BASEBALL

Once Adolph Varela, El Paso, Texas, puts the ball in play, he must be locked in and ready to call the next pitch. Sometimes, that is easier said than done, and umpires must know how to get themselves back in the zone when they are struggling with their pitch-calling.

FROM ZONED OUT TO ZEN MASTER

Try These Techniques During Rough Days Behind the Plate

By Jon Bible

In the 1984 College World Series, I had the plate in a semifinal game. Pitch one was a slider on the edge of home plate. Right in my wheelhouse, but I called it a ball, and instantly knew I was wrong. Oh, well, I thought — the burden of trying for a perfect game was gone. Pitch two was in the same spot. Same result.

I was determined not to miss another one. So here came a fastball about a foot high and outside. The problem was mentally I had called it a strike before it left the pitcher’s hand. As the third-base coach landed after jumping three feet high, I thought, “Bubba, you’re 0-for-3. Better get your head on straight.”

Any umpire can probably sympathize, for we’re all going to have moments — or games — where we can’t tell a ball from a strike. It happens at all levels and to veterans and newbies alike. Indeed, in the game above I had roughly 15 years of college and pro ball under my belt. External forces — bad pitching, weather, catchers who shift late, etc. — may be a factor, but often our problems are our own making. What to do when it’s a rough day?

Take inventory. Run down a checklist of basics. Timing too fast? Your head ought to be at the top of the batter’s strike zone; is it higher or lower, and are you keeping it steady as the pitch comes in? Tracking the pitch all the way to the mitt with your eyes? Something about your stance amiss? Maybe ask a partner for help; sometimes they see things we don’t.

Once, the head coach of a school for which I assigned non-conference games called about an umpire he said was missing pitches badly. To oblige him, I looked at video. Sure enough, the umpire’s head shifted to the other side of the catcher’s head on outside

pitches to left-handed batters; because he wasn’t seeing the pitch all the way in, he was guessing and ringing up pitches a foot outside. At first he didn’t believe he was doing this, but after he saw the video it was a quick fix.

Don’t experiment. I once worked with a veteran who was inconsistent early in an NCAA regional game. He usually worked a box stance and obviously knew things were amiss because he shifted to a knee, scissors, back to a box, etc., to try to fix it. After the second inning he called me in and asked if I could help. I suggested he stick with his usual stance, keep his head steady and try the pro umpire school mantra of “On the rubber, get set, call it” before each pitch to get a consistent rhythm going. Ultimately, he got in the groove.

Presumably you’ve developed a stance and routine that have produced good results. Don’t change things if the going gets rough, for mid-game isn’t the time to experiment. Instead, try to figure out what you’re not doing that you usually do. Experiment in scrimmages.

Relax. At times when I struggled, I tensed up. Golfers know if you hit a few bad shots the impulse is to grip the club tighter, and this can happen to us. The more we mess up, the more rigid we may get. If you sense this, take a deep breath and try to feel the tension ease out of your body. You can’t hit good golf shots when you’re tense, and you can’t call balls and strikes that way. I’ve seen umpires who were so rigid, it seemed they’d been embalmed.

Don’t fidget around between pitches. I’ve seen umpires paw the dirt, grab their belt, adjust their mask or protector, etc., instead of just calmly standing there. I’ve also seen people jerk down into their stance as the pitcher is delivering. In terms of focus and timing, it’s better to ease down in a cruise-control manner. Watch major league umpires and you’ll see virtually all of them do this.

Focus. Sometimes we screw up because we’re not concentrating on the pitch all the way to the mitt. Maybe we’re unwittingly thinking about something else — a work problem, someone in the stands, etc. When I forced myself to block everything out and focus on the little white ball, it helped.

Don’t anticipate. I had to fight anticipating what pitch was coming given the situation. Once, the home team was ahead in the top of the ninth with two outs and an 0-2 count on the hitter. I was looking for a waste pitch, and here came what seemed like a high fastball. Unfortunately, it broke into the heart of the zone, but I had already registered it as a ball. Thankfully, the batter swung at the next pitch and missed. So if you’re having difficulties, it may be that you’re not taking each pitch as it comes without preconceived notions of what it will be.

Don’t be too fine. Pitchers can be too fine, and so can we. Sometimes it seems that we won’t ring up a pitch unless it’s perfect. My philosophy was that when a ball leaves the pitcher’s hand, it’s a strike until I’m convinced otherwise. Thus, I called borderline pitches strikes instead of making them be “right there.” If you’re having a rough day, ask yourself if this is the problem.

Have a short memory. It can be hard to do this, but if you know (or think) you missed a pitch, quickly turn the page. Stewing on the one that got away from you makes it more likely that you’ll boot the next one.

