Umpires Corner
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Forms: Umpire Plate Checklist (Click Here) |
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You Make the Call … By Little League
Operations Deparment Here are a couple of different scenarios that happened in previous seasons and the result of those plays. 1. It is the top of the
fifth inning. The first batter walks. The next batter doubles to right. The
umpire realizes that there has been no left fielder since the inning
started. Do you.....allow the runners to remain on base or do you start the
inning over? 2. The batter hits a
line drive up the middle. The ball strikes the rubber and deflects directly
into the dugou t between first base and home. What's the award? |
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2/19/10 Let’s start the new season off with an often over looked rule. Regulation XIV – Field Decorum and Rule 3.09 provide that coaches and managers shall not warm up pitchers, at any time. Since all players are eligible to be pitchers, Managers and Coaches can’t warm up any players prior to or during a game. There’s 2 reasons for this rule. First, as with most Little League rules, is safety as we don’t want an adult involved in an inadvertent injury to a player. Second, is instructional. Little League should be an opportunity for the kids to play. Instead of the manager or coach warming up a pitcher, use a substitute (with a mask and glove) who is there to learn to play catch. In short, managers and coaches, leave your gloves in the car and let the kids play catch. 5/1/09 A Foul by Any Other Name - Not all fouls are created equal. It is important to understand the difference between a "foul ball" and a "foul tip." It’s subtle, but important!! Let’s start with a the definitions under Rule 2.00. A Foul Ball is one that settles in foul territory (remember bases, home plate and lines are all in fair territory) before it passes 1st or 3rd or which lands in foul territory after passing 1st or 3rd in flight. The trajectory of the ball and not the location of a fielder that might touch it controls here. Under Rule 2.00 Strike (c), a foul ball with 0-1 strikes is a strike, with 2 strikes, its nothing. A caught foul ball is an out. A Foul Tip, on the other hand, is one that goes sharp and direct from the bat and is caught by the catcher. You’ll notice under Rule 6.05(a), a caught foul ball is an out, but a foul tip is not. Instead, under Rule 2.00 STRIKE (f), a caught foul tip (which is caught by definition) with 0-1 stirkes is just a strike. A caught foul tip with 2 strikes is strike 3 and the batter’s out!! With a foul tip, the ball is also live and in play. 4/20/09 Crying Foul - As a batter, runner or fielder, if the batter stands there waiting for Blue to call, "Fair Ball," you’re going to be there a long time. Umpires are taught not to yell "Fair Ball." Why? Because in the excitement, noise and muffled sound inside a helmet, "Fair Ball" and "Foul Ball" sound too much alike. Also, you never know what that pesky ball is going to do. So, better to wait and make sure it’s good and foul before you say anything. At most, the umpire will signal fair with their hand by pointing toward the infield. That’s why your coaches have always taught you to run or play like the ball is fair, until you hear Blue call "Foul Ball." I’ve seen hits where the ball lands in foul territory, but is spinning so fast that it shoots into fair territory before it gets past 3rd base. The batter is standing in the box when the pitcher throws them out at first. Listen to coach, run or play until you hear "FOUL BALL!" 4/14/09 - There’s only a couple of rules that are different between softball and baseball. Here’s a couple. The first is what’s referred to as "the circle rule." This is at Rule 7.08(a)(5) Note 2. What this rule is intended to do is discontinue a runner from dancing back and forth and delaying the game. What it says is that once the pitcher is back in the circle with the ball, the runner must commit one way or the other and cannot reverse her course once she’s made her choice, unless the pitcher tries to make a play, including a fake throw. If no play is being made and the runner reverses her course, she’s out! The other one is leaving the base early. Under Rule 7.08(a)(5), a runner may not leave the bag until the ball has been batted or reaches the batter, for minors and majors or is released by the pitcher for juniors. This one’s easy, if she leaves early, she’s out!! Girl’s don’t mess around with this stuff!! 4/3/09 Tie goes to the runner - Time to debunk an old myth, “tie goes to the runner.” Every season, you’ll hear it shouted from the stands after a close play on the bases, “tie goes to the runner, Blue!!” Makes it easy to find the guy that’s never read the rules, because it just isn’t there. What Rule 7.08(e) does say is that the runner is out when he fails to reach the next bag “before” the bag or runner are tagged. Notice, it does not say “at or before.” If the ball and runner reach the bag at the same time, the runner was not there “before” the ball and the runner is out. Remember, this is also completely a judgment call on the part of the umpire. So, tie does not go to the runner and don’t bother arguing with the umpire. 3/30/09 Infield Fly Rule - Ok, let’s take the mystery out of the Infield Fly Rule. This rule is in Rule 2.00 definitions. The justification for this rule is that when a fly ball is hit, the runners are stuck waiting to see if it will be caught. This gives a tricky infielder the chance to purposefully miss an easy pop fly and bag a nifty double or triple play. For games with less experienced players, it also helps to move games along. So, when does it apply? When there are runners on 1st and 2nd or 1st, 2nd and 3rd, with 0-1 out. Easy, right? Then, only on a fly ball, not a bunt or a line drive. Whether the hit is high enough to be a fly ball is completely in the judgment of the umpire. It also has to be a fly ball which can be caught in the infield, not necessarily by “an infielder,” with “ordinary effort” which means a player could get set underneath it. Again, ordinary effort is completely in the judgment of the umpire. When all these things come together, the umpire yells, “INFIELD FLY!!!” The batter is automatically out, whether the fielder actually catches the ball or not. The runners are then not forced to leave their bag, but may attempt to advance, at their own risk of being put out, based upon the usual rule for a fly ball. 3/25/09 Catcher’s mask - Come on Blue!! Thought I’d start emphasizing some of the rules to give everyone a better understanding of what the umpires are doing. Catcher’s masks are a good place to start as I have run into questions about them recently. As with most of the rules, this one has the kids’ safety in mind! It begins with Rule 1.17 which requires that "all" catcher’s masks have a "dangling" throat guard. You’ll notice, there is no exception for the "hockey style" masks with the elongated face. "All" means "all..." If you think about it, it makes sense. The throat guard is for just what is says, to protect the throat. Even with a hockey style mask, as the catcher raises their head to look up, or flinch, the mask follows his face, exposing the throat to a pitch or foul tip. The dangling throat guard, on the other hand, falls down to cover the throat, deflect the ball and transfer energy into the chest protector. Even professional hockey players now wear a throat guard under the masks. So, safety is the key here. If Blue doesn’t let you use a catcher’s helmet because of that, it’s only because he cares about your kid! PLAY BALL!!!! |
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Umpire Fees (Paid per game, prices apply to both
boys and girls) Juniors: Behind the Plate $TBD/Base $TBD CIF Certified Juniors: Behind the Plate $TBD/Base $TBD NON CIF Certified Majors: Behind the Plate $TBD/Base $TBD CIF Certified Majors: Behind the Plate $TBD/Base $TBD NON CIF Certified Minors: $TBD CIF Certified/NON CIF Certified |
| "Stump the Ump", check this Little League website for great umpire scenarios and questions. See how well you can do answering them! |
| If you have any questions regarding baseball please use the phone number on our contact page or email contacts on the board of directors page. |
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AVLL |
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PO Box 1183 |
| Apple Valley CA 92307 |