My sons Aaron and Adam and myself have been umpiring for Orem Youth Baseball and we see the strangest plays. This is especially true in the younger instructional divisions. This get me coming back at night and researching the odd plays. I read the rule books and learn what should have been the right call. Most of the time we get it right, sometimes we get it partially right, and other times we completely blow the call and accept the error. I have found it incredibly challenging to umpire and over the years I have gotten more proficient.
I have also learned that a great many of the coaches, players, and fans have little working understanding of the finer points of the rules of Orem Youth Baseball, Pony International, and Major League Baseball. They are relying upon their past baseball experiences and most have not recently read the rule books to understand how the rules of the 3 organizations (OYB/Pony/MLB) should be applied. This means they are relying upon their past experiences in baseball and are not real clear on proper rulings. I have a hard time and I research the rule books regularly.
I think you will enjoy the plays and rulings for the scenarios below. Almost all of them occurred on the Orem Youth Baseball fields...
BALK - What are the balk rules? Aslo see the new "Fielder's Balk" further down the list.
BALK ENFORCEMENT - What craziness can happen if the pitch is delivered?
BALK - PITCHER’S DECEPTION - Was the Pitcher’s deception legal?
BALK - FAKING TO 2ND BASE - When it walks like a duck...
BALK - THROWING TO UNOCCUPIED BASE? - The pitcher is set and the runner at 2nd steals. The pitcher makes a direct pick-off move to the unoccupied 3rd base. Is it a balk?
BASE COACH HIT BY THROW - Is the ball live or dead when a throw hits a base coach?
BATTER HITS HOME PLATE - FAIR OR FOUL? - When the ball is hit and it strikes the plate, is it fair or foul? If the catcher catches the rebound over the plate, is the ball live?
BATTING 9 PLAYERS - Is it a rule that you have to bat 9 or take an out?
BATTER HIT BUT DOESN’T MOVE - Can the batter stay fixed and take one for the team?
BATTER HITS CATCHER’S GLOVE - Is the play called dead, or does the play count?
BATTER HITS POP-UP OFF HANDS - Is the ball live or dead if the batter hits a fair ball off his hands.
BATTER INTERFERENCE - A steal at home and the batter interferes in the play.
BUNTING - When is a bunt motion called a strike and when is it called a ball?
CARRYING THE BAT TO FIRST BASE - If the batter-runner carries the bat to first base is he automatically called out?
CATCH - Is there a 2-second rule? What makes a legal catch?
CATCHER’S INTERFERENCE - What happens when a batter swings and hits the catcher’s glove but the strike pitch is caught by the catcher before the interference?
COACH COMPLAINS LOUDLY - Can a coach protest loudly? See also LIVID - You Are The Worst Umpire Ever!
COLLISIONS AT HOME PLATE - See the new 2014 MLB rule.
FIELDER'S BALK - Is it a balk if the first baseman is in foul territory when holding the runner on base?
FLY BALL HITS BIRD AND IS CAUGHT - What was the ruling?
HIT BY HIT RUNNING HOME - What is the call when a runner coming home is hit by the hit ball?
HIT BY PITCH SWINGING - What is the call when the batter is hit by a pitch outside the strike zone when swinging?
INFIELD FLY RULE - Should the infield fly rule have been imposed?
LINE DRIVE HITS PITCHER’S MOUND - After striking the rubber it goes out of bounds. Is it fair or foul?
MULTIPLE ON-DECK BATTERS & DUGOUT OPENING WARNINGS - Can a strike be called on the batter for other player infractions?
OBSTRUCTION - There are two entries
Obstruction - "You guys have been calling it wrong around here for years!"
Obstruction, No Call, or Must Slide
OVERRUNNING 1ST BASE - Does it matter which way you turn? Can you overrun on a walk?
PITCHING RULES - Section 8 of the MLB rules
RANDY JOHNSON PITCH KILLS DOVE - What was the ruling?
RUNNER HIT BY HIT - OUT - What is the call when a base runner is hit by the hit?
RUNNER AT 3RD - HIT BY HIT - OUT - What is the call when a base runner is hit by the hit?
RUNNER HIT BY HIT - LIVE - What is the call when a base runner is hit by the hit?
RUNNER LEAVES BASE EARLY - What happens when a AA or AAA runner leaves the base early?
SLIDING RULES FOR OYB - Does the runner have to slide?
SAY WHAT??? - What is the funniest thing somebody has said to you as an umpire?
SNOWCONE - THIRD BASE TAG OUT - What constitutes a controlled catch?
SPITBALL - Is going to the mouth while on the pitching rubber a balk?
STRIKE ZONE - What are the 2012 MLB and OYB strike zones?
TAGGING-UP PROTEST - What if two runners fail to tag up on a caught fly, one crosses home plate, while the other is protested for the third out?
TIE GOES TO THE RUNNER? - Is this true, or just an urban legend?
TWO RUNNER SAME BASE - If two runners are standing on the same base, is one automatically out?
UNCAUGHT 3RD STRIKE - What happens when a 3rd strike is not legally caught?
WILD THROWS - Do you get an extra base on an overthrow?
UMPIRE SCORECARDS - What is on those cards the Field Umpires write on?
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