Hey Big Dip of Cope

I understand....as I tell all of my umpire buddies....I'm always there to assist

 

Actually I followed the ball from the catcher to the second basemen. I'm sure you can agree if I didn't see the tag, and I didn't hear a tag, I can't call the kid out. Like I told your head coach, I want to get out of there as much as he did, but I couldn't call him out just cause I wanted the game over with. I've worked with umpires who "cheat the kids" to get the game over with quicker, I'm not like that - I have too much respect for the game and the players.

 

The tough part is not whether or not the pitcher steps to the base (Plate ump can see that pretty good), it is the swinging of the free foot past the back edge that we really have a hard time with. Only in a 3 man crew can you see that. Actually, I think its easier to see whether the lefty steps toward the plate or the base from behind the plate. At first base its hard to tell.

Leftys also get away with their body moving forward and then steping and throwing to 1st base. That is tough in a 2 man crew whereas the 1st base umpire in a 3 man crew sees that well.

Another balk that is not called very often in high school is when a righthander spins toward first without taking a step toward the base. That happens quite often and I see them get away with it all the time. Any time you throw to a base, you must gain ground toward the base your throwing to (unless you're off the rubber of course).

 

yes for sure lefties are being taught to cheat on the balk step and yes the umpires have it real tough with a 2 man crew to see it all.

BigDipofCope: you are my kind of umpire. doing it for the fun and the kids.

 

I have always loved baseball - enjoy the game very much. However, and I feel like I need to be honest about this, if there were no pay involved, I would not be out there unless I was wealthy beyond belief.

For me (and most umpires) officiating is a great second job. We already like the sport, now we get paid (fairly well) to officiate it - that's a no lose situation. If I didn't umpire baseball, I would still have to work a second job somewhere (my wife likes to shop), but I probably wouldn't enjoy that 2nd job near as much.

 

I feel that I must chime in on this subject, even though I was not at the game, I have the most possible respest for Bigdidofcope and his partner. Number one if an umpire doesn't KNOW that he saw an out, then he must be safe. If he doens't KNOW that a pitch is a strike then it must be a ball.
My next point, and remember I was not at the game but I would like to ask a question. How many times did the pitcher from either team miss his spot? How many errors did either or both teams make? How many plays MIGHT have been made if the player got a better read on a ball quicker? How many signs were missed by the players from the coach? How many times did the Coach decide to put on a hit and run that might have backfired. Umpires, and judgement calls are part of the game, and most of the time are the MOST SOLID PART of the game. Lastly, if you really want to have your games called by a four man crew, or by professional umpires like you see on TV, and with the croud size at most High School games, then get ready to pay about $30.00 at the gate for each person in your family. The reason that we don't have a 4 man crew at a high school game is because the school's are too cheap to pay for it. They are willing to except that there are some angles that there is just no way that a two man crew can see, but if you want to blame someone....Blame yourself and the Schools for being cheap. Maybe the best way to take the umpire's judgement out of the equation is to play better, score more runs, and allow the other team to score less runs.

 

I agree you can't...

make a call if you don't see it. No question. I simply found it incredulous that BDOC could miss the call. As stated, he was right on top of the play, in perfect position to see everything. Granted it was a high tag, but the runner was no where near the bag. DBOC has explained what happened and I except that. And hey UROut, if our second baseman doesn't boot the routine grounder the play before, game is over anyway.
But hey, I umpire baseball and ref hoops and I can tell you it is much easier to call the game from the stands.
It just seems when you are struggling, judgement calls never go your way.
I hope we can play better, field better, get more hits and score more runs.

 

I think you should just drop it. If he made a mistake, he made a mistake...just like everybody else in the world. Just like you said he didn't lose the game for you, and neither did the error before that, but rarely can you blame a loss on an umpire. Every umpire is going to make mistakes no matter who they are. There were probably many oppurtunities to win the game way before that. I don't see any reason to humiliate the umpire for making the call. He's given his explanation and that's all that needs to be said. I applaude him on being respectful about it too. That took a lot of guts. I did not see the play, but the game is over. It probably would have been a big win for Freedom, but not to be a jerk, it wouldn't have put the Patriots in the running for the top 4 NW4A teams to get in the playoffs. Shake it off and win the next one. I just think it's pointless to argue about it anymore.

 

Rules question for Big Dip

What happens in a Varsity baseball game when the home plate umpire forces the head coach to take out the starting pitcher because the coach makes 2 trips to the mound in the same inning? The rule states that a coach can make 3 free trips to the mound and would then have to take the pitcher out on the 4th trip and every trip after that.
In tonight's game the umpire must have been thinking major league rules or babe ruth rules as he forced the coach to remove his starting pitcher on the
2nd visit to the mound in the same inning (actually one of the trips was really just to the catcher). The coach has protested the game. Thanks.

 

Another rules question

Batter swings and misses at strike 3 and the ball hits him and goes to the backstop with bases empty or with bases loaded and two outs. My question is can he then proceed to run to 1st base since the 3rd strike was not caught by the catcher?