Out of Batters Box

CD_Ump · #1 (**permalink**) Tue Jun 08, 2004, 06:24am

I'm looking for opinions here. Mod Men's Fast Pitch, no batters box drawn. Bottom 7, 2 on (1st & 2nd), Home down by run, 0 or 1 out. Batter squares to bunt and clearly steps directly BEHIND home plate, and out of what would have been bb. Batter would have been out on sac, but would have moved runners to 2nd & 3rd. Next batter singled, and game would have been tied at least. I have taken a TON of poo for making the call ... should NOT have "seen" it and "no one would have noticed." Told I "effected the outcome" by enforcing this rule. Opinions, pov's please! Need some input here.

SamNVa · #2 (**permalink**) Tue Jun 08, 2004, 07:01am

Hey CD,

That's why we're paid the BIG BUCKS, to make the tough calls. The rules are there for a reason, and we are honor bound to enforce them to the best of our abilitie. By not "seeing" the infraction, you are basically cheating the defense and you are probably going to catch a "ton of poo" from them because they saw the batter step out of the box too. Now wouldn't you sleep better covered in poo for the right reason rather than the worng reason? I know I would.

Good call Blue,

and welcome to the board.

SamC

chuck chopper · #3 (**permalink**) Tue Jun 08, 2004, 07:19am

George..I ditto Sams comments. Do not get into the habit of making the call that meets the least resistance. Just make the call.period.
.
Yep your gone a hear about the "wheres the box ??" garbage..but just live through it, and play ball. Tomorrow the guy will be trying to hit one to the opposite field and will step all the way in front of the plate. Gotta call him out again.

JEL · #4 (**permalink**) Tue Jun 08, 2004, 08:05am

You gotta call what you see. Calling what is wanted will ruin your credibility as an umpire.

you..."should NOT have seen it" and "effected the outcome" There is the "TON of poo". The batter should not have committed the infraction, plain and simple! It was the illegal act that "effected the outcome" not your call!

"But Blue, how can you see him out of the box?, ain't no box there!" (I have heard this before) reply...There may not be a drawn off box, but I can show you where his foot was!

Good call Blue, Welcome to the board!

IRISHMAFIA · #5 (**permalink**) Tue Jun 08, 2004, 01:28pm

Add me to the crew, here. You call what you see.

As most on this list will attest, it can become dicey when there are no lines, but when the entire part of the foot is touching the ground in front of or behind the plate, it is a no brainer.

The umpire did NOT affect the outcome of the game, the batter did that all by himself by not executing the play properly.

Good call!

bobbrix · #6 (**permalink**) Tue Jun 08, 2004, 01:40pm

yes, you did the right thing ... we can't be giving in on these things or else we might as well give up

if you would have called it against the opposition, this same guy would have met you at the end of the game, shook your hand and given you the old "great game blue !!!"

i called one at my 1st game this past sunday am at a tournament (so we actually had a batter's box drawn, which is rare)

i had already spoken to one coach of each team and warned them ... of course, they didn't seem to know the rules, but i'm getting used to that

anyway, the crowd was not amused and the batter thought i was nuts or joking, she even set up for the next pitch even though i had called her out

the one assistant coach thought i was nuts .... after the inning, he came over to question me .... so, i told him "coach, i warned your partner about this a couple innings ago"

he went back and asked his partner why he didn't tell him ... they just kind of stared at each other in stunned silence ... that was that ... oh boy

FUBLUE · #7 (**permalink**) Tue Jun 08, 2004, 01:47pm

Worked a HS tourney in April, called the slapper for stepping ON the plate, pitching/batting coach comes flying at me from dugout...asks to see footprint..."can't coach, it's on the plate." Did you step on the plate? he ask batter. "Yes I did, but no one ever calls me for it. You said to do it until I was called for it."

Coach turns and walks to dugout, head down.

Ironically, called the same girl on it three times in one game last season...you'd think she would have fixed it by now...unless no one IS calling it.

Bandit · #8 (**permalink**) Tue Jun 08, 2004, 03:15pm

Anybody I might know FUBLUE ? Decatur, HSE, Bburg ???

FUBLUE · #9 (**permalink**) Wed Jun 09, 2004, 12:19am

My buddy from sectionals last year...think red and yellow...think about a "motel" with a similar name.

But Bburg's is pretty good at not getting called for being out of box isn't she?

CD_Ump · #10 (**permalink**) Wed Jun 09, 2004, 05:54am

Hey ... enormous thanks to all who responded to my post. I've worked softball off-and-on for about 14 years, USA Hockey for about 16, with 15 years of HS football thrown in. I'm not much for "selective" calls, and making the "tough call" that effects a game is what we get paid to do. Again ... I sincerely appreciate the support and look forward to future discussions!

CD_Ump
Capital District NY