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Real name:
Steve Garceau
Location:
Tucson, AZ
Division:
Men's 70
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| June 18, 2018 Steve in Tucson | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Verbal Interference and Obstruction From time to time I have heard offensive and defensive players making a loud call of "high pitch" or "low pitch" while the pitched ball is in the air and before an umpire has had a chance to call the pitch illegal. Being a judgment call, that call may or may not be made by the umpire. I take the defensive call as verbal interference which should be penalized just as any other interference call. I.e.,the batter is awarded first base and any forced runner advances to the next base. If such a loud call is made by a member of the offensive team, that seems to me to be obstruction which carries a penalty just as any other offensive obstruction call. I.e., the batter is out and the ball is dead. By the letter of the SSUSA rules, is this the case? And, if so, which rules(s) apply to these cases? We play in a recreation "house league" in a retirement community with four skill level based leagues using SSUSA Rules as our baseline. I feel I need to give my umpiring crew (with wide variations in experience)guidance on how to handle these situations. Thank you for your thoughts . . . Steve Garceau, Chief Umpire, Saddlebrooke Senior Softball Association, Tucson, AZ |
| May 20, 2018 Steve in Tucson | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Field players using mitts instead of a gloves on defense. Thank you all for the confirmation. This was a looooooong discussion at the tournament - not a problem, just a conversation with different opinions on what the rule was. I am Chief Umpire for our house league which uses SSUSA rules as it's base and it helps me understand as many rules as I can. Thanks to all contributors again. Steve |
| May 19, 2018 Steve in Tucson | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Field players using mitts instead of a gloves on defense. Our team recently played an SSUSA non-sanctioned tournament in Prescott, AZ, which was to be based on SSUSA rules with some minor local modifications. During the tournament, one team's players were using first basemen's mitts at second base and pitcher. this was not spelled out in the local rule modifications. When I brought this up to the organizer as an infraction of SSUSA rules I was told that at the SSUSA December rules meeting this rule was changed to allow mitts to be used at any position so they were allowing it in the tournament. I was also told that this information was posted on the SSUSA web site but changed too late to be printed in the current official rule book. Unfortunately, I can not find where this rule was changed and it isn't changed in the currently published 2017-2018 rule book. According to current SSUSA rules, is a mitt allowed to be used by any position player or only the catcher and first baseman as stated in the printed rule book? If not, what is the penalty for this infraction? If so, when will it be published in the official rule book? I'd appreciate clarification on this issue. Thank you. Steve Garceau Tucson, AZ |
| Jan. 16, 2018 Steve in Tucson | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Base Runner in jeopardy or not? This situation came up in a game toady. The batter swung and missed the ball for a strike. The catcher caught the ball on a bounce and threw to first base where the runner had legally left the base toward second but was tagged by the first baseman as he returned to first but had not yet touched the base. Is the runner out? Or, is the play dead when the catcher caught the ball after the missed swing? Your thoughts please and, if there is one, the rule covering this situation. Thank you. |
| Aug. 28, 2017 Steve in Tucson | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Interference/Obstruction During a Run Down Thank you all for your clarification. I did know that it should have been defensive OBSTRUCTION, I just misspoke. The umpire had a chance to call offensive interference because the runner did a bit of a "chicken wing" when he ran into the defensive player but it wasn't flagrant and didn't impact the play. Saying that, though, BJ has it right as the defensive player had already released the ball and was no longer a principal in the run down. Therefore he did obstruct the runner from continuing to advance, in this case, back to first. I also agree it's difficult for volunteer umpires to keep up with all of the details of the job. From the advice and discussions above, the umpires did it right by discussing the play and made the correct call. The "DELAYED OBSTRUCTION" call isn't something they do very often - in fact, it's the first time it has come up I our association's play. Stick8, with all due respect, I believe the initial description did describe what happened and, yes, I appreciate your comments and agree it's a judgement call. I do appreciate the advice and clarification on the issue of delayed obstruction. In this case, the umpires did that, just not with a outstretched arm and verbal obstruction call at the time of the obstruction. I'll certainly take all of these comments to heart and advise my crew on how to make calls like this in the future. Hopefully, this experience will make all of us better at what we do on the field. |
