Just finished working the second-largest SP tourney in the U.S. Over the 28 games I did, I heard the following assertions about rules being clearly in the book:

From F4 after he had to throw around a runner in the baseline, 20 feet from 2B: "He has to veer or slide! It's right in the rule book. Veer or slide."

From an entire team after a batter hit a long fly, walked halfway back to his dugout, and then proceeded to 1B after F9 dropped the ball: "Hey, Blue, he's out. He gave himself up! Got a rule book? I'll show you the rule."

After a pitcher placed his glove over his face while delivering the ball: "He can't do that, Blue. That's <i>deception!</i> The book says he cannot deceive."

After I awarded 3B to a runner who was approaching 2B when the throw into DBT left the outfielder's hand: "He gets home, Blue! The throw was from the outfield and he already had 2B made. Aw, come on. It's right in the book."

(Note: the 3B coach then said, "Can't you give him home? He has new shoes.")

After I called a 7-foot pitch a strike: "Come on, Blue. That was deep. Look where that pitch landed. The book says 18 inches behind the plate!"

After a pitcher delivered a legal pitch with a different motion: "He can't do that. That's not his regular motion!"

I was waiting to hear, "The hands are part of the bat," but after all, it was SP.

Strange that I did not hear, in the right-in-the-book category, "Come on, Blue, the book says he's got to hold the ball for three seconds." Guess that play just didn't come up.

I like that coach. :)
mick

My favorite SP 1st base coach this year told me I should have called an out on his runner on 1st because the defence made such such a good play.

In a "D" (which means D**M BAD) Men's FP tournament this weekend, heard the following, to add to your list:

On ball thrown into DBT on hit to SS: Blue, he's quick, he would have gotten third (this is as I was placing him at second).

On a called strike three that was a "gut shot": that's the third time today you've called that on me. (My response: well, duh! Swing at it).

On a play where runner was safe at first by a step and a half: How's he safe? (He beat the throw). Just tell me how he's safe. (Again, he beat the throw, in my opinion) He didn't beat the throw! (We're not arguing the call are we?) I'm not arguing but he wasn't safe. (No more, or you go bye-bye and you're team forfeits).

On a ball that clearly was over the fence for a homerun, F8 raises hands to signal it bounced. Of course this was after he noticed that the bases were loaded. WHen asked why he didn't raise his hands earlier: I was trying to slide under the fence and catch the ball, hoping you wouldn't see it.

WOW

Yeah!
 

How come yuz guys don' read da rule buk? Yuz supposed to no the buk. How can yuz ump an not no da buk. Freeekin amazin. Reeally, freeekin amazin. My kid sista calls a bedder game!


:D
Veer? Really? Which book has the word veer?

Note: the 3B coach then said, "Can't you give him home? He has new shoes.")

Gotta love a coach that looks out for their players.

Michael

Another to add to the list.

Start of a local Men's FP tournament tonight; batter moves forward to bunt, but pulls bat back. From the defensive bench, "Come on Blue, he's out of the batter's box." Just as quickly from the other side of the field "You don't know what you're talking about - he didn't swing!"

WMB

In a High school game this week, Blue, my catcher threw her glove in front of the palte to fool you, it wasn't catcher obstruction.

This after offensive coach insisted even though we got the play right we missed callin it Immediate Dead Ball. I received a blank stare when I asked him how he could take the results of the play if I called IDB?

Sounds like Downtown must have done a Mens Modified national tournament.

I've posted this one before but add it to your list folks:

Coed game, man walks with 2 outs: "She put a foot in the batter's box. She has to bat, she can't change her mind!" (Keep in mind that a pitch hasn't been thrown yet)

Thread has taken a twist
 

If we're gonna talk about stuff besides "it's in the rule book," I've got my favorite...

High school fast pitch, one of the first games of the season... I'm behind the plate

The typical, coach complains about strike zone by saying "Call them both ways, Blue."

My response, "Well, if you can wait until we get to the bottom of the first inning, I'll do that."

Coach kind of hung his head and looked the other way. Batter cracked up. Catcher was laughing. Fans were snickering.... Play Ball!

Gotta love it!
:D

Re: Thread has taken a twist
 

Too bad it's the only funny story that ever happened in Idaho. :)

Don't know how I could have forgotten this one, from the last day of the tourney:

Runners on 2B and 1B, 1 out. Popup to F4. I call infield fly. Two out.

