Association Newsletter
“It’s not a game until we call it!” PO Box 551275, Jacksonville, FL 32255-1275 Web site: www.jaxump.com
Jacksonville Umpires Association
Volume 10, Issue 3 August 2009
Contract Corner
Schools Corner
Association Officers
President Randy Olhausen 226-1414 Vice President Randy Hosmer 389-6034
That's The Ball Game! Finally, our Summer season has drawn to a close. Fall Ball is just around the corner. Now is the time to rest up, take some time to refresh, check your gear, review and look at a few rules, plan your Fall calendar and get ready for a great Fall season. Fall is an outstanding opportunity to sharpen your skills, improve your overall game and earn an extra income to help offset that Christmas crunch. This is also a great time to introduce new candidates to umpiring. This may be your time to think about even doing High School ball if you are not already doing it. If you know someone who might be interested in getting into umpiring, please be sure and bring him or her to our August meeting. If you think you are interested in getting into High School ball, contact me, Randy Hosmer or either of the school's representatives (booking commissioner or member at large). They will be happy to talk to you and might even teach you the secret handshake. Remember, any of you needing gear or equipment need to call or email me ahead of time, as we will not be hauling everything to the meeting. I look forward to seeing all of you at the meeting. I leave you with this message: "Ability may get you to the top but it takes character to keep you there." With Unity, There Is Strength. MacDaddy
August has arrived and with it, the anticipation of the upcoming school season starts to build. It’s hard to believe that school begins in Duval County in only 2 weeks! Here’s a quick recap of current events things you should know: If you are a returning member, or a new member (see below for complete steps) who is certain that school ball is one of your goals, now is the time to access the FHSAA site and register for the 2010 season. Please remember to use the correct online exam location codes: “00” = Online Closed Book Exam; “01” = Online Open Exam. These codes allow you to take the test in the privacy of your home, with about a 10-day window in which to complete the exam. So use your rule books, take your time looking up responses, and you will be much better off. I recommend that all 1st year/2nd year officials take the Online Open Book “01” exam, as you will not gain any advantage by taking the closed book exam. Finally, please be aware that there are no refunds from FHSAA. Here are all the steps that all new Schools Division member must take: Access the jaxump.com site and click on Background Investigations/ Finger Prints . If you have
SBC (Continued on page 3)
Secretary Robert Harrington 403-0635 Treasurer Glenn Watson 282-3571 Contract Booking Commissioner Curtis MacDowell 646-0617, FAX 998-7956 Schools Booking Commissioner Glenn Seltzer 276-0125, FAX 726-0167 Contract Member-at-Large Phil Evans 910-9710 Schools Member-at-Large Dana Keister 384-2946 Sergeant-at-Arms Anthony Lamar 379-7653 Assignment Committee ALL COMMITTEE MEMBERS are being appointed Evaluation Committee
Education/Training Committee
Grievance Committee
Recommendations Committee
Bylaws Committee
Finance Committee
1
Jacksonville Umpires Association
Schools-Member-At Large
The Key to Better Officiating is to Know You Can Do Better and Then Try.
Upcoming Meeting Date Sunday 16 August 2009 American Legion 129
JUA is expanding the number of games that we call. It would greatly help us expand if our present members increase their participation in umpiring. Members who are just in one division, school or contract, should join and participate in the other division. Baseball only members should add softball also. This is for school division softball members FHSAA is moving the online softball exam
period back earlier to late January-early February. This is so they can qualify officials for varsity softball earlier in the season. They must have a shortage of softball umpires to take this action. Changes are coming for slow pitch softball; I am encouraging experienced umpires to consider attending clinics and training for it. Dana Keister To be successful you have to spend time in study and review away from the clinic. There are links to rules and mechanics training materials on the JUA web site. If you already have rule books and umpire manuals start studying. If you don’t have rule books and manuals start with the links on the web site. The most effective part of the training is on the field during the practice games. Our objective is to get the new umpires as many innings as possible in live game situations. A few of these innings may be accomplished during the clinic sessions, but you will be asked to participate in one or more practice games outside of clinic hours. The September monthly meeting will be held at Skinner Baker during the clinic on September 13. All contract division members should plan on attending as that will be your opportunity to get the details on the fall season and to turn your availability in to the Booking Commissioner. Randy Hosmer—VP/Training Officer
JUA Fall Clinic
The Fall Clinic will begin on Sunday August 30, continue on Sunday September 13 and wrap up on Sunday September 20. The clinic will be held at Skinner Baker Park from 1:00PM to 4:00PM. (Arrive at least 10 minutes early – we start on time) There will be two training tracks; Baseball and Softball. All new and prospective members (anyone who has not umpired for JUA during 2009) are required to attend all 3 Sunday sessions. You will attend the baseball track unless you plan on umpiring softball only. Attendance is optional for all returning members, but all are welcome to attend. Any returning member that has umpired only baseball or only softball is encouraged to attend the sessions for the other sport. We are particularly encouraging all returning members that have been doing baseball only to attend the softball training. Training will introduce officials to one and two man mechanics, rules and game management. There is obviously more material than we can cover in detail in just twelve hours of clinic time.
