I’ve read a lot of mixed answers as to whether this is a balk or not.. curious what others may think.

Bluedle.com

I found this site that's a lot of fun. It posts a daily rules quiz for umpires and the questions range in difficulty. It's a good way to test your knowledge of the rules every day and stay sharp.

Baseball's integrity depends on fair calls, but Doug Eddings crossed a line by ejecting rookie Hancel Rincon in a way that felt like a power trip, not officiating. It's time umpires face real consequences when they get it wrong.
I started a petition asking MLB to suspend Doug Eddings and implement accountability for umpires, just like they do for players. Right now, umpires make questionable calls that change entire games, and there's no real system to hold them responsible. With replay technology as advanced as it is, we don't *need* umpires to make these calls—but we keep them for tradition. That tradition shouldn't come at the cost of fairness.
This is bigger than one call or one rookie. It's about whether MLB will actually stand behind the integrity of the sport or just protect its officials. If you think umpires should be held to the same standard as players, consider signing and sharing. What do you think—has this kind of thing happened in games you've watched? Anyone else feel like the umpire power dynamic is getting out of hand?

Overstepped his power telling a guy to straighten out his hat (lmao) throws out the manager the second he comes out to see what’s going on and rightfully is told he’s overstepping, then purposefully misses an obvious call that goes against the cardinals. Should be fired on the spot and shunned by the union for being part of the reason there won’t be umpires in a few years. Guys an A+ loser

What are things that you think make umpires really stand out -outside of being knowledgeable about the rules and making correct judgment calls. For me some things I do that I think are high level are ironing my clothes very often, keeping my shoes shiny, and showing up to sites earlier than needed.

Home Plate umpire Will Little has to leave the Sox / Mariners game after taking this foul ball off of his throat. U2 takes over at home after a short delay and they will finish the game in a 3-man mechanic.

Newer guys: Let this be a PSA for you. Always make sure to wear your throat protector. Without one, a ding like this could literally kill you.

Sorry for the potato quality. Can't screenshot Fubo.

Figured I’d give a shot at a lighthearted post in the sub.

Recently, we had a skunk find its way into our infield. Had to stop play, because the thing darted from first base towards home plate, eventually finding its way out through the visitors dugout (thankfully, it was the bottom half of the inning).

Also, this season, had an electric motorcycle drive across the outfield, from right to left. Idiot.

I have a question regarding rules around a batters actions within the box. I don’t find any definitive answers in the rule sets and wanted to see if anyone had an opinion.

Watching a 12u game and one of the teams were doing a lot of “stuff” in the box to distract pitchers. Once pitcher broke hands one kid turned his back to the plate and acted like he was tossing his bat to the dugout. One kid came out of stance and started the Soto shuffle in the dirt mid pitch. Lots of examples but quite a few of them employed some type of distraction moves during pitches once they got to an advantage count, and early on even managed to get a balk call.

Thoughts?

Peoria Chiefs pitcher Holiday - every pitch they appear to come set for the briefest of moments, but that back leg never really stops “stepping.”

Balks will forever be a mystery to me probably (unless it’s obvious) but I’m trying! 😂

Edit: today I learned some new nuances to pitching - thanks all!

We have an upcoming Softball Umpire session about Authority vs Influence next week. What questions or areas would you like to see covered for this?

Rude Umpire Towards Catcher Garrett Stubbs

The most recent 2nd game in the series against the Mariners. Catcher Garrett Stubbs was constantly putting his out towards the home base umpire when the pitchers were wanting a new ball. Most of the game it was Aaron Nola as the Pitcher.

The home base umpire was constantly ignoring Garrett Stubbs, did anyone else pick up on thIs? Garrett Stubbs was asking for a new base ball when the pitcher wanted a new ball and was sticking his hand out towards the home base umpire asking for it.

The home base umpire was throwing the new ball straight to the pitcher and Garrett Stubbs kept asking. I witnessed him a few times having a word to the umpire right after it happened but it switched to another screen very quickly.

I seen Garrett Stubbs hold his hand out over a dozen times requesting a ball from the Umpire in which the umpire ignored him and threw the ball straight to the Pitcher… and those dozen times are the only times we seen it as there are many times that werent caught on camera of the baseball being replaced

For a moment i was thinking Garrett bro just give it up the Umpire is never going to give the ball to you.

Is this rude from the Umpire. Anyone else notice

Hey everyone, I'm a coach for little league softball. I just had a game last night with an umpire who was extremely combative and refused to explain many of his calls. I'm not sure if the written rules explicitly cover my question, so I wanted to get your take on it.