When I took inventory in my CWS game, I realized I missed the first two pitches because I had set up farther inside than usual and at an angle that made them look a mile outside. And my timing was fast. I missed the third one because I overreacted to the first two misses, anticipated another strike and didn’t process where it actually was. In other words, I butchered just about everything. Once I fixed things and calmed down, everything was OK. Mercifully. Jon Bible, Austin, Texas, worked seven NCAA Division I College World Series. In 2019, he was inducted into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame in Lubbock, Texas. 

BY THE NUMBERS

57

The number of ejections by MLB umpires through the first two months of the 2021 season. Last season saw 81 ejections during the roughly two-month regular season that ran from July 23-Sept. 27.

SOURCE: CLOSECALLSPORTS.COM

TOOLS

All-Star Cobalt Skull Cap

Are you a traditionalist who likes using a hat-and-mask combo behind the plate but considering the added safety provided by the hard-shell “bucket”? Then perhaps the All-Star Cobalt Umpire Skull Cap is the right compromise. The short-billed helmet is gaining favor with many umpires working the plate, including MLB arbiters Mike Estabrook, Gabe Morales and John Tumpane. It was designed in collaboration with MLB and Minor League Baseball, comes in four sizes, costs $59.99 and is available sizes, costs $59.99 and is available at ump-attire.com. at ump-attire.com.

THEY SAID IT

“A player without a ball, without making a play on a ball, is standing in the basepath of the runner, impeding and hindering him. … It doesn’t have to be contact. It just has to be hinder or obstruct, and that’s what happened.”

— MLB umpire Marty Foster, explaining his rationale for a disputed obstruction call against Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Zack Godley during an April 28 game against the Miami Marlins

SOURCE: ESPN.COM

TEST YOURSELF

In each question, decide which answer is correct for NFHS, NCAA or pro rules. Solutions:

p. 81.

1. The pitcher, in the windup position, may: a. Deliver a pitch. b. Legally step backward off the pitcher’s plate. c. Legally attempt a pickoff at an occupied base. d. a and b. e. All of the above.

2. With a runner on first base and the ball in the first baseman’s glove, the pitcher places his feet astride the pitcher’s plate. a. This is a legal play. b. It is a balk.

3. The ball is dead immediately and the batter is out when: a. He hits the ball fair with part of his foot touching home plate and part touching the line of the batter’s box. b. He hits the ball foul with a foot on the ground completely outside the lines of the batter’s box. c. He bunts the ball fair with his knee touching the ground completely outside the lines of the batter’s box. d. b and c. e. All of the above.

4. The batter will be declared out when: a. An attempt to bunt with two strikes is foul. b. The third-base coach interferes with the third baseman attempting to catch a foul fly ball. c. With two outs and a runner on first base, the missed swinging third strike is not caught. d. a and b.

5. The improper batter becomes the proper batter and the results of his time at bat are legal when no appeal is made and: a. A legal pitch has been delivered to the next batter. b. An illegal pitch has occurred. c. An intentional base on balls has been granted. d. All of the above.

Slide Rules

One of the key rule differences umpires must understand when working multiple levels of baseball is the force-play slide rule. What constitutes a legal slide at one level may be outlawed by rule at another level, and umpires would be welladvised to review this important safety rule during their pregame preparations before working any game.

The first thing to remember is a runner is never required to slide at any level. In other words, there is no such thing as a “must-slide” rule. At the NFHS, NCAA and pro levels, on all force plays not involving first base, runners have the option of executing a legal slide or peeling off and voluntarily removing themselves from the play.

The most stringent of the three rules codes when it comes to the force-play slide rule is the NFHS, which is detailed in rule 2-32. A legal slide can be either feet or head first, and if feet first, at least one leg and buttock shall be on the ground (2-32-1). If a runner slides, he must slide within reach of the base with either a hand or foot, or may slide in a direction away from the fielder to avoid making contact or altering the play of the fielder (2-32-1, 8-4-2b).

Illegal slides on force plays at the NFHS level include the runner rolling or popping up into the fielder; the runner’s raised leg coming in higher than the fielder’s knee when the fielder is in a standing position; the runner sliding beyond the base and making contact or altering the play of the fielder (except at home plate, where it is permissible for the slider’s momentum to carry him through the plate in a straight line); the runner slashing or kicking the fielder with either leg; or the runner not sliding in a direct line between the two bases (2-32-2). The penalty for these illegal slides is the baserunner is out, interference is called and the ball is dead immediately. If there are less than two outs, the runner is declared out, as well as the batterrunner, resulting in a double play. All other runners shall return to the bases occupied at the time of pitch (8-4-2b Pen.).

