Umpire Classroom

Recently, a few younger umpires reached out after running into this issue while working travel tournaments. It is not all that surprising. In education-based athletics, there is usually a stronger accountability structure. In travel ball and other amateur settings, that structure can be a little looser, and coaches do not always understand their responsibilities as the head coach.

So, we put this together as a memo for our umpires, and it may be useful for yours as well.

The idea is simple: if someone is restricted, warned or ejected, that penalty has to be reported. And if it has to be reported, we need a name.

Umpires should not chase down assistant coaches or players to get that information. Work through the head coach. If the head coach refuses to provide the name, make it clear that the information is required and that refusal will result in the head coach being ejected.

Hopefully, this is not something you run into often, especially in education-based athletics. But with so many umpires also working outside the high school level, it is worth knowing how to handle it before it happens.

Provide the name or be ejected. It really is that simple.

Tonight, Patrick will be joining Timeout with Eric Slaughter & Friends on 92.9 The Game to talk umpiring, Atlanta sports, and the stories behind the officials who work the biggest games in Georgia.

Patrick will be in studio with Eric Slaughter, Ron Dean, Calvin Griffin, and other GHSA state championship umpires for a fun night of conversation covering umpire stories, Braves talk, Atlanta sports, football, basketball, and more.

The show will air tonight following Atlanta United FC at Columbus Crew, with an expected start time around 8 p.m. and running until 11 p.m.

Ways to listen:

Radio: 92.9 FM in Atlanta
Website: https://www.audacy.com/929thegame
App: Audacy App
YouTube Stream: https://www.youtube.com//streams

Tune in tonight and hear the game from the umpire’s side of the field.

92-9 The Game Explore comprehensive coverage of 929thegame on Audacy

New video is live.

We had a runner miss home plate on a home run. The batter-runner then came around and passed him. So what do we have?

Abandonment?
Passing?
Missed base appeal?
Can the defense get two outs?
Do either of the runs score?

The average grade on this week’s quiz was right around 50%, and a lot of the discussion I saw online went straight to abandonment.

That is the problem.

“Abandonment” is one of those terms that gets thrown around way too often by social media commenters. But in an actual game, a runner missing a base is usually not abandonment. More often than not, these situations are and should be treated as appealable missed bases, not automatic abandonment outs.

Abandonment requires the runner to give up his effort to continue running the bases. A runner who simply misses home because he thinks he already scored has not necessarily abandoned anything. He made a base-running mistake. That matters because the defense still has to properly appeal.

But if the batter-runner passes a preceding runner before that runner is out, that part is immediate. No appeal needed.

That is what makes this play so good. It forces us to separate rules that often get mashed together online.

Only bad things can happen if you don't get off the field quickly.

So, once the game ends, get out of sight.

Opening Weekend!

Happy Opening Day!

Today is MLB Opening Day ⚾️

Wishing all the umpires across Major League Baseball a great season ahead! Your professionalism, focus, and commitment to the game don’t go unnoticed.

Here’s to making the tough calls, keeping the game moving, and being a steady presence every single night.

Have a safe, successful, and rewarding season out there 👊

There's always been the arguments over if it should count to 4 balls and 3 strikes, or 3 balls and 2 strikes.

But what about one that counts to 3 balls and 3 strikes? 🤔