I'm actually confused as to how they lost this protest. If R1 "never advanced from 3rd", she wasn't moving, and if BR was not moving either ... why is R1 out when they threw to make a play on retired R2? There's no play here, is there? No play, no interference.

So ... maybe, you DID cost this team the tournament. :)

Huh? You said he DIDN'T advance. Now I'm REALLY lost.

Let me clarify... R1 moved off the bag enough that F3 could have thrown him out, but did not go all the way for home. He was about 15' off the bag. F3 saw R2 first, got confused, and threw to F4 since he was closer and figured he had a better shot at getting him than R1.

You are right. Thanks, I changed it to avoid confusion for those umpire who read this 1,000 years from now when they open the cyber time capsule.

Did you see this post on eteamz? This blue could have decided the game!

Nah, his partner did before the first pitch was thrown. 7-0. ;)

Bad idea for the blue to field the ball, though. What if one of the girls turned their head at the last second and caught it in the face?

Fortunately the game in the eteamz post apparently meant nothing but I can't help think about the times an ump is accused of being a "10th player" on the opposing team by a losing coach LOL!

I did see a BU drinking beer in the parking lot after a game with the home team's coaches once, though. Not good for the image!

Do you think it could/would be interfering with a play if F3 ignored R1 and R3 because R2 looked like the easiest out? IOW, good judgement about the best play, just not recognizing R2 was out because of R2's actions.

I guess he just expects Tom to ask that question. :p

Asking me? Or everyone else?

I felt that R2 was intentionally (this was 2 years ago, so intent is required) distracting F3, drawing a throw to second base. R1, who was already 10-15' off 3rd, saw the ball go to 2nd, and was getting ready to haul butt home. However, I killed the play before he got far, because the interference had already taken place.

Did that paint a clearer picture of what happened? :)

Anyone who wants to answer, but specifically the quote "Posted by IRISHMAFIA".

Yes, this answered the question asked as to where there was a possible play for INT.

WARNING: Thread Hijack Alert!

I can go this one better. Some of our local guys traveled to a tournament in a neighboring state. Our guy had the dish for a scheduled game, partnered with one of the host association umpires. Shortly before game time, BU is nowhere to be found, they are at an oulying field where no other umpires are around, this is the first game after a several hour rain delay.

PU decides to do the equipment inspection and start the pregame conference. As he finishes the inspection, he notices a car pull into the parking lot and a guy dressed in an umpire uniform jump out. The guy grabs a cooler out of his backseat and heads for the field. He is drinking something as he walks toward the field. As he approaches his PU partner, it is apparent that he is drinking from a can of beer! He finishes off the beer and sticks his hand out saying "Hi, my name is _______" like nothing is wrong!

Now THAT is Busch League!http://www.lagxbl.com/forum/images/smilies/cheers.gif

Did your buddy tell him to get the **** out of there?