What was I thinking????

[MNBlue]

Originally Posted by Chess Ref

A personal POE for myself this year has been to slow down in all areas of my umpiring.

My assignor for ASA ball tells us every year that you don't have to call a ball foul until before the next pitch.

Obviously he is exaggerating, but the point is to slow down. Rushing a foul call doesn't make it more or less foul. Wait until it meets the definition of foul and then announce the ruling.

[jwwashburn]

Originally Posted by MNBlue

My assignor for ASA ball tells us every year that you don't have to call a ball foul until before the next pitch.

Obviously he is exaggerating, but the point is to slow down. Rushing a foul call doesn't make it more or less foul. Wait until it meets the definition of foul and then announce the ruling.

A few years ago in Petoskey, MI in a tournament, the batter hit a little looper that landed about 7 feet behind first base-about three feet fair and bounced foul. I threw up my arms and said-FOUL BALL...if it is possible to realize a goof before you do it, that is what I did. I could not beleive I had done it.

The DC came down from thrid base and said---WHAT DID YOU DO? I said, Coach, I think you already know what I did-I messed up real bad. HE shook his head and said, I can't argue with you there. The next pitch, the batter hit a double-WHEW.

Joe in Missouri

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by jwwashburn

A few years ago in Petoskey, MI in a tournament, the batter hit a little looper that landed about 7 feet behind first base-about three feet fair and bounced foul. I threw up my arms and said-FOUL BALL...if it is possible to realize a goof before you do it, that is what I did. I could not beleive I had done it.

The DC came down from thrid base and said---WHAT DID YOU DO? I said, Coach, I think you already know what I did-I messed up real bad. HE shook his head and said, I can't argue with you there. The next pitch, the batter hit a double-WHEW.

Joe in Missouri

About WHEW. I know that feeling. Yesterday, a batter convincingly claimed CO, but neither of us saw any contact so we had to keep her at bat. Two pitches later, she hit a triple.

[robbie]

Couple weeks ago I had the oddest spin on a hit.
Ball hit by batter and first contacted the ground literally behind the batter's box (yes, in the catcher's box). Spin had it bounce over the batter who was tryin to avoid it. The next bounce went between the batter's legs. Then the ball finally landed and came to rest in fair territory about 3 feet in front & to lhe left of the plate. Never touched catcher or batter.
Had my "FOUL BALL" trigger pulled about 3 times, but luckily, never pulled it. Simply pointed fair and amidst all the shouts from players, coaches, fans the catcher picked ball up and fired to first for the out.
Wish I had a video of that 1.

[Andy]

Originally Posted by MNBlue

My assignor for ASA ball tells us every year that you don't have to call a ball foul until before the next pitch.

Obviously he is exaggerating, but the point is to slow down. Rushing a foul call doesn't make it more or less foul. Wait until it meets the definition of foul and then announce the ruling.

Mark - you're absolutely right. Watching umpires yell "Foul ball" before it is actually foul is one of my pet peeves. I always say that one time, it's gonna jump up and bite you in the *ss!

Fortunately, mine jumped up but missed taking a bite!