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2009 MLB Rule Books

 2009 MLB RULE BOOKS Now Available!!!  Special ABUA pricing for members! 

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ABUA 2009 Membership Drive

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Iowa high-school baseball snafu has locals asking: Can you eject an entire crowd

Umpires can throw out players. Umpires can throw out coaches. But can umpires throw out fans?
In mid-June, umpire Don Briggs ejected not just a fan — he tossed out the entire crowd at a high-school baseball game between Winfield-Mount Union and West Burlington.

That was a first in the state’s history, according to the Iowa High School Athletics Association.

West Burlington Superintendent James Sleister was called to the scene at the field about 75 miles southeast ofIowa City after the ejection. He arrived, saw the entire crowd standing in the streets outside the baseball diamond, and heard with the reason for ejection: fan unruliness.

Everyone seemed calm then, he said.

“They went behind the fence but refused to leave the area because they wanted to know why they were being kicked out,” he said. “They weren’t standing there screaming or anything like that. After I talked to people, there was no unruliness.”

The excitement started in the bottom of the fifth inning, when a perceived foul ball was ruled fair by the umpiring crew. The coach of Winfield-Mount Union (the fielding team) came out to argue the call. As the confrontation took place, the West Burlington coach sent his runner home from third because he didn’t see the umpire signal time-out.

Briggs instructed the runner to return to third base because he had called time-out. He then handed out ejection warnings to both of the team’s head coaches. Afterwards, he turned around, facing the stands and handed out a warning of a possible ejection to the entire crowd. Sleister said the umpire handed the crowd a warning because he had heard repeated negative comments.

National Federation
Posted by jasonk on Thursday, July 02 @ 14:13:09 EDT (8 reads)

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Outfielder Tosses Ball Into Dead Ball Territory After Catch
The Cubs hosted the Twins on June 12th. In the top of the eighth inning the Twins had runners on first and third and one out when Joe Mauer hit a sac/fly to Milton Bradley in right field.

Bradley caught the ball for the second out then posed like a statue for two-three seconds.

He had lost a fly ball in the sun earlier in the game and was probably showboating to the fans.

Bradley then tossed the ball into the stands thinking there were three outs. The runner on third tagged-up and scored easily while Brandon Harris, the runner on first, was awarded two bases.

Fortunately, for the Cubs he never scored.

Whenever a thrown ball by an outfielder goes... 
RuleBall
Posted by jasonk on Thursday, July 02 @ 09:54:07 EDT (14 reads)

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Little League International Announces 2009 World Series Umpires
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (June 11, 2009) - During the spring and summer, tens of thousands of Little League games are played. Each year thousands of volunteer umpires take to the field giving their time, experience and wisdom, while often receiving no pay. Over the course of several seasons a select group of these invaluable volunteers have displayed their commitment to Little League, while refining a unique combination of judgment, interpersonal skills and patience that has been recognized by Little League International with appointments to one of Little League’s eight World Series.

The 15 Little League umpires selected to officiate games at the 2009 Little League Baseball World Series in Williamsport, Pa., are: George Ray Brooks, II (Rainelle, W. Va); Tony Eller (Brooklawn, N.J.); Michael Galiano (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.); Jim Hallonquist (Sequin, Texas); Thomas Henry (Forest Lake, Minn.); David Leatherwood (Missouri City, Texas); Michael T. Martin (Livermore, Calif.); John Mashburn (Telford, Tenn.); Chris Parker (Bangor, Maine); Jeffrey Stokoe (Kettering, Ohio); Rick Wagner (Indianapolis, Ind.); and G.W. “Mike” Yeager (Snoqualme, Wash.). Members of the umpiring crew hailing from Little League’s international regions are: Randy Ewart (Waghaeusel, Germany); Jesus Guzman (Maracaibo, Zulia); Hugo St. Amant (Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec); and Damaso Sancon (San Miquel, Bulcan, Philippines).

“Appointment to the World Series Umpire Team is recognition that an umpire has reached the highest level of proficiency and is now considered among the best in the world,” Mr. Legge, Director of Little League’s Central Region and the 2009 Little League Baseball World Series umpire coordinator, said. “To be selected for a World Series, each of these umpires have been evaluated on their abilities, demeanor and on-field mechanics at virtually all levels of Little League play. To be invited to officiate at the Little League Baseball World Series is the highest honor Little League can bestow upon an umpire.”

Frank Policano, of Rock Tavern, N.Y., will serve as the umpire host.

Umpires traveling to the World Series are not reimbursed for travel expenses, maintaining the tradition of the umpire as a volunteer. Housing expenses are provided for by Little League International.

Little League Baseball and Softball is the world’s largest organized youth sports program, with nearly 2.6 million players and one million adult volunteers in every U.S. state and scores of other countries.
Little League Baseball & Softball
Posted by jasonk on Thursday, July 02 @ 09:48:32 EDT (8 reads)

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Umpire vehemently denies he swore at player

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The first-base coach of the Kingston Thunder house league baseball team whose player is accused of attacking an umpire last week claims the umpire swore at the player before the alleged attack, a charge fiercely denied by the umpire.

Don Butler, who said he was standing no more than two metres from the incident last Tuesday at Woodbine Park, believes the actions of the 16-year-old umpire after a disputed call at first base fuelled the anger of Thunder player Kyle Pyke, 19.

Pyke threw his helmet to the ground after he was ruled out.

"(The umpire said), 'Get the (expletive) off my diamond, you're out of here,' " Butler, 42, said.

"(Pyke) turned around and said, 'What the (expletive) did you say to me,' and the umpire said, 'Get off my diamond (expletive).' "

Butler then said that Pyke punched umpire Brandon Cross in the head.

Cross, who was punched twice according to the police reports, said he never swore at the player.

"There is no truth to that at all," Cross said. "I did not do that."

Pyke was charged with assault. He is scheduled to return to court July 21.

The visiting Prince Edward County Lynx, based in Wellington, had a big lead on Kingston when the incident occurred in the final inning of the game. Pyke was ruled to have been tagged out while running to first base.

Lynx coach John Allison was not at the game.

"The bottom line is, whatever the umpire said, it does not allow someone to attack the umpire," said Allison.
News from around the umpiring world
Posted by jasonk on Tuesday, June 30 @ 11:40:32 EDT (18 reads)

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Police are investigating a fight between two baseball teams

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Story By: Jamie Smith

On Monday at around 8:30 p.m., Colorado Springs officers were dispatched to the Four Diamond Sports Complex on a report of two baseball teams fighting. 

As officers were responding additional callers were reporting up to thirty people were involved and baseball bats were being used. When the officers arrived on scene they found that the disturbance was between Cheyenne Mountain and Wasson High School girl’s softball teams. 

The disturbance started after a player was hit with a pitch and charged the mound. That player was ejected, followed by a coach yelling and the umpire stopping the game. 

As the players and spectators were leaving an argument and physical confrontation took place in the parking lot. Two juvenile girls will be charged with fighting and an adult female is under investigation for third degree assault.

News from around the umpiring world
Posted by jasonk on Tuesday, June 30 @ 11:30:34 EDT (10 reads)

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Amateur Baseball Umpires' Association
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