uknowme

Don't know his name but I saw him play twice this year and he never failed to kick it deep. Quite an accomplishment for a kid still in middle school.

Carter has a "little" brother coming up too. I've heard that he could possibly make an impact.

Just curious who you guys thought are the incoming freshmen that should have an early if not immediate impact for the local KFL teams.

Good point. In the meetings I attended, we were instructed to address all profanity including the word "stinks." Yes, that's right, the TSSAA now considers that profanity and inappropriate. We were not told necessarily to eject for all incidences, however. For the under-the-breath utterances we were told to give a stern warning. For blatent outbursts, which what appears to have happened here if those some distance away heard it, we were told to eject immediately. Don't know the severity in this case because I wasn't there, but it seems odd that any ejection would be overturned unless it dealt with some initial misinterpretation of the rules, slinging the bat before a team warning had been issued for example. I guess the word I attempted to type is filtered and was replaced with "stinks." The word starts with "s" but rhymes with "tucks."

I can respect that. Again, congrats and good luck next year.

I hate to hear anything like this happening. I'm happy for you and your team's accomplishments. Are you back next year? If so, good luck next season.

I've never missed a clinic, state meeting, or local meeting since I began years ago. This is the first I've ever heard of signals to a press box to indicate subs. Pro ball is different in that they all use press boxes as far as I know. I will say, however, that some scorekeepers at the high school level, Seymour for example, will ask before the game if you will keep them informed. I do the best I can during dead balls to tell them what changes occurred, a pitching change or between innings most of the time. There box is slightly elevated behind the backstop which makes it fairly easy like Opperman said, but I'm simply not accustomed to "signaling" changes. I guess there's a first time for everything as a famous poet once said. Wait, that was Travis Tritt.

10.1.2- Umpire jurisdiction begins upon the umpires arriving at the field (within the confines of the field) and ends when the umpires leave the playing field at the conclusion of the game. By rule the umpires jurisdiction is confined to the field of play. That will not include the stands, parking lot or I-40 East. Many people misinterpret this rule. The rule does not say that the umpires jurisdiction is limited to the confines of the field. It specifically states that jurisdiction begins when they arrive with the confines of the field. It is not a matter of location but that of time. If jurisdiction does not extend to the stands, how do you explain that forteiture can result from actions of spectators. Furthermore, if it is only limited to the confines of the field, an ejected coach could stand outside the fence and do whatever he pleases. He is outside the fence and that of the confines of the field. Also, the "within sight" comment was not meant as the distance a coach must be removed if ejected, the comment was to state the rule of thumb the state has used for umpire jurisdiction. For instance, an umpire is approched by a coach in the parking lot after a game in an unsportsmanlike manner, the state has upheld fines and suspensions resulting from such encounters. Finally, the point you make about a player being rendered unconscious is a very good point. The rule is clear in this incident.

Interesting. Maybe those instructions and signals should be taught to HS umpires as well and then some of the problems would never occur; however, it seems strange that what works in regular season can't work in tournaments. It seemed to work fine in the district and regional games I called.

How about defensive subs? How do you get the numbers of the sub if he simply looks up with his hand in the air?

Not common but a player can be declared out and restricted. Rule 3.1.1. Illegal player enters game. (A substitute that has already entered and left the game reenters the game for example). After being restricted, he reenters again, he is ejected. Like I said not common but possible. The out, if he is an offensive player, is credited to F2 in both cases.

Opperman, I respect what you do, and like I said the scoreboard is for show. It doesn't matter to us if its right or wrong until a coach treats it like it's official. As far as the ego comment is concerned, it's not about what you suggest or recommend we do, it's is what we are taught. Furthermore, when it comes to the official book, we operate the whole season from the standpoint that the home team has the official book. If someone from the tournament is keeping the official book, maybe they should be at field level. I've yet to see a minor or major league umpire signal a sub to the press box, have you? How do they keep it straight? I'm simply asking and not trying to be smart, but if we did everything to make everyone's life easier, what kind of focus would we have on the game? Finally what is the official signal for a sub? The only thing mentioned is that the umpire-in-chief should announce each substitute, if they are reported that is.

Always, but the umpire-in-chief has the official count. What he says is what it is. Some plate umpires don't like the base umpires to carry indicators because it can create confusion if they give the wrong count to coaches or players when asked, and we are asked constantly. The base umpire should only use his to stay aware; however, we were told this year at the state and local meetings to give the count after every pitch when we are behind the plate. If this is done, nobody should be confused.

This reminds me of the times when a fan or yells out, "What's the count blue?" Like I'm there as a laison between them and the game. An even better one is when a coach informs you that the scoreboard shows 5-3 when it should be 5-4 like you care what the scoreboard shows. It's only there for show. It only matters what the official book says. People will also often try to argue the count shown on the scoreboard instead of what you just showed and verbalized after the previous pitch. Sometimes I wish they would all carry indicators.