On Top of the Hill
It's long been said that an umpire is only as good as the next pitch or play. Time and again, that pitch or play begins when the pitcher approaches the pitching plate with the baseball. Any time the pitcher has the ball in the vicinity of that slab of rubber, four to eight eyeballs
On Top of the Hill (Continued on page 3)
2
all dual Division officials to discuss how we will be assigning you and what process we will be using. This a current Duval County background screening on file will occur at our 2/2/10 Wolfson Rules Review meetwith Duval County, you may be exempt from this re- ing, which is the most important meeting of the Wolfquirement. Please let me know and I will follow up son sessions, so please make every effort to be there. with the county for you. 2. Slow Pitch Softball is not a FHSAA-sanctioned Now, here’s an easy way to recoup the money that sport. This means that you must be actively supportyou will be spending on your registrations. When you ing the Contract division to work this ball. signup for our association select both Contract and School ball, and be an active (working) Contract offi- 3. All officials must be in compliance with the Jescial this fall. This will qualify you for our upcoming, sica Lunsford Act (i.e. pass the background screenhigh school Slow Pitch Softball season, which will ing). If you do this now, it will be in place indefinitely, meaning you will not need to do this again. commence in early-November 4. This is a golden opportunity for those Contract Access the FHSAA new official registration: member only officials to get their first taste of high https://i.fhsaa.org/officials/OfficialRegistration.aspx school athletics, or for a current Schools division baseComplete the online application form, remembering ball only official to get their feet wet calling softball. that Exam Site “01” This ball is easy, fun, and pays very well! allows you to take the open book online test. I rec- 5. We with be scheduling a short clinic for both reommend this for all new officials. This still allows fresher and new official training, most likely before or you to work regular season games at all levels, proafter the October general membership meeting. vided you score at least a 75% on the exam. Please remember to choose Jacksonville Umpires 6. These games are 2-official, double-header games.
SBC ((Continued from page 1)
Now, what can you do to help make us stronger? – RECRUIT! We need as many new members as we Here is some additional information that I can can get to support both divisions. Please - bring one pass on to you at this time. new member to our next monthly membership meet1. Just like we did last year, Curtis and I will be coor- ing. Help our association grow! dinating our efforts to insure that only qualified offiTake care, and please be a good member of our Ascials are working these games. I strongly encourage sociation each and every day. you to support the Contract division during the fall season. In addition, Curtis and I will be meeting with Glenn Seltzer (New Phone Numbers –See Page 1) Association as the Local Association
With no runners, umpires typically allow the ball to become live in a passive manner. They ensure that the batter is ready, then allow the pitch to occur. Thus, unless an umpire (usually the plate umpire) is signaling time, all umpires are to assume the ball is live when the pitcher steps on the rubber.
On Top of the Hill (Continued from page 2)
should be honing in on him like laser beams. But what exactly are all those eyes watching?
Live or dead ball? First, it is important to distinguish whether the ball is dead or live when the pitcher is approaching the rubber. If the ball is dead, it becomes live again only when the pitcher steps onto Signaling that the ball is in play in that manner by the the rubber with the ball and the umpires, either pasplate umpire is crucial for his partners. The signal sively or actively, allow the ball to become live. 3
With runners on base, making a dead ball live must be an active act. After making sure the batter is ready and the pitcher is on the rubber with the ball, the plate umpire should point at the pitcher and say, "Play." (According to the NFHS mechanics manual, the signal is a beckoning motion with a stiff wrist and the arm bent at the elbow.)