Next batter also hits a pop to F4, who settles under it. Runner on 1B starts walking toward his bench on the 3B side. Coach yells, "Run! You never know!"

Runner responds, "Doesn't make any difference. It's infield fly anyway."

Very good...

And it raises an interesting scenario... what if the runner reached the bench before the ball came down? Would the runner be out for abondoning the base and the batter still be up to bat at the start of the next inning?

Speaking ASA

No. Once the batter put the ball into play, they completed their turn at bat. If the runner is ruled out and the ball is caught, it is irrelevant. If the runner is ruled out and the ball is not caught, the BR if on first, for what it's worth.

From a High School "Fall League" INSTRUCTIONAL game (free substitutions, light on the pitching rule, work with slappers, just let coaches know what is going on).

"She's out of the box, blue" "Oh for crying out loud, her toes are out of the box blue. The whole foot must be in the box or she's out." (From "a fan")

"She stepped on the plate blue. She's running towards the ball, and stepped on the plate." You gotta call that, blue". (Note: BR stepped to slap the ball, a ton of sand in what is called the batters box BARELY touched the black part of the plate--further, I was mostly blocked out by the catcher who was going after the INSIDE pitch)

On bouncing hit down 3B line that girl touches fair (she is standing about2 feet from line, reaches across her body when the ball hits the heel of her glove--saw it clear as day): "How can you call that fair?" BTW, girl chases after ball with a lot more speed than they do when the ball is foul.

(U10) Lookback rule is called and I have a daddy yelling through the fence that the pitcher has to have the ball in the glove for it to be called and that in the hand is not good enough. "Come on learn the rules blue". I asked the coach to help him with it.

And from the "what-in-the-world-is-he-talking-about?" department:

Girls' 16u FP. Runner coming home. Ball beats the runner easily, and F2 sets up a yard toward 3B preparing to apply the tag. Runner slides. Mild contact with the catcher, but a clean play. Out. Runner is shaken up (but continued to play).

Dad comes out of the stands and screams, with righteous indignation: "That play happened in the baseline! <i>In the baseline!! It was in the baseline, Blue!!</i>"

LOL - thanks for that one... I'm still laughing.

The ball got there well before the runner.

Did the runner slow down before the ball got between the runner and the catcher? Could this be a form of OBS? Some of the threads I read say if the runner slows because the baseline is blocked this is OBS.

Yes sir, you are correct, it was in the baseline. Good job...now SHUT UP!

<b>Did the runner slow down before the ball got between the runner and the catcher? Could this be a form of OBS? Some of the threads I read say if the runner slows because the baseline is blocked this is OBS.</b>

The "about to receive" condition effected by the ball being between the runner and the fielder is no longer operative in ASA. However, the play I described did take place when that stipulation was still in the book.

In this case, though, F2 caught the ball and then moved to block the plate. The runner was not nearly close enough to have been forced to slow down.

Thanks grey mule,
I still have a problem deciding at what point a runner slowing down is not obstructed without the "about to receive" line in the book.
A non agresive runner could slow 15 feet(or more) before the plate before the ball comes between the runneer and tha catcher. I feel this has actually made for the possibility of graet difference what one umpire might judge OBS compared to another. I am not saying we as umpires should not have to make judgements, just that this could lead to different interpretation of this rule by creating such a broad range of OBS. As runners get smarter won't they be abel to create OBS by slowing before the ball arrives?

Just something to think about.

Hmmm, clueless father! It happened in the baseline. Man, talk about clueless. I'm trying to figure out which planet he learned that one from.

Yes Sir. That was in the baseline - directly. You've got good eyes. We ought to get you a blue cap and an idiotclickerthingamobob and you could be an umpire! Yes sir, an umpire. With your enthusiasm for making the call you're sure to be great. Yes sir, Great! :D

How about from my partner?
 

Preseason NFHS game. I'm on the bases with the PU a guy that's new to our org, but says hes been calling for "many years."

Speedy, the lead-off, has gotten on and stolen 2nd every at bat. Top of 5, two outs. Speedy walks and then steals on the first pitch. I see it perfectly and signal a routine safe.

Then I hear my partner, "She's out! She's out!" Speedy looks at me unbelievingly but just leaves. (I'm thinking maybe batter's interference.)

