BASEBALL NOVA SCOTIA UMPIRE DIVISION DISCUSSION FORM

8.02 (a) (1) In mosquito

adriandowney — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 00:15:02 GMT

last year i encountered a situation in a mosquito game involving a pitcher who licked his fingers on the mound.

I called the pitch a ball, stepped out and said "pitcher, you can't lick your fingers on the mound."

the defensive coach made the argument (very aggressively i might add) that there are no balks in mosquito.

nowhere in the statement of the rule does it mention the word balk, but i was convinced at the time that they where right.

the definition of a balk supports my original call (which stood by the way).

in addition to any impute on this situation id also like to hear impute on these two variations:

1) if a pitcher licks his fingers on the way back to the mound and does not visibly dry them; is it still a "spit ball"?

2) if (1) is true then; can the base umpire in this situation call the pitch a ball? (if so, what would the proper mechanic be?)

thanks.

Adrian.

Is this fixable?

UmpRat — Thur, 03 Jul 2008 12:43:35 GMT

Gang:

Here is a situation that I heard about that happened recently during a local game. I hope the details are correct. If the umpires involved want to jump in to clarify any inaccuracies, feel free, but I have left all of that information out as the play, not the umpires are the focus.

Here is what I understand happened.

One out R1, R3. Player bunts the ball and the catcher leaps out to get the ball that is popped up. PU calls the batter out. However, there is only one problem, apparently, the ball hit the ground but PU never saw it hit the ground.

OK, here comes the manager. PU refuses to get help and the play stands.

Here is my question. If we did get together on this and it is obvious the call was booted, how could you fix it? Or can you fix it? You can't make any assumption on what would have happened if PU made the correct no catch call. There are too many possibilities.

Of course in a perfect world the PU wouldn't get blocked out, but stuff happens. What would you do in the aftermath of this?

One suggestion is to bring him back up with the same count. It may seem bizarre, but if it is obvious we booted the call, we can't declare BR out. Well we could, but what to do with the other runners? How do we know what would have happened if the catcher tried to throw out the BR? Who knows if the catcher would have tried to throw out R1 instead? Would we have an inning ending DP? A throwing error scoring a run? BR out with R3 scoring? Can we do this? Is this legal? Or do we just live with the call?

This is a serious SNAFU. How could you fix this, or is it even fixable?

For the record, I have no issue with an umpire "living" with his call. While every league including MLB is getting more warm and fuzzy and want more "umpire conferences to get it right", I still feel we need to take more ownership and get in position to get it right in the first place. In the majority of the cases, we are in the best position and have the best view anyway. Consistently going for help will ultimately undermine the player's confidence in your abilities.

However, that issue is a completely separate issue we can discuss in the future.

Blaine

Ump-Attire Order

Shawn — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 02:27:49 GMT

I will be placing an order shortly (by July 6th) to ump-attire.com

If you are interested in purchasing something and sharing the cost, let me know, please email me at: young.shawn@gmail.com

Later folks! Hope all is well on the field

Proper Mechanics

Grady — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 21:27:34 GMT

Situation:

R1, R2 and none out.

Pitcher balks and pitches, ball is popped up to the shortstop.

What are the proper mechanics from here on?

MLB All-Star Game Umpire Assignments

ump33 — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:01:16 GMT

New York, NY -- (Sports Network) - Derryl Cousins has been selected as the crew chief and home plate umpire for the 2008 All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium.

Cousins, in his 30th year of big league service, will work an All-Star Game for the third time in his career. He was part of the crew for the 1987 and 1998 games.

Ed Rapuano will umpire at first base, with Tom Hallion at second base and Mark Wegner at third. Greg Gibson will handle left field and Phil Cuzzi will work right field.

This will be the second All-Star Game for Rapuano (1995) and Hallion (1992), and the first Mid-Summer Classic for Wegner, Gibson and Cuzzi.

The official scorers will be Bill Shannon, a long-time MLB official scorer based in New York, Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star and Dan Graziano of the Newark Star-Ledger.

interference

welshamn — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 23:27:54 GMT

Ok so I want to make sure that I made the right call here for future refernce. Bases Loaded 1 out BR hits the ball to the shortstop who is interfered with by the runner heading from second to third on the ground ball. Ball rolls into outfield where centerfield picks it up and throws the ball to the pitcher ending the play. I signalled the interference and called the runner at third out for the interfernce. Now i let the run score as on the play he was forced home by the ground ball, and that is my question, should I havge let that run score or should I have sent him back to third?

Umpire suspended one game for bumping into Mets manager

ump33 — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 09:52:34 GMT

Umpire suspended one game for bumping into Mets manager

NEW YORK (AP) Umpire Brian Runge was suspended for one game Thursday for bumping into New York Mets manager Jerry Manuel before ejecting him earlier in the week.

Manuel and centre-fielder Carlos Beltran also were fined by Major League Baseball for arguing with Runge in the fourth inning of the Mets game against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday.

Beltran started talking to Runge after he took two called strikes from R.A. Dickey to begin the inning. Runge took off his mask and continued the dialogue before he brushed dirt off home plate. Manuel then came out and started arguing.

Runge bumped into Manuel before throwing him out of the game. The manager walked to the bench after getting a few more words in as the Shea Stadium crowd roared.

Beltran continued the conversation and Runge quickly threw him out. An incensed Beltran then got in Runges face and had to be held back before Manuel came out to escort the all-star slugger to the dugout.

