Incorrect Rule Interpretations - a running list

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May 30, 2013
1,442
83
Binghamton, NY
A few weeks ago, DD hit a BOMB on a field with no fence.
Easily 230' in the air.
But OF was playing deep (they tend to play too deep on a field with no fence, I've noticed. No sense of scale...),
and DD was thrown out on the basepaths.

had SEVERAL fans ask me: that's not a HR if there is no fence? I could only offer a blank stare....lol
 
Apr 1, 2017
535
93
A significant subset of parents/fans don't understand that a batter is out on an uncaught 3rd strike if first base is occupied with less than 2 outs. This subset overlaps with parents who loudly coach from the stands. This is not a good combination.

Our pitcher throws a change up in the dirt that is swung on and missed for strike three (but blocked pretty well or perhaps even picked by our catcher). Five parents, quickly joined by 10 more, scream for the batter to run which she eventually does. When the batter takes off for first base, the runner at first gets itchy because a teammate appears to be to be joining her imminently, so she takes off for second. But the running play develops slowly because (it appears to me) it was inspired by fan reaction, so the runner takes off late. Catcher throws to second catching the runner stealing, the batter is out on strikes, and the parents/fans go crazy because they don't understand what just happened. Feels like I see some variation on this theme over and over.

seems like once a week I see this chaos, even from some coaches. Rivaled only by an infield fly call where the ball ends up being dropped.
 
Jun 7, 2019
170
43
I don't know if this is proper umpire mechanics or not, but a senior umpire once taught me that the best way to keep this from happening is for me to take things under control. So, whenever I have a runner on 1st with less than 2 outs, and we get a third strike dropped or it hits the dirt, if I see that batter take one step toward 1B, I'm yelling "batter's out" in a really loud voice. Sometimes I have to yell it twice, but it never fails.
 

marriard

Not lost - just no idea where I am
Oct 2, 2011
4,312
113
Florida
I don't know if this is proper umpire mechanics or not, but a senior umpire once taught me that the best way to keep this from happening is for me to take things under control. So, whenever I have a runner on 1st with less than 2 outs, and we get a third strike dropped or it hits the dirt, if I see that batter take one step toward 1B, I'm yelling "batter's out" in a really loud voice. Sometimes I have to yell it twice, but it never fails.

I have to say that this is poor mechanics and form. The ball is LIVE and by doing this you are effecting the result of the play of a live ball. You have to let it play out.

It is not the umpires job to coach, commentate or narrate the game. It is on the players/coaches to know the rules & game situation.

When their is no D3K and the catcher drops it just do what you would do any time there is a 3rd strike and the batter is out:
- On a called strike, just hammer and arrow/big call it like you would any called third strike.
- On a swinging strike hammer the strike and do nothing else.

In an actual D3K scenario, there is debate on correct mechanics across codes especially on an unclear D3K
In general I do the following: Hammer the strike, and as you see the drop, now point down at the field of play or 1B (like a fair ball signal).

- So on a called strike, you are not doing the 'big' 3rd strike call, you just hammer the strike and then arm down and point down - it is clear the ball is down. Without the 'big' call, you are good.
- On a swinging strike, same - hammer the strike, then arm down and point down and only if it is unclear that the catcher dropped it, I will say 'no catch' so the catcher can hear me.
 
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Aug 29, 2011
2,581
83
NorCal
I have to say that this is terrible mechanics and form. The ball is LIVE and by doing this you are effecting the result of the play of a live ball. You have to let it play out.

It is not the umpires job to coach, commentate or narrate the game. It is on the players/coaches to know the rules & game situation.
An umpire calling an out an out is bad mechanics?
 
May 29, 2015
3,731
113
I have to say that this is terrible mechanics and form. The ball is LIVE and by doing this you are effecting the result of the play of a live ball. You have to let it play out.

It is not the umpires job to coach, commentate or narrate the game. It is on the players/coaches to know the rules & game situation.

I have to disagree with you marriard. Maybe I’m biased because I do the same thing ... but I call the batter out when the batter is out. That is not affecting anything with the ball still being live and in play. It is no different than the NCAA mechanic of signaling safe on a D3K. (Tangent: I have always found that an odd mechanic as neither the batter nor the catcher are going to be looking at the umpire in that situation.)

Honestly, it amazes me that no organization has ruled that the batter-runner running is a form of interference. The organizations are smart enough (I guess) to realize that 99.9% of the time it is a reaction, not a deliberate act.

That said, in this day and age of conniving coaches looking for every possible edge ... why not instruct your players to run all the way every time? The current standard is that the defense is expected to know the situation ... which brings us full circle: Calling the batter out changes nothing.
 

marriard

Not lost - just no idea where I am
Oct 2, 2011
4,312
113
Florida
An umpire calling an out an out is bad mechanics?

First I was harsh in how I phrased it - I have edited it.

An umpiring effecting a play is bad mechanics. And I have already called her out by hammering the third strike. I don't need to do it again - I have already done it. The point is, I have already called the out and the ball is live and the play needs to play out without me messing with it.

By loudly announcing an out I can effect the play - and there is a good cahnce I also add to the confusion. Because of my action maybe now the base runner does or doesn't run to second base when they could or worse - head home if the bases are loaded. Or they stop half way because my call confused them or they are not sure what is going on.

Or I have just stopped the defense getting an easy out because the runners try to advance when they don't have to and the defense was alert enough to know what is happening and recognized this. Or I stop the catcher throwing to first and allowing runners to advance. I once saw an umpire call the out half way through the catcher throwing the ball so she tried to stop and managed to throw the ball into the dugout...
 
Last edited:

marriard

Not lost - just no idea where I am
Oct 2, 2011
4,312
113
Florida
That said, in this day and age of conniving coaches looking for every possible edge ... why not instruct your players to run all the way every time? The current standard is that the defense is expected to know the situation ... which brings us full circle: Calling the batter out changes nothing.

I will argue that calling the batter out a second time absolutely can change the result of the play.

We did eject a HS coach last season for repeatedly instructing his batters to run to first on ball 3 intentionally last season. Real gem of a coach.
 
Aug 29, 2011
2,581
83
NorCal
First I was harsh in how I phrased it - I have edited it.

An umpiring effecting a play is bad mechanics. And I have already called her out by hammering the third strike. I don't need to do it again - I have already done it. The point is, I have already called the out and the ball is live and the play needs to play out without me messing with it.

By loudly announcing an out I can effect the play - and there is a good cahnce I also add to the confusion. Because of my action maybe now the base runner does or doesn't run to second base when they could or worse - head home if the bases are loaded. Or they stop half way because my call confused them or they are not sure what is going on.

Or I have just stopped the defense getting an easy out because the runners try to advance when they don't have to and the defense was alert enough to know what is happening and recognized this. Or I stop the catcher throwing to first and allowing runners to advance. I once saw an umpire call the out half way through the catcher throwing the ball so she tried to stop and managed to throw the ball into the dugout...
I personally like when an umpire says "strike 3 - batter out" and just "strike 3" when there is a DK3. As someone else noted above, neither the pitcher nor catcher is facing the umpire to see his signal. I don't see how that is "messing with the play" but I'm not an umpire.

But I also like t hem to be consistent - call it the same way all the time or don't call it. But do it the same every time.
 

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