In Saturday's Red Sox/Yankees game, when Kevin Millar hit a home run, he stepped right on home plate as he left the batter's box. Isn't that an out, or is he allowed to step there, once he's hit the ball, that is? Thanks.

After, the batter hits the ball, they can step wherever they want.

On a couple of occasions, I have seen umpires call batters out for stepping on the plate <i>after</i> hitting the ball (that is, on their way to 1B). I believe that in each case, the offense managed to get the call overruled through an appeal to the BU. These were not high-level games, in case anybody was wondering.

A few other insane calls I've seen:

Batter hits the dirt on a pitch right at his head. Ump calls strike because the bat ended up "across the plate."

Infield fly dropped and kicked into the outfield. Ump says ball dead, everybody goes back.

Infield fly caught. Runner had left before catch, but ump disallows appeal on the theory that the runner can leave the moment the ump calls IFR.

Catcher receives throw 40 feet ahead of the runner. Runner stops, turns around, and heads back toward 3B. Ump calls runner out for being out of the baseline.

Abel on 1B. Baker hits a long drive that F8 can't quite grab. Baker follows close behind Abel and stops at 3B. On a close but obvious play, Abel slides home apparently safe, but ump calls him out on a "force" at home because Baker has already made it to 3B.

Those weren't umpires. They were dummies pretending to be umpires. And BADLY. Where do these leagues come up with these jerks?

Bob

Runners on first and second, full count on batter. Runners takes off for third and second. Pitch is a ball. Catcher throws to third. Ump calls runner out on the steal. Coaches complain. Umps says he is still out but batter can lead off next inning.

Whats wrong with that scenario? It ends the inning, thereby shorting what could have been a long game!!!!

Good Call.

You forgot the smily-face.


Don't want the lurkers to think this was OK do you?

One of the funniest calls I have ever seen. Playing an amatuer baseball game, adults, and playing in a real small town. They only have one umpire to do the game, he's an old guy named Earl who does all the games in this town. Anyway, we have a full count on the batter, pitcher throws a curve ball in the dirt and the batter checks his swing, Earl calls ball and the runner heads down to first. Our pitcher yells at our catcher to appeal, so our catcher turns around and and says "Earl, did he go??" Earl looks at him and goes "Yes he did!!" and rings up the batter for strike three.

You mean its not OK.

How do you make those little faces anyway?

True Story.

Im offciating a 13 yr old game. 3rd of the day, Hot day and this game is going forever.

5th inning, 1 out with R3. Ground ball to F6 who throws home to get runner coming home. Why? Because that is 13 yr old baseball. Anyway, runner is put out for 2nd out. Catcher tosses ball to me thinking there are 2 outs. I toss ball back and tell him batter-runner is going to 2nd. Cathch throws out batter-runner. Three outs. No one says a word, lets move on.

On some days and during some games, things just happen.

I umpire, but the worst call I have ever seen was when I was a player. Bases loaded, no outs in a coed game. Girl hits the ball right back to me, the pitcher. My catcher is awful, so I dash home, touch the plate, and fire to first in plenty of time.

BU rules the batter safe. When asked why, he tells me it is because I got an out "behind the runner" (at home), thus removing the force, and my 1B should have tagged the batter. I argue nicely for about 15 seconds before realizing the guy is clueless. So I appeal to the home umpire - WHO AGREES WITH HIS PARTNER! I tell him I want to protest (never raising my voice - I'm "blue" too), and get ejected the second the word protest leaves my mouth.

NOW, I get upset and ask for the supervisor of officials to come over. PU turns his back on me, warns me that he'll have me reported and escorted from the park. Then he realizes my ejection brought us to 9 players and forfeits the game.

Took two weeks, but eventually we replayed the game. They first denied my protest because it happened "after the game had been forfeited" (which, incidentally, wasn't even true).

Never saw either official again, by the way, and I've been playing there for 10 years.

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Hope this helps

Cheers

Just remembered this one (from softball): My team, visitors, is up 1 going to the bottom of the 7th. First batter singles. Second batter hits a smash that clips the runner's leg as he is advancing toward 2B. The ball bounces down the RF line where I pick it up and throw it to 2B to get the BR trying for 2B. Ump calls BR out at 2B and then calls the other runner out for having been hit. Double play. Next two guys get singles. Next guy flies out deep to end the game.

Nobody in the park said anything about the double play! Both teams retired to the bar across the street afterward, and I brought up the crazy play and then asked everyone if they would "like to think through that play again." Suddenly, everyone practically at once realized what had happened. Our opponents were horrified. How that call slipped past them (good, experienced ballplayers including two former pros) I'll never know. Maybe the ump had some sort of mass hypnotic powers.

I love that call where the force at home is "behind" the out at 1B. Creative!