MLB said Runges suspension will be served immediately.

Ambidextrious pitcher

Ski61 — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:46:16 GMT

Heres a situation that is unique...If you go to www.umpnews.com there is a youtube video and a related story from MLB.com of a minor league pitcher that can pitch with either arm!
The video shows him faceing a switch hitter. The batter keeps switching sides of the plate and the pitcher just switches his glove. This goes on for a while with both managers then getting involved in dicussions with the plate umpire. Eventually its resolved BUT the league still has to deal with this situation. How would you rule??.
I myself would make the batter pick a box and get ready...
Grady..what would you do??

New mask

Ump29 — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 13:58:07 GMT

I am looking to get a new mask. I like the one I am using but it is my son's who is getting back into umpiring. Looking for something not too heavy in weight but rugged enough to take anything and at a reasonable price. Any thoughts ?

Insurance?

adriandowney — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:40:39 GMT

I was set to do a game tonight but one team only had 6 or 7 players, so i collected my money and left. the coach said he was going to play anyway, now i figured that was fine, and told him so, but he expected me to stick around and do the 5 innings or whatever they were going to play. i told him i couldn't do that because id be liable for any injury, i really didn't know if i was or not i just remember someone in the clinic every year saying "don't stick around". then my partner made a comment about insurance, and how we arn't covered in that situation. i was just wondering what the deal with insurance is/was.

Adrian

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS!! Midget Nationals in Halifax

AndyCallaghan — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 19:20:59 GMT

Ladies and Gents

Baseball Nova Scotia and the Halifax Mets Midget AAA Baseball Team are looking for volunteers in three areas for the upcoming 2008 Baseball Canada National Midget Championships being held at the Mainland Common and at Beazley Field.

1) UMPIRE GAME TRANSPORTATION
Driving a shuttle van (Shuttle B) from the residence at Mount Saint Vincent University to Beazley Field.
Dates required: Thursday, August 7th to Monday, August 11th (inclusive).
Daily schedule will be provided, plus other runs if the shuttle schedule can he kept. (ie. grocery store, banks, etc.)

Brian Lamb is running Shuttle A to Mainland for the entire tournament.

Due to insurance requirements, the driver must be at least 25 years of age. If interested, contact me via e-mail: acallaghan@baseballnovascotia.com

2) UMPIRE AIRPORT TRANSPORTATION
Driving umpires from / to the airport in response to their arrival and departure itinerary (vehicle provided)
Dates required: Wednesday, August 6th and Tuesday, August 12th - NOTE:

There may be early morning or late night arrivals / departures. Once flight information is provided, it will be given to volunteers to coordinate airport trips.

Again, due to insurance, drivers must be at least 25 years of age.

If interested, contact me acallaghan@baseballnovascotia.com

3) GAME OPERATIONS
The following positions are available at present:

scorekeepers
statisticians
public address announcers
"go-fer"s
(more positions may be required)

No age requirements, but those who volunteer must be professional in the discharge of their duties. This is a national level event, and we need people who are going to take the job seriously.

If interested, contact Brad Lawlor baseball@sportnovascotia.ca

Thanks

Appeal Question

Graham — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 21:53:49 GMT

Question from today's game:

Can the defense appeal a check swing on a hit by pitch?

I mean if little jimmy up to bat starts swinging, tries to check it and is plunked in the shoulder while trying to check and avoid being plunked, can whether he swung or not still be appealed to the BU?

I'll give the blow by blow of the situation when this question is answered.

Questions about Chin Straps

ump33 — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 13:26:43 GMT

I just returned form St. John's, after umpiring the first annual Sgt. Geoff Walsh Memorial Baseball Tournament. Geoff was my uncle who passed away from cancer. Geoff was a player, coach from T-ball to Midget and won an Atlantic Midget championship in the late 80's and when the need arose umpired.

The level of baseball was for second year mosquito's and first year peewees, playing under the mosquito rules.

Here is a situation I encountered as the plate umpire and need the opinion of the experts that respond to this message board:

Top of the 5th inning with the score 1-0 for the home team. Batter hits the first pitch of the inning for a solo home run out of the ball park to tie the score at 1. The defensive team appeals at 3rd base saying the runner missed 3rd base. I called the runner safe. The defensive coach then calls time, runs in my direction and demanding I call the batter out for not having a chin strap on his helmet when he hit the ball.

I did not notice the fact that the batter did not have a chin strap on his helmet when he entered the batter's box. I only noticed it after he returned to the bench after hitting the home run.

I admit I should have seen the batter not have a chin strap on his helmet when he entered the batters box, if I had, it would have avoided this argument.

It is my understanding that the rule says you must wear a chin strap, but I don't believe there is a penalty to be enforced if the umpire(s) allow a batter to complete his at bat with out one. Therefore ruled that way and allowed the home run to stand.

Thoughts and interpretations please.

Final Umpiring Clinic

Ump29 — Thur, 12 Jun 2008 13:08:15 GMT

There will be a Final Umpire Clinic in the Bedford - Sackville area on June 21 for anyone who missed the previous Clinics. Please spread the word. When an exact location is known it will be posted.

Hit Batter

Ranger — Thur, 12 Jun 2008 00:20:50 GMT

Runners on 1st and second, the count on the batter is full. On the pitch the batter swings and the ball hits his hand and goes foul. What is the call on the batter and what is the applicable rule in the book.