One ump and leaving early

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Apr 20, 2018
4,581
113
SoCal
So a little rant and plea to ant umps that might read this:
Disclaimer: DD is a catcher
I cant stand when girls are taught/coached to leave early because there is only one ump. First of all coach you are teaching cheating, period.Is that. what you want to instill in these young ladies mind. Somehow this has become almost the standard in coaching. One ump= leave early.
I had one coach tell me he coaches his girl to go on pitchers first motion when there is only one ump. So we throw high and outside (semi pitchout) and DD throws a strike to the ss and runner is safe. Bullshoot, runner was fast but she had a two stride lead. Come on blue, dont tell me you couldnt see her leave early. Umps please instruct coaches in your pregame chat that you will be watching for runners leaving early and plan on calling runners out that do so. At least that would give cheating coaches a thought of concern and bring a little integrity back to base stealing.
 

#10

Jun 24, 2011
398
28
909
What's worse is when there are two umps and kids still leave early because the base umpire is watching the pitch.
 
Apr 20, 2018
4,581
113
SoCal
If a catchers pop time is 2 seconds and a pitcher is throwing 50 mph (.5 seconds travel time) can some explain how a 12 year old girl is covering 60 ft. In less than 2.5 seconds?
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
12U we had players leaving early and could not stop them. Best thing that happened was umpire called a couple of them out.

Depending on age you are not going to get them anyways.
 
Jan 22, 2009
331
18
South Jersey
As a new rec and low level travel umpire, I can tell you it is difficult to see a runner leaving early. My first priority is to calling the pitch correctly, next is to watching the pitcher for an IP. I can try to watch release, the pitchers foot and the runner leaving early all with the corner of my eye but I only have so many corners! The pitch gets to the plate in about 1 second how am i supposed to do all of that!
 
Jan 22, 2009
331
18
South Jersey
If a catchers pop time is 2 seconds and a pitcher is throwing 50 mph (.5 seconds travel time) can some explain how a 12 year old girl is covering 60 ft. In less than 2.5 seconds?

So do you want the umpire to "assume" they left early? What else would be ok with you to assume? Assume a ball or strike based on batter's reaction? The batter moved back it must have been a ball? Or batter flinched so it must have been a strike? Absurd right?

I believe the umpire must adjudicate based on what he observes.
 
Nov 29, 2009
2,975
83
If a catchers pop time is 2 seconds and a pitcher is throwing 50 mph (.5 seconds travel time) can some explain how a 12 year old girl is covering 60 ft. In less than 2.5 seconds?

Here's why.

As you said. .5 seconds for the pitch. 2.0 for the pop time which would very good. If the runner is leaving early and getting two steps, they are essentially running 53' with a running start. Their momentum has been overcome already. The thing people never factor into the base stealing scenario is the time it takes the shortstop to catch the ball and apply the tag. On a non-perfect throw that can add .5+ seconds to the whole process. So you're looking at 3.0+ seconds.

The defense is at a disadvantage.
 
Dec 10, 2015
845
63
Chautauqua County
we've experienced this at times. our solution was to have on of our ACs watching and then calling it out. but, we directed the callout at the opposing HC. after a few notifications, the problem went away. if not, we had a coach's meeting. teaching your players to cheat is just plain wrong.
 

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