Must Slide Rule with Bat in baseline

[findingtime]

2nd year umpiring - volunteered this year and last year for friends LL team - decided at friends pushing that I should do Legion & whatever else comes along. I study the rule book all the time and take it very serious to know the rules, when to apply, and make sure the game is decided on the field by the players and it is fair across the board. So here's the sit.

A U10 championship game with modified Cal Ripken rules. Using one umpire per game so I am by myself.

League has a rule of must slide at home if a play.

R1 & R2 on base. Nice ball hit between CF and RF. Thinking we could have a play at 2nd with the BR I am in the infield just in case. Things don't work out that way and we have a play coming home instead. I charge back to the outside of foul line on the 1B line extended. No time to grab that bat. Catcher didn't kick it out of the way either. It is laying horizontal to the fould line right in the batter box.

I think the kid is going to beat the ball and for the most part probably does but it is close and he doesn't slide but doesn't jump but does (HTBT) over the sweep tag and tags the plate.

Coach starts to argue he has to slide.

I stop him and say how would you have it coach.

1. He is safe.
2. Do we make him slide into the bat and push it into his catcher endangering both him and the catcher.
3. Would he rather me miss a play at another base because I am looking for equipment.


bottom line I call him safe because of the safety of both kids. Tell both teams at that point lets work together between me and the catcher to kick the bats out of the way and I try at that point to look for it as I go out into the field to call plays at other bases.

What are your thoughts?

[cajunyankee]

Sounds like you did what was right.

This type of rule makes for trouble in some cases because it's taken to the extreme by coaches and unfortunately, the rules don't take certain scenarios into consideration.

You're dealing with little kids, and thereby, little kid coaches.

Err on the side of the safety of the kids, and dump ANYONE who gives you any shit over doing so.

Bill

[CoachJM]

...

What are your thoughts?

They should change the rule.

JM

[cajunyankee]

That's what I'm saying. Dumb, all-inclusive rules that don't really help anything. Let the kids play ball. It's a great game.

[yawetag]

I try at that point to look for it as I go out into the field to call plays at other bases.

Full disclosure: The only time I ever touch a bat is when the batter lets it go into me. I never move bats on the ground.

That said, if I did, I wouldn't worry about it when working solo. I have too much else to worry about, especially with two runners on base, to try and eye a bat on the ground, pick it up, and move it out of the way.

[bobjenkins]

They should change the rule.

JM

Agreed, but until they do, you should call the play the way you would have had the bat not been there.

[Pete_Booth]

They should change the rule.

JM

JM I think most agree that the rule should be changed, however, I think we can all think of rules we do not like but when we take an assignment under a certain set of "book" and "house" rules we are paid to enforce those rules or refuse the assignment.

I agree with Bob. The play should be treated as if the bat was not there. The rule simply states that if a play at the plate is close and from the OP it appears that's the case then the player must slide. The player didn't slide and therefore, should have been called out.

is it a stupid/silly rule? - yes but the rule is known up front and as mentioned if you take the assignment then enforce it. Perhaps the rule will change.

Pete Booth

[cajunyankee]

Agreed. We can't inject our morality into these games.

Call it as it's written.

Good points.

[findingtime]

Your responses are appreciated. Now I know for future reference.

It appeared the kid was going to be safe and it could have been ugly. Had the throw beat him versus him beating the throw I'm sure I would have gone the other way.

Just sucks when you have these gray areas or at least they seem gray when things like this happen and you don't want to take away from what the kids have done.

Correct the coach was doing everything he could to try and push it. Pitching limits, can pitchers pitch again if they stayed in the game, I've got a kid that needs to come out his arm is hurting and I want to renter another kid who is being subbed out.

Like I said it was a league championship game and the 2nd of the day since the loser team came back through the losers bracket.

About the injuried kid - I went out and talked with him and asked him what he thought. He said his arm hurt but he wanted to play - he was playing 2nd base. Told the coach sorry - he is playing and you aren't reentering the other kid into his batting spot. he comes back in he comes in for the kid who subbed him

By the way - the 2nd game went 2 extra innings and the loser bracket team came back to win it.

Parents were thankful I kept it all under control and kept the focus on the kids.

[DaveD10]

When there is possible play at the plate I always clear the bat - as you clear the catcher bend over and slide it out of the way.

[Dragon29]

About the injuried kid - I went out and talked with him and asked him what he thought.

I wouldn't do this. Speak w/the manager. The 'kid' is under his supervision, not yours and it's not up to you to determine the existence, nature or severity of injuries.

Simply speaking, it's not your job to have that conversation with a player. As close as you should come to that is if you see what you feel may have been an injury during a play, it's perfectly OK to ask the player if he's OK, but usually the question is, "Are you OK? Do you want to see your manager?"

[Forest_Ump]

Full disclosure: The only time I ever touch a bat is when the batter lets it go into me. I never move bats on the ground.


Andrew...This is the mechanic for clearing the bat that they teach at Evans. Remember the acronym "NAP" when it comes to clearing the bat.


1."N" Is it necessary?
2."A" Is it available?
3."P" Is it possible?

If the answer is yes to all three question, clear the bat. Bend over while keeping your eyes on the play and slide the bat backward briskly.

I agree that it would be difflicult working one man. But then again I never do one man.

[yawetag]

When there is possible play at the plate I always clear the bat - as you clear the catcher bend over and slide it out of the way.

Dave, would you do this working solo?

[Tim_C]

"The only time I ever touch a bat is when the batter lets it go into me. I never move bats on the ground."

"Dave, would you do this working solo?"

I always "attempt" to clear a bat if there is going to be a play at the stick.

While I have never (nor would I ever) work a game solo if you clear the bat correctly (as taught a MLB schools) your eyes never move from watching the ball.

T

[heyblue26]

While I have never (nor would I ever) work a game solo if you clear the bat correctly (as taught a MLB schools) your eyes never move from watching the ball.

T

Tim Your right never take your eye off the ball while its in play as it has been said " keep your eye everlasting on the ball while its in play".

[bigbird69]

As easy as that sounds, there are times when you can take that idea and stuff it...

The only play that I had an issue with a bat.. bases loaded, ball hit, high flyball down the first baseline...

I busted up 3rd a little ways to A, still see the foul line, B. Avoid the F3 view obstruction, and C. be able to see all 3 runners tagging up if the ball is caught (missed but not by much). By the time I would have gotten back to the plate for the bat, I would have crashed R3... Of course with the ball rattling around the corner, he should have just picked the thing up himself, but no, have to allow the BR to step on it when he slid into home.

I make it a rule, If I touch the bat, I am NOT solo... If the coach has a problem "with another umpire, I can afford to handle such ammenties"

If they don't want to spring for the other ump, they need to teach the kids to drop the bat up the line, or R3 to pick it up on their way by. Your team dropped it.. you penalized yourself. I have two eyes to watch up to 4 runners and a baseball at all times... the math is already out of whack.