| Aug. 25, 2017 Steve in Tucson | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Interference/Obstruction During a Run Down I am the Head Umpire for our local association and was involved in a situation where a question came up whether a runner should be called safe because of defensive interference. I was on the defensive team and part of the run down between first and second base. The play in question involved a runner bumping into a defensive player during the run down before being tagged out - neither interference nor obstruction was called at the time of the contact. After the play, the offensive team appealed to the base umpire that the defensive player interfered with the runner and he should be called safe. After the base umpire discussed the play with the plate umpire, the runner was called safe and returned to first base as the base umpire judged that was the direction he was going when he bumped into the defensive player. Because he waited to make the call, a player scored from third base during the run down. As head umpire, I council the umpiring crew on the correct way to call plays. In this case, my concern was that the base umpire was incorrect in not calling interference immediately and stopping the play if he judged it to be interference. An immediate call would have left a runner on third and the runner in the run down safe on first. I'm also concerned that an appeal shouldn't have been allowed as the interference was not called immediately leaving me to believe the base umpire saw it as incidental contact rather than interference. With no immediate interference call, the runner in the run down was out, because he was tagged out, and the runner from third safe at home scoring on the play. To me, this was a matter of timing and interference shouldn't have been called after the fact. I'd appreciate any thoughts and comments on this situation as I want to make sure my umpires and I are on the same page and in line with SSUSA rules and the application of those rules. Thank you. |
| July 26, 2017 Steve in Tucson | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Batter hitting the strike mat Vinny, You really don't want to see it. And, yes, he actually hits the strike mat during his swing not a "bam bam" then swinging. He is a bit aggressive at the plate and we have asked him to replace his divots! He is a little "different". Thanks all for your comments. |
| July 25, 2017 Steve in Tucson | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Batter hitting the strike mat Gentlemen, In our league, we have a player who, while making a legal swing at the ball, sometimes hits the strike mat with his bat either while or just before hitting the pitched ball. Is there anything in the rules about this and, if so, is there any penalty for doing this? Thank you. Steve Garceau, Head Umpire, Saddlebrooke Senior Softball Association |
| Feb. 7, 2017 Steve in Tucson | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Batter Throwing a Bat Thank you all for your comments and guidance. I agree with you all and can't shake the picture in my mind of someone running to first with a bat dangling from his wrist. To close, I have told the player it is a safety issue and asked him to learn to lay the bat down or just drop it to set an example. He plays at the highest level of play in our association and the lower level players look up to us as examples. Yeah, maybe shame will work! |
| Feb. 7, 2017 Steve in Tucson | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Batter Throwing a Bat We have a situation where a batter normally does not lay the bat down but instead throws the bat after hitting the ball. He doesn't do this in anger, or to intentionally harm anyone or interfere with a play but it does sometimes cause a potential hazard to the plate umpire and/or catcher. Our plate umpire warned the player to not throw the bat and the second time he did it, he called the batter out for throwing it. The second time, it did contact the catcher but did not hurt him. The batter doesn't agree with the call and has asked what rule covers this situation. I have reviewed the rule book but can not find any wording to cover this situation. I agree with my umpire for calling the batter out, but can not site the rule that covers this situation. Can anyone help me with this or tell me what I'm missing? Thanks. |
| Jan. 27, 2017 Steve in Tucson | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Penalty for offensive intereference Thanks to all for your input and council. You all were a big help to me. I'll take it from here. |