Coach signals me with up turned palms as if to say "What the heck just happened." He goes and talks to my partner and then walks away shaking his head. He looks at me with this half-laughing grin.

After about a half inning, the coach comes to me and says, "You know it this was a real game during the season, I would be ejected and you'd be having a @#$%$# time trying to explain your partner." When I ask why, the coach told me that when he questioned the PU he said, "I overruled the call at second because my partner completely missed it. The PU is the UIC for in the game and suppose to overrule any calls that are wrong."

That was preseason. He didn't make it to the regular season with us.

Planet Baseball? Maybe? :)

Is there a Planet Baseball????

Last game of the season. In the Championship Game of what is supposedly the best league in the program (yeah, right!), I learned that any time a thrown ball hits a runner, interference MUST be called an another runner ruled out.

Must be true, "it's in the book", or at least that is what these AAs were trying to sell me.

Of course, they are ****ing idiots and haven't a clue. Their idea of learning softball rules is watching the Phillies on TV when they aren't trying to impress their girlfriends on the softball field.

To good, Mike
 

Yes, rule book scholars!

Rule book scholars who chug too much brew at the same time! At least we blues know how much brew to sip while becoming rule book scholars!

I have to add these
 

Youth 14U "OPEN" invitational...

R1 on 1B, steal of second base. Through pulls fielder towards first about two steps. When fielder (F6) catches ball, runner is about 3 feet from her. Small collision as runner tries to avoid being tagged. F6 falls backwards, but holds onto the ball. She hesitates about 2 seconds and hops up and runs to dugout. As soon as I finish my out call I turn and guess who's there? F6's coach, wanting me to eject R1 for "running her over."

Long story short, he told me that ASA states runners must slide and that any contact is automatic ejecting.

I explain to him the rules and that only I and my partner (No UIC in this tourney) get to decide what warrants ejection, and he says he'll just have his girls run over their fielders. My response: That's fine coach, but now that I know any contact by your runner is intended to be malicious, I'll eject the runner AND both you coaches, so the game would then be over."

He then said he would sue me for everything I have (both dollars) because I don't know the rule.

Again...MORON!

<b>runners must slide</b>

Number 1, 2, and 3 on the list of "It's right in the rule book, Blue!"

Guy threatens to sue. Why not? With our current tort system, you never know. Maybe the guy will include you as well as McDonald's in his claim that it's not his fault he's a fathead.

[Edited by greymule on Sep 7th, 2004 at 09:36 AM]

I may win this. Working BU, with one of those overzealous, "Speak-to-me-and-I'll-eject-you" types at the plate. High popup in adult slow-pitch. As the ball's about to be caught, the entire stands suddenly yells. Fielder drops the ball.

PU ruled the batter out on fan interference.

I kid you not.

<b>PU ruled the batter out on fan interference.</b>

I wonder whether this guy recognizes fan obstruction too.

I play a fair amount of slow pitch myself and I was wondering..... how many fans were there?

Re: Thread has taken a twist
 

A buddy of mine, who works PAC-10 softball, has a similar story from a game he was doing at Arizona....

Beginning of the game, he settles in behind the plate and calls for the first pitch. Pitch is just off the outside corner, my buddy calls "ball".


From high in the stands comes a loud voice....


C'MON BLUE!...BE CONSISTANT!

Add this one from Friday night's coed league:

Soft liner down the LF line about 8 feet foul. F7 runs across the line for it but drops the ball. I call foul, though the play was so obvious that with higher-level teams I might not have said anything at all.

Then I hear an agitated voice from the dugout: "But Blue, he made a play for it! He touched it!"

I find it interesting that if they can't throw a guy out at home on a fly ball, then he mustu left early.

Here's my entry:

Working a SP game. Batter hits a long drive to the fence. He's also a speedster. As he runs to third base, he cuts his turn short, thus missing the bag on his way home. Defense appeals (catcher was on the line, and saw him miss third base). I call runner out. Coach comes running out of the dugout, along with the runner, and run towards me. (Thought I was working a MLB game when I saw this). Coach yells at me about was I sure he missed the base. Tell him, "yes sir, I am." His response to me: "But blue, what reason would he have for missing the bag when he's the fastest runner out here??"

Hmmmmm.......Interesting question?

Serg

Serg,
In all my years of calling all levels and ages of softball I find 1 of 4 runners miss the middle base when advancing 2 or more bases. The men's SP will usually cut the bag short and stab with the right food hitting a mound of dirt 3" to 6" off the base and it feels like the base.

