Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
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As we start the 2014 Sidney baseball season, I would like stand on my soap box a bit and remind you of the etiquette followed in the game of baseball. Baseball is equal opportunitysport. You don’t have to be 6’9 or 290 or run a 4.4 to play. Baseball allows each of us to perform individually within the framework of a team. It is the most difficult and mentally challenging game to play. There is no play book to follow, no blocking assignments, just the coach guiding the team through the game. Try hitting a round ball, with a round bat, mov...
Typically you won’t see a pitcher intentionally throw a ball at the hitter in baseball, but sometimes one tends to wonder when a little “chin music” is applied. I can understand brushing back the hitter from the plate, but as an umpire and a catcher, I can tell you there is a very fine line when this happens. Keep in mind, this is a book rule, but it is a judgment applied. Experience is always the best teacher and this situation is proof of that. Let’s get into the rule: Rule 8.02(d) states as follows: The pitcher shall not intentionally pitch...
In a spring training game between the Reds and the Indians, official Brad Meyers took a line drive shot right in the bucket while working the infield. It’s a place we guys can only describe as … OOOHHHHH! Chills run down my spine just thinking of the moment, captured on video for all to see. Normally, you will see two umpires working a game—one behind the plate and the other in the field. The field umpire shifts to various positions within the baselines in order to make a call. Since there is an official in the infield, the rule book clearly de...
One of the most overlooked rules in the book is the treatment of the baseball itself. Why? you ask. First, a little background. The American baseball is made with a small squishy ball center wrapped in lots of thread. Nine inches of leather is then hand sewn using 216 single stitches to cover the ball, bringing it to its legal size and weight of 9 inches around and 5 ounces in weight. Different sizes are made depending on the country and the level of play. Each baseball has a waxy type coating on the leather to make it look nice and to...
It is hard to think about baseball when temperatures struggling to climb above strike zone, but what a perfect opportunity to break out the rule book and brush up on the laws of the game before we begin the 2014 season. In the past we have spoke about individual rules and situations, which I know we will be getting into as the season progresses. But let’s start the season with the knowledge of how to navigate the rule book and find the rules that govern the game. The Official Rule Book is comprised of 10 sections. They are: Objectives of the g...
Before the Sidney Baseball program takes the field this spring, I would like to take a few moments to celebrate the life of a very close friend, mentor and founder of the BOC John Cronk, who passed away this past December. There are so many stories I could tell you about Big John—as many as there are stitches on the ball—but as I start to remember them, I have to chuckle about one in particular. I was about 17 years old and John and I were working my first legion game. Although John was about 400 pounds, in his mind he was agile as a che...
Nothing is more exciting, even to me, than seeing a seamlessly executed double play…or seeing a runner break up a double play in a cloud of dust. Either way it can be a game changer. But as the official, you can’t get sucked into the play. You must make sure you make the right call, ensuring everyone is safe and the play falls within the parameters of the rules. The most common rules violation during a double play attempts comes from the offense, in the form of interference. We discussed this last year, but in a difference situation. To bes...
Passion – There isn’t another other word that best describes my feelings for the game of baseball. Over the years, I can tell you, never a day goes by that I don’t think about, prepare for or study the game. On occasion, we officials get together and just talk about some of the crazy situations we see during nine innings of play. The other night a fellow official and I were discussing last year and the upcoming season. During this conversation we started laughing about some of the myths some people seem to take as gospel when it comes to the r...
Each season, the rules of baseball are re-evaluated and modified. With the modern materials available and new manufacturer techniques these days, most of the rules are changed for the sole purpose of safety. This year there have been changes to a variety of book rules. I have been asked to explain the changes made to “The Balk”. Since we covered the balk last year, let’s take a quick refresher so we have a base to start from. As defined in the 2.00 section of the rule book: A BALK is an illegal act by the pitcher with a runner or runners on ba...
Hello everyone, it’s that time of the year where the boys of summer take over and another baseball season is about to begin. It’s time to dust off the bleachers, grab a bag of seeds, a cold Gatorade and head to the yard. Even after 30 years of being behind the plate, the game still excites me and the rule book always teaches me something new. As we kick off the 2013 season, it has occurred to me that we never really explained what goes on in that meeting at home plate just as the game beg...