The NCAA force-play slide rule (8-4) is very similar to the NFHS version, with two key differences. At

A

This slide becomes illegal in NFHS, NCAA and games covered by pro rules if the runner’s elevated leg contacts the fielder above the knee.

FIELDER IS PROTECTED IN THESE AREAS 2nd BASE 1st BASE

the college level, a slider’s momentum may carry him through the base in the baseline extended (see MechaniGram, above) at any of the bases and is not just reserved for slides at home plate (8-4.a). Also, contact with a fielder is legal and interference shall not be called if the runner makes a legal slide directly to the base and in the baseline extended, even if this contact occurs on top of the base as a result of a “pop-up” slide (8-4.b). The penalties for force-play slide rule violations at the NCAA level are exactly the same as the NFHS level (8-4 Pen.).

The pro rule uses somewhat different language to delineate between a “bona fide” slide and a slide that should be ruled interference. A bona fide slide for purposes of rule 6.01 (interference) occurs when the runner begins his slide (makes contact with the ground) before reaching the base; is able and attempts to reach the base with his hand or foot; is able and attempts to remain on the base (except home plate) after completion of the slide; and slides within reach of the base without changing his pathway for the purpose of initiating contact with a fielder. A runner who engages in a bona fide slide shall not be called out for interference under this rule, even in cases where the runner makes contact with the fielder as a consequence of a permissible slide.

A slide cannot be a bona fide slide if a runner engages in a “roll block,” or intentionally initiates (or attempts to initiate) contact with the fielder by elevating and kicking his leg above the fielder’s knee, or throwing his arm or his upper body. The penalties for violating the bona fide slide provisions are the same as at the NFHS and NCAA levels. 

B

This slide is legal in all three rule codes. While the runner is not sliding directly into the base, he is sliding away from the fielder and not creating any illegal contact.

Small Ball, Big Decisions

By George Demetriou

Bunting has become somewhat of a dying art in professional baseball. With the focus on home runs, today’s version of the game has become much more of a pursuit of brute strength and athleticism than the original game. Nonetheless, bunts are alive and well in amateur games.

Bunts, especially the squeeze variety, either bring into play or emphasize the knowledge of unique rules. Here are some of the things umpires should focus on with regard to the batter, his bat and the ball. Except where noted, the material applies equally to NFHS, NCAA and pro rules.

Did He Go?

Bunting (NFHS 2-8; NCAA 2-14, 7-9; pro Bunt Definition) is not as easy as it appears. It’s not just making contact; in most cases the ball must be deadened so that it doesn’t go far enough for the pitcher to field it, but far enough so the catcher can’t reach it. The batter usually squares up to the mound and, in doing so, is likely to block the plate umpire’s view of the pitch, making it more difficult to discern if the batter actually struck at the ball. If a player attempts to bunt the ball and misses, it is a strike, just as if he had swung and missed. Merely holding the bat in the strike zone does not constitute a strike. The umpire must be convinced the batter was trying to touch the ball. A batter may actually attempt a bunt by letting the pitched ball strike the static bat; or, he may actually attempt to touch the ball while retracting the bat.

It is strictly an umpire’s judgment call as to whether the batter struck at the pitch. When a batter feints a bunt and the pitch does not enter the

CASEPLAYS

Shoulder Rub

Play: A right-handed batter bunts the ball down the firstbase line. He starts for first as F2 starts to field the ball. They brush shoulders as both proceed toward first. Ruling: The play stands. The contact is incidental (NFHS 2-21-1, 2-22-1; NCAA 2-51, 2-55; pro Interference and Obstruction Definitions).

Tag Needed?

Play: With R2 on second, B2 singles. R2 attempts to score and there is a close play at the plate. F2 misses the tag as R2 misses the plate. F2 jumps up quickly, steps on home plate and yells, “I’m appealing!” as he fires to second to prevent B1’s advance. As F2 appealed, R2 was (a) scrambling back and touches the plate, or (b) heading for the dugout. Ruling: In (a), R2 is not out and the run counts. F2 would have had to tag him. In (b), it is an appeal play and R2 is out since he left the plate area heading for his dugout (NFHS 8-2-6; NCAA 8-6a4; pro 5.09c2).

Forced Advance

Play: With R1 on first, B2 hits a ball to right field. R1 rounds second, stumbles and returns to second. B2 is heading for second when he is obstructed by F3. F9 makes a play on the obstructed runner at second. Ruling: In all codes, B2 is awarded second; R1 advances to third because he is forced. In NFHS, the ball remains live until playing action ends. In NCAA and pro, the ball is immediately dead (NFHS 8-32; NCAA 2-55 Type I, 8-3e; pro 6.01h2).