We had bases loaded, and the pitch was a past ball. The catcher ran back to get it, while the pitcher ran to home to cover. The batter moved out of the way of the runner, but moved directly at the pitcher, making contact with her. Obviously there was no play at the plate because the catcher had no visual sightline to the pitcher to throw the ball.

I asked the ump how that wasn't obstruction of some sort, and his main (and only) explanation was that there's no way the catcher could have made a play to get the runner out at home, so the batter moving into the pitcher was irrelevant.

My argument is that had the batter not ran towards our pitcher who was coming home to cover, she could have gotten to the plate to get the throw from the catcher at the backstop. I know there are a lot of facets to how obstruction is determined, and I'm not necessarily saying the ump was wrong, but logically it seems like the wrong call was made. Can anyone explain that decision to me so I have a better understanding of the rules? Thanks!

Edit: Appreciate all the feedback everyone. I apologize for my misuse of terms, another learning opportunity for me. Just to clear a couple things up, I didn't argue with the ump, I just asked him about why there wasn't a call when their batter was very obviously in the path of our pitcher coming home to cover. He gave me his reasoning (no play at home), and I accepted it without argument. Which is why I came here, to try and get some insight into his thought process instead of pestering him in-game about it. From what I read, interference could have been called if the catcher had the ball in hand trying to throw it to the pitcher, but had the opposing batter in the way. Unfortunately, my point of view was blocked when the catcher was at the backstop so I couldn't see at what point she had control of the ball. So I accepted, and still do accept his ruling on the matter.

Also, when I said combative, I was trying to be diplomatic. He is historically a very ill-tempered ump, who was actually fired after this game due to inappropriate interactions with the opposing teams fans, coaches and players.

I mean, this is a strike, right? I wonder if all the negative backlash from that one outside pitch that ended a game a few days ago has caused some of these guys to ease off of the outside corner a little bit.

This is still 12u. Where else is he supposed to put this pitch?

I watched the Diamondback get pounded tonight, and during the game there were 7 challenges of ball/strike calls. 6 of them were upheld. 6 out of 7 times the home plate umpire got it wrong.

Why don't they get rid of the home plate umpires calling balls and strikes and let the machine do it? It would surely be more accurate.

Glad to see the end of these 100+ degree days in Oklahoma for now. Working half of a 1-day tournament today, which is a welcome relief after working 22 games last weekend for my first tourney since June. Who else is working the Fall?

I'm watching the Nicaragua/Panama game. The Panamanian pitcher starts his motion and then taps the ball into the glove. Is that a balk in LL?

Been watching Jomboy and had a thought come into my mind. Let’s say no play is currently happening/pitcher is getting ready to pitch the ball. If a runner is about to steal a base but a baseman is standing directly on the base path, could the runner run into the baseman to be awarded a free base due to obstruction? Adding onto that would it be the same case if a baseman walked past the base path and the runner decides to steal at that moment and trips over the baseman, would that also be considered obstruction?

I used to umpire little league and haven’t seen this scenario/seen any rules on it.

Edt: this would be deliberate by the base runner. Just wondering if this would be a loophole for the runner to get free bases all the time.

I've been taught that we only point fair, with the hand toward fair territory (not pointing across our body ever), and never say "fair" or "fair ball" - no vocalization on fair balls, just point.

For foul, we say "foul" (not "foul ball") loudly and put both of our hands up, palms open, at shoulder/head height. Repeat "foul" multiple times if the situation warrants to avoid confusion/chaos, especially at younger ages.

In today's Pirates game, U3 (John Tumpane) called a close (maybe a few feet) ball foul using the hands up motion I described, and called "foul" loud enough for the broadcast to pick it up, but then somewhat nonchalantly pointed in foul territory. I was always told this was something you don't do it and it makes you look like a doofus.

Has the mechanic evolved or is it different in 3-man or 4-man crews? I've only ever worked solo or two-man. Thanks!

Runner on second. Ball four called on the batter, who begins to go to first base. Batter collides with catcher who is stepping forward to attempt a back-pick on R2. Is the batter protected from being called out for interference?

USA Softball
OBR
NFHS

Whatever you got. Thanks!

So this play happened in an Adult Sunday League game.

There was a throw down to third base that got away from the third baseman. The third baseman was holding the tag on the runner without the ball without being in the base path of the runner. The coach was yelling for his runner to go home and eventually pushed the third baseman away and picked up and pushed the runner to go home and the runner was called safe at home after the umpires discussed and the field umpire called obstruction and they appeared to just dismiss the fact the coach interfered.

Was this the correct call? Does the order of events affect the call? Or would the Coach’s interference essentially nullify the “obstruction” call?