| Jan. 27, 2017 Steve in Tucson | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Penalty for offensive intereference I look forward to STAFF's help on this one. Umpire's judgments can always lead to "discussions" and we don't have a problem with that - we make the call and move on. But that's not the issue here. One of my umpires is an ex-lawyer and difficult to convince that in situation one the runner closest to home is out - he believes it's the batter-runner who's out at first and is looking for some documentation. Rule 8.6 is a start but, unfortunately, doesn't address the basic question raised by my "ex-lawyer umpire". He will take SSUSA STAFF word if it's not written out some place. I just need something to reference when I make my reply to him and my umpiring crew. OK, I know that's my problem, but any help I can get will help me explain this situation and make everyone more comfortable with the explanation. Thanks to all for your input. This has become a more interesting discussion than I expected! |
| Jan. 26, 2017 Steve in Tucson | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Penalty for offensive intereference I have a few interference situations to review: 1: Runner on first base interferes with the defensive player attempting to double the batter-runner off at first after tagging second base before the runner arrives at the base. Who is out on the play - obviously, the runner going to second - but is the batter-runner declared out at first, or, if there is a runner on second and/or third at the beginning of the play is the runner closest to home called out instead of the batter-runner? 2: What situations have to occur for the runner closest to home to be called out? In these situations is there a difference in penalties between accidental and intentional interference? Finally, what rules cover these penalties? I would like to share them with my umpiring crew. As always, if you need more clarification of my questions, please let me know. Thank you. |
| Jan. 16, 2017 Steve in Tucson | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: 2017 Significant Rule Changes - Penalty for non-compliance §8.4(1) • BATTER‐RUNNER REACHING FIRST BASE The last line states "The defending player has only the white base, in fair territory, to make the putout; his touch of only the bag in foul territory will not result in an out." Question: If the defensive player's foot slides onto the line separating the two bases and touches both, is the batter-runner out or safe? §8.5(5) • COURTESY RUNNER OFFICIALLY IN THE GAME A courtesy runner must report to, and be acknowledged by, the umpire. A courtesy runner is in the game when he touches the base… We have the problem in our association play of players not reporting to the umpire or doing so after they get to the base. Question: What is the penalty for not reporting and being acknowledged by the umpire? |
| Oct. 12, 2016 Steve in Tucson | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Courtesy runner replacement on a base. WOW! I didn't realize I was opening Pandora's box, but the conversation is good. Thanks to all who weighed in. It does help me. |
| Oct. 11, 2016 Steve in Tucson | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Courtesy runner replacement on a base. Referring to Rule 8.5(5), a courtesy runner is in the game when he touches a base. The question arose whether another courtesy runner can take his place without being called out after he touches the base before a pitch has been thrown and the umpire had called time out after the previous play. It is my interpretation of the rule that once a courtesy runner has touched the base, if another runner takes his place at any time, except for injury, regardless of whether time out was called or not, the second runner is out per rule 8.5(5). Please confirm. Thank you. |
| April 23, 2016 Steve in Tucson | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Chopped Ball If a batter make an attempt to chop the ball but hits a "normal" ground or fly ball instead, is he still to be called out? In my opinion, description 1.13 and rule 7.6 E focus on the intent and not the result. |
| April 23, 2016 Steve in Tucson | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Is the runner out at first? Thank you. |
| April 23, 2016 Steve in Tucson | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Is the runner out at first? On a play at first base, the first baseman fielded a ball with his bare hand and then, lying on the ground, touched the white bag with his glove before the batter-runner reached the base - with the ball secured and controlled in his bare hand. Is this the same as touching the base with his foot and, therefore, the batter-runner is out? Further, is the batter-runner out if the fielder touches the base with his elbow, knee, etc., but not his foot when in control of the ball? If the fielder doesn't touch the base with his foot, with control of the ball, is the batter-runner out only if he touches the base with the ball in his bare hand or with his glove with the ball in it? What rule covers this? |
| April 7, 2016 Steve in Tucson | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Batter batting out of order I'm looking for clarification of the wording in rule 7.1 - Batting order. What does the wording "except for a wrong batter at bat" refer to in: EFFECT - §7.1 B-D: Except for a wrong batter at bat, batting out of order is an appeal play that may be made only by the defensive team. How does "a wrong batter" differ from a batter "batting out of order"? And,is the "wrong batter" immediately called out without appeal, replaced by the correct batter with or without penalty, or other? Is this covered in another rule or section? Thank you. |