On Top of the Hill (Continued on page 4)
In 2007 & 2008, clarifications were made about the
Pitching Hand Going to the Mouth
Here are the situations and rulings from the NFHS 2009 Case Book. F1 in contact with pitcher’s plate:
Runners on base: No runners:
Time, that’s a balk (CB*6.2.1B(b), 6-1-2/-3) Time, that’s a ball (CB*6.2.1A(b))
F1 not in contact with pitcher’s plate:
Fails to distinctly wipe off pitching hand before it touches the live ball
Comes in contact: Requests time:
Time, that’s a ball (CB*6.2.1D(b)), (6-2-1e) Time (CB*6.2.1D(a))
Distinctly wipes off the pitching hand before it touches the live ball: that’s nothing (CB*6.2.1A(a)), (CB*6.2.1B(a))
On Top of the Hill (Continued from page 3)
alerts all umpires that a balk or pickoff requires a call, and the pitcher will either commit to delivering a pitch, legally disengage the rubber or attempt a play. One of the toughest things a plate umpire will ever do is reverse an out call on a pickoff because the ball was still dead. Pitcher without the ball. If there are runners and the ball is live, the umpire's first concern as the pitcher approaches the rubber is whether he actually has the ball. Like a runner, the umpire should never fall for the hidden ball trick. Nor should the pitcher avoid a penalty for an illegal act. In NFHS rules, it is a balk as soon as the pitcher gets within five feet of the rubber without the ball (6-2-5). Under pro rules, it is a balk if the pitcher is on or straddling the rubber without the ball (8.05i, AR). A balk cannot 4
be called if the hidden ball trick is attempted immediately after a dead ball. If the umpire mistakenly makes the ball live thinking the pitcher has it, and the hidden ball trick is executed, the ball remains dead because it was made live in error. Additionally, pro rules specifically allow an umpire to call a balk if he judges that a pitcher has picked up a rosin bag and placed it in his glove to make it appear that he has the ball. Although that is not specifically addressed in NFHS rules, Referee recommends the same ruling as the pro code. Windup position. When the pitcher steps onto the rubber with a live ball, the umpires should note whether the pitcher's hands are together or separated. With the relatively recent NFHS rule change, the rules regarding the windup are essentially the same in both codes. One difference: Under NFHS rules (2-28-3), if a pitcher's hands are together when he steps on the rubber in the windup position, his options are to pitch to the batter or legally step
On Top of the Hill (Continued on page 5)
ready and the pitcher is on the rubber. If the catcher is giving the signs too quickly, ask him to slow down off the rubber. and check to see that the batter and pitcher are A pitcher who steps onto the rubber with his hands ready before giving signs. The penalty may be either a together may momentarily adjust the ball or switch the ball or a balk. ball from one hand to the other as he steps onto the Play 1: With (a) no runners on, or (b) R1 on first, F1 rubber. However, shortly after stepping onto the rubstraddles the rubber when he takes his sign from F2. ber, he must separate his hands. If a pitcher consisF1 then legally steps onto the rubber and throws a tently takes too long to separate his hands, the plate umpire can use preventive officiating and get word to pitch that B2 takes for a strike. the pitcher via his catcher or coach. There is rule Ruling 1: In NFHS, the ball is support for calling a balk if a pitcher steps on the rub- dead when F1 delivers the ber with his hands together and then separates them pitch. The called strike is neafter a long pause without pitching or throwing. Refe- gated. In (a), B1 is awarded a ree recommends an informal warning on the first in- ball. In (b), R1 moves up to fraction and balks thereafter. The rule states that a second base (6-1-1 Pen). Unbalk is to be called if a pitcher is in contact with the der pro rules, there is no penrubber and "removes one hand from the ball" alty in (a) or (b), but the um(actually it means "separates his hands") except during pire should call time and instruct the catcher to send a pitch or throw. Practical application of the rule al- the signals while the pitcher is in contact with the lows the "momentary adjustment" or transfer of the rubber (8.01). ball as the pitcher steps onto the rubber. The rules also differ if a pitcher delivers an illegal
On Top of the Hill (Continued from page 4)
If a pitcher's hands are apart as he steps on the rubber, watch for the joining of the hands. If a pitcher steps on the rubber with his hands apart, then joins them for a considerable period of time, then separates them without pitching or throwing, a balk should be called.
pitch. Examples of illegal pitches are those delivered when the pitcher is not in contact with the rubber or a quick pitch (the pitcher steps quickly onto the rubber and delivers a pitch without taking a sign).
