MLB: Baseball questions

[cyismydog]

My job this summer is umping little kids little league games, and I have some questions:
1. If a player swings at the ball while jumping backwards, and gets hit in the hands, is it a strike? I thought so
2. If a pitch is a strike over the first part of the plate, but a ball over the second, (i.e. they throw so slow it is at the knees, then almost on the ground.)what is it?
I have a couple more questions too, but I can't think of them right now.

 

[RyCy04]

If swinging, the hands are part of the bat. So that would be a strike.

The strike zone plane is the front part of the plate. So if it breaks that plane in the strike zone, yes, it is a strike.

 

[Wx4Cy]

My job this summer is umping little kids little league games, and I have some questions:
1. If a player swings at the ball while jumping backwards, and gets hit in the hands, is it a strike? I thought so
2. If a pitch is a strike over the first part of the plate, but a ball over the second, (i.e. they throw so slow it is at the knees, then almost on the ground.)what is it?
I have a couple more questions too, but I can't think of them right now.

it could hit him in the face, but if he swings it's a strike.

all that matters is where it cross the plate, not where it ends up.

 

[cyismydog]

Thanks for your confirmation...I got really chewed out by the parents for the swinging one, and almost kicked somebody out...they were ticked that the poor kid was crying, but I repeatedly told them it was part of the rules, and they just let loose on me.

 

[IcSyU]

Thanks for your confirmation...I got really chewed out by the parents for the swinging one, and almost kicked somebody out...they were ticked that the poor kid was crying, but I repeatedly told them it was part of the rules, and they just let loose on me.

If I had my rulebook I'd give you the exact rule straight from it, but as soon as the person offers at the pitch and gets hit, it's a strike. (I'm a certified umpire FWIW)

 

[cyismydog]

If I had my rulebook I'd give you the exact rule straight from it, but as soon as the person offers at the pitch and gets hit, it's a strike. (I'm a certified umpire FWIW)

That's what I thought, was just double-checking.

 

[jdoggivjc]

Way to stick to your guns...

So often parents forget these Little League/junior sports games are about kids having FUN and not about this being the expressway to their kids getting a college scholarship somewhere.

 

[CyGuy33]

Thanks for your confirmation...I got really chewed out by the parents for the swinging one, and almost kicked somebody out...they were ticked that the poor kid was crying, but I repeatedly told them it was part of the rules, and they just let loose on me.

I can't umpire or ref. I did it for a year with 5th grade kids and after kicking three parents out of games decided I didn't need that in my life.

But you were right on the rules and stood by your opinion. Don't let parents get you down.

 

[IcSyU]

I was this close to throwing a coach out last year during a freshman game. It did crack me up that he yelled at me during the next batter, "I couldn't see around you, but that was a terrible call. He was out! Inexcusable! When you're that close you shouldn't be able to mess it up."

 

[cyismydog]

I was this close to throwing a coach out last year during a freshman game. It did crack me up that he yelled at me during the next batter, "I couldn't see around you, but that was a terrible call. He was out! Inexcusable! When you're that close you shouldn't be able to mess it up."

Or when the coach doesnt' understand the rules, and trys to argue with you about a rule they don't know/understand.

 

[IcSyU]

Or when the coach doesnt' understand the rules, and trys to argue with you about a rule they don't know/understand.

Reminds me of a high school game at Iowa Falls my sophomore year. The kid in the box calls for time. The umpire stops the game, walks over to our dugout, "Time? There's no time outs in baseball! Did you see that kid try and call time out?" It was also funny as heck watching him signal balls and strikes. And yes, I just said signal balls.

 

[RyCy04]

So often parents forget these Little League/junior sports games are about kids having FUN and not about this being the expressway to their kids getting a college scholarship somewhere.

To hell with that. My son's baseball career is my retirement fund. :wink:

 

[cyismydog]

Reminds me of a high school game at Iowa Falls my sophomore year. The kid in the box calls for time. The umpire stops the game, walks over to our dugout, "Time? There's no time outs in baseball! Did you see that kid try and call time out?" It was also funny as heck watching him signal balls and strikes. And yes, I just said signal balls.

Or when the parents yell at you for not saying anything when it's a ball..

 

[RyCy04]

My dad use to umpire games. One game he was behind the plate when I was around 13 or so. I slid into homeplate underneath the tag, clearly safe. My dad called me out. I stood up and didn't say anything just stood nose to nose with him. There is nothing like hearing your mom yell from the bleachers, "Ryan, get out of your dad's face." He later admitted I was safe but he already made the call and couldn't change it.

 

[cyismydog]

My dad use to umpire games. One game he was behind the plate when I was around 13 or so. I slid into homeplate underneath the tag, clearly safe. My dad called me out. I stood up and didn't say anything just stood nose to nose with him. There is nothing like hearing your mom yell from the bleachers, "Ryan, get out of your dad's face." He later admitted I was safe but he already made the call and couldn't change it.

Exact same thing happened to me one time.

 

[cybsball20]

Baylor used to have a closer with a NASTY sidearm slider. We had a lefty so fooled he swung and got hit in the gut with the ball... It was a strike...

 

[CloneFan65]

Baylor used to have a closer with a NASTY sidearm slider. We had a lefty so fooled he swung and got hit in the gut with the ball... It was a strike...

Randy Johnson used to do this all the time in his prime. Right handers would offer at his slider only to have it hit them in the leg or foot.

 

[superdorf]

Randy Johnson used to do this all the time in his prime. Right handers would offer at his slider only to have it hit them in the leg or foot.

Kerry Wood too. I distinctly remember KW striking out Fernando Vina on a pitch that hit him.