Home run - missed the plate!!

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

Here is the bottom line for me: I see all kinds of home plates on the crappy high school fields on which I umpire adult ball. If the runner touches any portion of what is passing as home plate in a particular game, that runner has touched the plate, and you can stick your appeal directly. If he misses touching a part of the facsimile of home plate, he may be subject to an appeal.

I would think any umpire would have a difficult time explaining to a manager that the runner did not touch the plate because he only touched a black edge. Talk about OOO.

So how close is close enough? Do you carry a ruler to measure it?

Do you apply the same criteria to other bases?

If the catcher notices and appeals which team are you screwing?

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

So how close is close enough? Do you carry a ruler to measure it?

Do you apply the same criteria to other bases?

If the catcher notices and appeals which team are you screwing?

I use the same criteria at all the bases -- if I don't see dirt between the foot and the base/plate, he touched it.

[dileonardoja]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

I use the same criteria at all the bases -- if I don't see dirt between the foot and the base/plate, he touched it.

+1 and to +1 for Sandiego Steve. That is what I was getting at.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

So how close is close enough? Do you carry a ruler to measure it?

Do you apply the same criteria to other bases?

If the catcher notices and appeals which team are you screwing?

I am not sure I understand what you aren't getting. I am using the entire surface that is visible above ground, just as I would any other base. The "black" part of the plate is not to be used for judging balls and strikes (not supposed to be visible), but works quite well for touches (physically there on the field). Often there is no black left on the edges of some hard, slick, above-ground plates. Other times, the plate is old and chewed up, bordering on outright dangerous sometimes. Budget cuts and all, you know.

The black is not supposed to be sticking up to start with. If it is, however, I am treating it as part of the plate when incoming runners are trying not to trip and kill themselves on these treacherous slabs.

Here is what is not "close enough": Not touching the base, as in if I see the foot miss the base, he missed the base. The PHYSICAL base, which is what is on the field, just like I would rule on any any other physical part of the playing field.

And Rich, if you came out and argued very long with me about this at home plate, I would cheerfully jack your rat butt all the way back to New York.

[rcaverly]

The home plate at the high school field I worked today was white on the top surface. It had a black trim piece all around it. The black trim was maybe 3/8ths to 1/2 inch wide (looking down when I swept it.) Almost all of the black trim was visible. The park is one of the better ones in this part of paradise.