The umpire camps are teaching that exact mechanic. I agree that it does create a little "unnecessary" suspense in front of a loud crowd that doesn't here the verbalized "ball" or "strike", but it is a very solid mechanic. As far as the subs are concerned, umps are concerned primarily with legal and illegal subs not if the press box is aware of what is going on. In all actuality, the only thing that matters is what the umpire knows and are the subs being reported to the other team. Finally, although most people don't know this, reporting of substitutes is simply a courtesy just like starters and substitutes being listed on the lineup cards. Once a player enters the game, he is essential inserted into that position in the batting order, reported or otherwise. In other words, a player does not have to officially report to be legal.

True, some are naturally better than others. Knowing rules and mechanics are one thing, good judgement is another thing altogether. Many of us catch grief in district and regional play by the very coaches that rate us very highly to be there. Umpires normally umpire for the love of the game. Trust me, it's not the money. By the time you equip yourself with gear and clothing required along with state and local dues, not to mention travel expenses, the pay is minimal at best. I honestly have never heard of an umpire "helping" one team or the other, although I'm sure it's probably happened. We simply could care less who wins or loses. That's not the business we're in.

To answer your first question, yes. To answer your second question, yes again. To answer your third question, read my previous post (#33), it is very clear. As far as the umpires jurisdiction, it begins when the umpires arrive within the confines of the field. The dugouts are within the confines of the field. As far as the stands are concerned, they are not covered specifically in the rules, but an umpire can require a coach to control his fans. If a coach refuses, he can be ejected for not following an umpire's order. Forfeiture can also result if the situation warrants. As far as the parking lot is concerned, umpires do have the authority to "eject" coaches as long as they are within the vicinity of the field, normally considered in sight. The TSSAA has ruled and upheld such ejections in the past. I'm not sure what the I-40 East question is about, but if I encounter a problem on the road, an ejection and a small fine will be the least of one's worries.

So since they won, all should be forgotten? That's a strange take on it. What if they had lost? Would it matter then? This has nothing to do with the game itself. It's those attitudes that make this kind of act okay!

Good post, but you've opened up a can of worms now. If some posters think the behavior is a coach's issue, they're going to love your "arrested" comment. What explanation will they give if the 2nd baseman or the parents press charges for assault?

Oh, I realize it. I've been umpiring for years at levels from college ball down to coach pitch. We're not talking about good clean fun here. I've been behind the plate at Maryville College and realize that they have several traditions. Traditions and heckling are not the issue. I'm simply talking about outright rude behavior, threats, name calling, and old-fashioned sissy fits not just from fans but coaches too. The kids feed on this. If you have parents and coaches that act like idiots, the players will too. If coaches and parents contest every close pitch or play, players will too. This does nothing but take the fun out of the game for everyone involved. The better youth academies, several in Knoxville that I don't need to name, teach sportsmanship. They focus on fundamentals. Their coaches, players, and fans believe in this system. The system works because the trophies prove it. Yelling, screaming, and name calling will not reverse a call. It is simply a way to divert blame for a bad situation to someone else. Every umpire misses calls, if you're behind the plate, you miss them every game. The major league camps teach that if you miss 10 or fewer, you are excellent. "Come on blue" is not a problem. "Come on blue, you're an idiot" is. An umpire is expected to be perfect the first day on the job and get better every day after that. What other job expects that?

So true. Good post. I've always wondered how parents and coaches would act, not that I would even consider doing it, if an umpire pointed out every mistake they made. I can see it now. "Come on dad, you should have made him faster. You've gotta do better than that" or "Come on coach, why did you send him? He was never gonna beat that throw. That's pathetic." Like I said, I would never consider this, but I think it would help a lot of folks to put the shoe on the other foot and consider how it would be if their "mistakes" were pointed out. It is simple, in my opinion, fans should cheer, coaches should coach, players should play, and officials should officiate. All involved make mistakes, and they should never throw rocks if they live in a glass house.

This really shouldn't surprise anybody. Sad? Yes! Anyone interested can go to any Rec. League park on any given weekend and see the training camp for this type of behavior as the kids get older.

I would assume that if the catcher and 2nd baseman were walking into the dugout that it must have been between innings, LOL. It has been stated several times that the umpire witnessed this. It is irrelevant whether or not an umpire should be looking into the dugout for this kind of incident. It was seen and it wasn't addressed. Any umpire that thinks this is conduct that should only be handled by the coaches when it is seen by the crew on the field, regardless of the game situation, needs to turn in his blue jersey.

Amen, preach it, Blue.

Nashville is a great location, no doubt. If a rotation is being considered, Knoxville has to be considered. If the World's Fair, with days of over 100,000 visitors, can be managed, I'm sure the Spring Fling would be no problem as far as Hotels are concerned. Memphis had problems because many people visit it for other reasons not just Spring Fling. Knoxville has visitors due to conventions and other events, but a conflict could be avoided just like it was when the PBA came to town.