said that by doing so we are interjecting ourselves into the game. I disagreed but never forgot it. I still do it but much less than before and usually when I know I won't be able to see the touch.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by TussAgee11

Well, don't assume I meant it that way because I didn't. Was actually speaking to the politics of the situation and why in CT our best officials are not put on the best high school games. I know of several officials in this state who are highly-qualified and capable umpires yet who are stuck with an average varsity schedule and an early conference/state appearance.

Then the "seasoned vets" who have been on boards for 30 years and appeased enough of the higher-ups get the big game, despite not knowing where to stand on touches of home plate and simulating out what he saw in his explanation in the dirt like he is in a Pee Wee huddle. That violates umpiring 101, plain and simple.

We as a state should be doing a better job of putting our best officials on our best games. Sadly, it doesn't happen.

Wow, that all sounds familiar. Replace CT with CA and it's exactly the same.

[TussAgee11]

If a batter takes a position outside the batter's box as his preliminary starting point, pro school teaches the umpire to instruct him to get into the box.

I see that as a form of preventative officiating at the highest level.

As somebody mentioned, the reason you don't see much of it in MLB is because they are pros to begin with. They don't need reminding. But they do appreciate it when something comes up. I'll give you a classic example from the highest level of baseball I ever worked.

Double play ball, out at 2nd. Ball gets thrown into the dugout. Batter runner is lying on ground with a torn ACL at the 45 foot line. I call time and award 2nd.

As the manager, trainer, and first base coach hover over him, I casually walk over and very quietly say to the manager, "Joe, we're fine if you want to use a substitute here, but make sure he touches first before he goes to 2nd".

Sure enough, runner comes running out right to 2nd base. Manager starts screaming, whoa whoa whoa! Go touch first!

Next night, other manager comes out to coach 3rd, and he asks me about it and is trying to fish for just what I told the other manager. I told him right there "Chris, what I told him, I'd tell you in the same exact situation." And he was just fine with that. Surprising, cause he was a bit of a hot head.

[Dave Reed]

Well....
I don't typically find this sort of thing interesting, because the story is usually an emotional appeal to "fariness" or some such.

But now having finally watched the video, I'm wondering-- does the mechanics and positioning of PU permit him to make an accurate determination whether the runner touched the plate? Would you use this positioning on an extra inning winning run?

I count 4 umpires, so he didn't have too may other responsibilities.


ETA: Sorry TussAgee, I'm a slow poster.

[MikeStrybel]

Where are all the 'expected call' guys now?

The same guys that proclaim they will never call a pitch a strike if the catcher drops it are nowhere to be found.

The same guys who say they will never call a curve ball that cuts the bottom of the zone but ends up in the dirt are silent.

The same guys who preach that they call the runner out if the ball beats him to the slide by three feet (without regard for an actual tag) are AWOL.

Hmmmmm.

The demonstration/explanation was not pretty, but we only see the exchange. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt for appeasing coaches who usually would be borderline insane on a call like that, during a game as big as it was.

"Coach, I watched him the whole way in. I dusted the dish just before the at bat and I can clearly see his foot print past it."
"Where?"
"Right here, skipper."
"Oh, crap."

Tough call, good call. I would have like to see the BU rodeo clown the others away from the dish though.

Finally, standing 3B extended would not have allowed him to see the touch in that situation.

[umpjim]

Who appealed the missed base? I see the catcher with his back to the plate as the runner crossed HP.

[JJ]

If I'm the plate guy and that's the winning run, with no play I'm standing as close to home plate as I can get, and I'm doing my darndest to keep the teammates away from the plate while I watch him either touch it or miss it. Clearly the biggest call of a game like that needs extra scrutiny.

JJ

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by JJ

If I'm the plate guy and that's the winning run, with no play I'm standing as close to home plate as I can get, and I'm doing my darndest to keep the teammates away from the plate while I watch him either touch it or miss it. Clearly the biggest call of a game like that needs extra scrutiny.

JJ

Disagree - you take your normal position, you yell "get out of my way" and do your best to see the touch. I've never had a problem because when I bellow out "GET OUT OF MY WAY!" they scatter!
I'm such a prick!

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by JJ

If I'm the plate guy and that's the winning run, with no play I'm standing as close to home plate as I can get, and I'm doing my darndest to keep the teammates away from the plate while I watch him either touch it or miss it. Clearly the biggest call of a game like that needs extra scrutiny.

JJ

Every touch of home deserves scrutiny. This one no more or less than others. And we all know that "as close to home plate as I can get" is FAR too close to really see a play. Go to your normal position and make sure you have an angle. There's a reason our mechanics tell us where to go on certain calls - it's because through trial and error over time we've learned where the best place to be is. Wouldn't you want to be in "the best place" in this particular case as well?

[Rich]

Originally Posted by JJ

If I'm the plate guy and that's the winning run, with no play I'm standing as close to home plate as I can get, and I'm doing my darndest to keep the teammates away from the plate while I watch him either touch it or miss it. Clearly the biggest call of a game like that needs extra scrutiny.

JJ

I'm standing in the runner's path just behind the plate, keeping the teammates away. It's going to be hard for him to miss it.