Pinball

Play: With R1 on first and R3 on third, the infield is playing shallow. B3 hits a hard grounder between the legs of F3. The ball is deflected and R1 intentionally kicks the ball as it gets near him. Ruling: The ball is dead and R1 is out. R3 is returned to third base and B3 is awarded first base. Although the ball went between the fielder’s legs, the runner is out for intentional interference (NFHS 8-4-2g; NCAA 2-51; pro 6.10a11). strike zone, the umpire’s decision as to whether to call a strike should be based entirely on his judgment as to whether the batter struck at the pitch. The batter’s posture can also obscure the view of his hands. If the ball first hits the batter’s hands, it is a hit batsman unless he struck at it.

Batter’s Box

There is no relief for the bunter’s feet; they must be in regular, legal position when contact is made. The ball is not illegally batted (fair, foul or foul tip) unless the batter has at least one foot on the ground completely outside the box when contact occurs. A foot in mid-air outside the box is permissible. The codes differ if the batter’s foot is touching the plate while part of that foot is inside the box (the lines are part of the box). Such a batter is out in NFHS and NCAA, but not in pro (NFHS 7-3-2; NCAA 7-10a; pro 6.03a1).

Bat Hits Ball Twice

Bunts increase the likelihood there will be secondary contact between the ball and the bat. After hitting or bunting a fair ball if the bat still held by the batter hits the ball a second time in fair territory outside the batter’s box, it is interference. If the bat contacts the ball a second time while the batter is still in the box, it is a foul ball (NFHS 2-16-1g; NCAA 7-7e; pro PBUC 9.8). If the batter drops his bat and the ball rolls against the bat in fair territory and, in the umpire’s judgment, there was no intent to interfere with the course of the ball, the ball remains live and in play (NFHS 5-1-1b, 8-4-1d; NCAA 7-11m; pro 5.09a8). Under a pro interpretation, the ball is determined to be fair or foul as if it never touched the bat (MLBUM 28).

Play 1: B1 bunts the ball in fair territory. He throws the bat down and it lands on the (a) bunted ball, or (b) ground in fair territory. In both cases the ball rolls into the bat. F2 fields the ball and throws out B1. Ruling 1: In (a), the ball is declared dead the moment the bat strikes the ball. B1 is out. It does not matter whether the bat hit the ball intentionally or

When a player attempts to bunt, both plate umpire Kyle Andersen, Tremonton, Utah, and base umpire Kevin Macho, Stansbury, Utah, need to be prepared to rule on a variety of factors.

accidentally. In (b), the play stands since the ball rolled into the bat and there was no intent to interfere.

Play 2: B1 bunts and heads for first. Due to backspin the ball bounces up and strikes the bat while it is in B1’s hand with B1 completely outside the batter’s box. This happens while the ball is over (a) foul territory, or (b) fair territory. Ruling 2: In (a), it is a foul ball. In (b), B1 is out, the ball is dead and runners return.

Play 3: B1 pops up a bunt in front of the plate and throws his bat so that it lands in fair territory. F2 loses the ball in the sun and the ball (a) lands on the bat, or (b) lands in front of the bat and then rolls into the bat. In either case, the ball continues to roll into foul territory untouched by any player. Ruling 3: In either case, it is a foul ball. The ball is treated as if it never touched the bat.

Batter Hit by Batted Ball

Bunts also increase the likelihood of secondary contact between the ball and the batter. When a ball is bunted (PlayPic A) and subsequently hits the batter-runner or he runs into the ball (it doesn’t matter which way it happens), the key question becomes, was he in the batter’s box? If he was in the box, it is a foul ball (PlayPics B and C). If he was out of the box, the batter-runner is out for interference. The criterion for whether a batter is in or out of the box is only provided for an illegally batted ball (NFHS 7-3-2; NCAA 7-10a; pro 6.03a1). However, once the ball is bunted the batter becomes a batter-runner and technically that guidance does not apply. Nevertheless, lacking a definitive interpretation, umpires would not be incorrect if they considered a player with one foot on the ground entirely outside the box as outside the box when he is touched by a fair ball. If interference is called, the ball is immediately dead and any runners must return to the base occupied at the time of the pitch (NFHS 2-16-1g, 5-1-1f1, 8-4-2k; NCAA 7-11l; pro 6.01a11).

Play 4: B1 swings at a pitch and the batted ball hits (a) B1 on the top of his foot; or (b) the ground in front of B1 and spins back into his leg while he is still in the batter’s box. Ruling 4: A foul ball in either case (NFHS 2-16-1f, 7-2-1f; NCAA 2-35d, 7-7e; pro 5.09a8). George Demetriou, Colorado Springs, Colo., is the state’s rules interpreter. 

A

B C