With my reputation in one league I had teams assign a player just to watch bases when I worked as BU this saved outs and got cheap outs. The "fastest runner" does it because they want to remain the fastest runner.

One from Germany
 

Here comes mine:
FP Tournament, State Teams playing each other.
Infield fly is called, but droped, runners advance.
Coach yelss something to the pitcher, who steps of, walks to 2B and wants to appeal the runner left too soon, but just sais "Appeal!". Puzzeled face, since R1 (from 2B) is on 3B and R2 is now on 2B.
Coach comes out and explains: "She did not retouch! We want to appeal that!"
"But Coach, the Ball was not caught!"
"Yes, I know, but she can't leave the base before the ball hit the ground, you called Infieled fly!"
Still puzzeled. "That woulb be for a catch, but is was no catch!"
"It's in the book. Maybe you can find some other Umpire that will explain the rule to you again!"

Raoul

<b>"But blue, what reason would he have for missing the bag when he's the fastest runner out here??"</b>

I heard basically the same thing a few years back. "He's our fastest runner! Why would he leave early?"

I also remember this one when I called an out as F6 intentionally dropped a line drive: "But Blue, he's not a good enough fielder to drop it on purpose!" (Actually, they might have been right about that one, but it looked intentional.)

I have also heard that same odd interpretation of the IFR, that the runners have to wait for the ball to come down even if nobody catches it. I've also heard another variation: that even when the ball <i>is</i> caught, the runners are free to leave the moment IFR is called. As if calling IFR constitutes the fielder catching the ball.

In a game I had tonight, 5th inning, pitcher throws the exact same pitch I had called a ball about a dozen times.

Coach: "You've called that a ball everytime! When are you going to start calling that a strike? C'mon Ump, be consistent!"

All the players start cracking up and the coach can't figure out why. Catcher says to me "Seems like coaches dont think before they start talking." Couldn't help but thinking how true it is.

Sunglasses?
 

Reading the "Perfect Game" thread made me remember a comment a coach made a few years ago in a 16U tourney. Pitcher was very good, and dominating his team. She also wore the ugliest pair of sunglasses ever to be found (White plastic frames with pink flowers on them). I think she might have stole them from a clown.

Coach comes unglued after about the eighth strikeout against his team. He comes time screaming, "she can't wear those glasses, they are distracting my batters. Make her take them off!"

My reply: Coach, there's no rule in the book about bad taste or fashion sense. Would you be questioning the glasses if you were ahead in the game.

Hs reply: No. (and he walks away)

I'm sure her parents are proud that their Daughter isn't concerned with peer pressure and is willing to step out and be a trend setter with her fashion statement. Good for her. IMO, all sports require hard work and dedication, along with subtle advantages.

From the press box today in an instructional fastpitch league (HS), I hear the following comment in the BOTTOM OF THE FIRST.

Come on blue, you haven't called the inside pitch all day (this on the--approximately--sixth inside corner pitch I called a strike).

Did I mention it was the second game of a double header, and I was on the plate for the second game only?

Oh yeah, the press box is about 30 feet from the fence, and two stories high.

Inside Pitch ?
 

I have seen FU officiate and while I never hear any comments in general about his inside corner his OUTSIDE corner is ALWAYS mentioned !

Re: Inside Pitch ?
 

Well, if the pitchers won't throw to my OUTSIDE AREA (I can't really call it a corner), I'll call YOUR inside corner!

Re: Re: Inside Pitch ?
 

Hey, why don't you guys land this hijacked thread?

:)

Re: Re: Re: Inside Pitch ?
 

We haven't had clearance from Air Traffic Control! :)

CLEARANCE GRANTED!

Presenting the ball
 

Coach: Blue, just for my knowledge, doesn't the pitcher haver to present the ball in front of the body?

Blue: No, all she has to do is bring her hands together.

Coach: You sure, doesn't she have to touch in front of the body?

Blue: I don't really care and it doesn't really matter where she touches, so long as she touches?

Coach: Is that in the rule book anywhere?

Blue: Yep.

Coach: Doesn't she have to touch for at least one second?

Blue: Contact is interpreted as one second.

Coach: You sure?

Blue: Yep.

Coach: Okay.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Inside Pitch ?
 

I guess only POLITE hijackers are concerned with Air Traffic Control.