by UmpMatt | Jun 13, 2019 | Blog
It seems each time MLB umpire Angel Hernandez works home plate, there’s a bevy of tweets and comments from members of the media labeling him the “worst umpire in baseball.” After Hernandez ejected Rangers manager Chris Woodward on Tuesday for arguing his enforcement...
by UmpMatt | Jun 1, 2019 | Blog
Ever since the invention of the little box on your television screen that charts balls and strikes over live baseball action, every fan is an expert on the strike zone. Just try searching Twitter for “umpire” on any given night and you’ll come across...
by UmpMatt | May 11, 2019 | Blog
New umpire classes offered in spring and summer. Contact Bob Rushton at 508-840-8725 or riabua1@hotmail.com to express your interest. We service local leagues in Southeastern Massachusetts ages 8-18. Assignments available for Spring Baseball, Summer Tournaments, and...
by UmpMatt | Mar 6, 2019 | Blog
Over the past few weeks, the NCAA’s new HBP rule has come into play in multiple games. On Tuesday, enforcement of the rule resulted in the final out of a game between the University of Texas and University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Under the new 2019 rule, a...
by UmpMatt | Mar 5, 2019 | Blog
Two videos of pitchers’ pickoff moves have sparked much conversation on Twitter in the past week. Check them out below and let us know on our Facebook page: Balk or Not? Picked off to END the game! 📹 @HailStateBBpic.twitter.com/lKmwe0zsgS — NCAA Baseball...
by UmpMatt | Mar 1, 2019 | Blog
MLB Spring Training is underway, which means members of the big league umpiring staff are getting back to work. Check out this interesting rotation play from the first week of games: No Umpire at Home Plate (Video) In a game between the Mets and Astros, the umpires...
by UmpMatt | Dec 20, 2018 | Blog
Here is one that many of us may have to learn through experience… an infield fly that appears obviously fair may turn out to be anything but that. If a ball is hit in the air in front of the first or third base bags, there’s always a chance it will roll...
by UmpMatt | Dec 11, 2018 | Blog
The hidden ball trick is a rarely seen play, but umpires have to be on top of it. In professional baseball, players might alert an umpire to what they are planning. At lower levels, especially in youth baseball, this is unlikely. Umpires working the one-man system...
by UmpMatt | Dec 5, 2018 | Blog
We often hear casual fans refer to officials “swallowing the whistle” late in games, but that concept should not be in any umpire’s vocabulary. If a call would be made in the first inning it should be made in the ninth. To drive home this point, we...
by UmpMatt | Nov 30, 2018 | Blog
On Tuesday, we asked you to check out a classic infield fly rule debacle from 2003. We also asked if you, as the umpire, would need to make any corrections if you forgot to declare an infield fly during a game. Mike on our Facebook page had it right– he said...