Play 2: With (a) no runners on, or (b) R1 on first and none out, F1 throws a pitch while not in contact Taking the sign. The pitcher is required to take with the rubber. B2 takes the pitch for a strike. signs while he is on the rubber. The purpose of the Ruling 2: In NFHS, the ball is dead when F1 delivers rule is to prevent the pitcher from "running into the the pitch. The called strike is pitch." If the pitcher is proceeding in a deliberate negated. In (a), the batter is manner and taking the awarded a ball. In (b), R1 moves sign prematurely, it is an up to second base (1-1-3 Pen, 5inconsequential violation. 1-1k). Under pro rules, the ball The umpires may or may is delayed dead. If there are basnot want to deal with it. erunners, each is awarded a Of course, sometimes base. If there are no runners, the the opposing coach will batter is awarded a ball unless force the situation. The he reaches base. As a result, in infraction clearly de(a), the strike is negated and the batter is awarded a serves at least one warnball. In (b), it is a balk. R1 advances to second (pro ing - and perhaps several - if the violation is inter- 2.00 Illegal pitch, 8.01d). mittent and spread Umpires must know whether the pitcher is on or off throughout the game. Good catchers will actually be a help to umpires because they will not give the signals until the batter is 5
On Top of the Hill (Continued on page 6)
gage the rubber, the pitcher must lift his pivot foot (the foot on the same side as his pitching hand) and the rubber when he makes a pickoff throw because it step completely off the back edge (toward the outaffects the number of bases awarded if the throw field) of the pitching rubber. He must do so without interruption or hesitation, and without a movement goes out of play. Play 3: R1 is on first with none out. F1's pickoff normally associated with his motion to pitch. throw is wild and goes into dead-ball territory. When With runners on base, if a pitcher is in contact with he made the pickoff throw, F1 (a) was on the rubber, the rubber in one of the two pitching positions and decides he needs to be in the other pitching position, or (b) had legally disengaged the rubber. he must legally step off before switching. Ruling 3: Under
On Top of the Hill (Continued from page 5)
both codes, a pitcher is, by definition, a pitcher when he is on the rubber. When off the rubber, he is an infielder. In (a), R1 is awarded one base because F1 was a pitcher. In (b), F1 became an infielder when he disengaged the rubber. R1 is awarded two bases (NFHS 2-13, 6-1-5, 8-3-3c 2, 8-3-3d; pro 7.05g, 7.05h). When a pitcher is in the windup position, umpires must be especially vigilant in watching which foot the pitcher uses to step back. Many umpires key on the non-pivot foot. Each time the pitcher in the windup steps back with his non-pivot foot, many umpires say to themselves, "Committed to pitch." If the pitcher fails to pitch, it is a balk. In NFHS rules, a pitcher may not attempt a pickoff from the windup position. To do so results in a balk (6-1-2).
Play 4: With B2 at bat and (a) R3 on third, or (b) no runners aboard, right-handed F1 legally steps onto the rubber in the windup position, then decides he wants to change to the set position. F1 steps backward with his left foot, then his right. Ruling 4: In (a), that is a balk under both codes. The ball is dead immediately and R3 is awarded home. In (b), there is no penalty. The rulings would be the same if F1 was in the set and wanted to switch to the windup (NFHS 6-12 Pen, PBUC 6.4h). You'll be well on your way to establishing yourself as a focused and conscientious umpire if you master the legalities involving the pitching rubber. As is the case with many rules, it is simply a matter of understanding the possibilities before seeing the real thing. Written by Rick Roder. A former minor league umpire, he lives in Remsen, Iowa.
This article originally appeared in Referee So how does a pitcher who legally stepped onto the rubber legally step off the rubber? To legally disen- magazine in October 2002.
6