Having been an umpire for many many years at all levels up to semi-pro, I am glad to see them get it right. I have watched games where the first look is one way, but with slow replay and different angles the call is reversed. Love it.
thank you for the comment. Being a umpire is a very hard job and I could not imagine being a umpire at the MLB level. Even on replay its hard to distinguish a call. I wish they would apply replay for spring training too...
One of the difficulties with trying to review from the angles that we see is that they're rarely the right angle to make a definitive call. The umpires are trained where to position themselves to have the best chance of getting the best look at the play.
Out/Safe calls are usually actually easier for umpires in real life than they are on TV. Not saying that they're by any stretch *easy*, but when you're on the field and you can see the play in real time and hear the pop of the glove whilst looking at the bag, it's easier to call the close plays than looking at weird angles on TV (assuming you're in the right place).
as an nfhs baseball umpire, i would not give a hit-by-pitch on that last play. one of the most useful tips i was given in umpire camp to judge hbp's was this: from his original stance, did the batter place any part of his body CLOSER to the pitch than when he started, INCLUDING any part of a swing. if he did, then he has crossed the advantage/disadvantage line (which is the basis of 99% of rules enforcement). so, using that guidance, if a batter starts a swing and then stops, he has placed some part of his body (in this case, as usual, it is the hands) closer to the pitch and therefore should not be granted the award of a hbp. of course, it is a judgement call; would the pitch have hit the batter had he not attempted the swing is also part of the evaluation. but the moving closer tip has helped me support the overwhelming majority of my "discussions" with coaches when this happens. thanks again, greg.
In 2006, I went to an Aberdeen Ironbirds (MiLB) game and was selected for the "You Make the Call" minigame. They put the clip on the video board and stopped it right before the call (whacker at first with the BR). As the host asked me for my call, I came up with an out and blew out the mic with my "OUT!" call. The base umpire turned to see if I made the right call and actually applauded me.
1: Looks like he’s safe. When the catcher reaches his glove out, his opponent’s foot is just on the home plate. Although he did pull his glove back as soon as the opponent was mid-slid. He may have been out because you can’t tell if the catcher tagged him or was about to tag him. It’s a complicated call. 2: Out. I slowed it down and he seemed to get tagged just barely before he hit his foot on the bag after he was tagged. Which means he is out. 3: Safe! He put his hand in when he slid for the plate. Plus the catcher made an illegal move, standing guard on the plate. Safe either way. 4: Safe. The ball didn’t hit the glove until Turner hit the plate. 5: I wanna say that he’s out. But I cant tell from any angle given. It looked like his toe kept on the base until he fell. 6: Safe. It’s the same as number 4. The ball hadn’t hit the glove until the opponent had the foot on the base. 7: slowed it down. It went through a hole or got stuck. Which doesn’t count either way because it didn’t go OVER the wall. 8: I’m not sure what you would call. But I would give the man his home run. It went over and looked like it hit a rail or something. 9: That’s a home run. If it goes in the the crowd it’s a home run. Unless it goes in the foul zone. 10: Dead Ball! Batter swung at pitch and it went and hit his back ankle. 11: Wasn’t hit! He dodged it. 12: That one had to hurt. Didn’t hit the bat but it moved over slightly. So I think it is a HBP
The most difficult challenge types are likely the batted balls that land at the foul line or very slightly to the R of the foul line, and if the umpire does not have the right angle to see that ball, it will be hard for the umpire to rule it fair ball or foul ball.
I was a second base blue for The British Baseball League. After my first game I sat in my car afterwards, mentally exhausted. I could not safely drive home for at least an hour or so. It did get easier. The venom from the crowd is toxic, when they believe you have called wrong. 50% totally hate you and 50% totally love you...until your decision affects your newest bestest friends team. No-one loves you.
we go over this exact topic on our podcast 'ball in play'. we focused on little league baseball/softball how parents are sometimes out of this world crazy towards umpires/coaches. There is giving blue a hard time a classic baseball way and then those who just don't get it and go over the line. hope your still out there helping call games, thank you for all you do. i could never nor want to be an umpire, too hard of a gig for me.
Thanks for this I’m already an umpire but this was fun too do lol, on the one slide it would be overturned anyway cause the catcher did not give the runner a lane even before receiving the ball so safe no matter what happened after.
The first call is that the runner made it extremely barely in time before the catcher tagged the runner at the plate towards the runner's L leg. I say that the runner's foot hit the plate about 1/15th of a second before the tag happened when I review it on the replay. There I make the final ruling - RUNNER IS SAFE AT HOME!
Tag: 1) Safe. We bitch at the umps, but that's a great bang-bang call. How you could do that in real time, I have no clue. 2) Overturn it, he's out. His front leg never touches second in time, and the tag is applied, as you see in the slow-mo, before the trail leg gets in. 3) He barely nicks it, so we don't have to go to the plate block rule (if it was applicable). Safe, and you'd need replay to see it. 1B: 1) Safe, and not that close. 2) Hell of a stretch and the ump was right on it -- and he was right. 3) Same as #1. HR: 1) Nope. Joc will go back to second. 2) Yep, bounces off the railing above the yellow line. 3) Top of the wall, then the Pesky Pole, that a homer -- one of the shortest in modern baseball. HBP: 1) Neither HBP or foul tip, it's a strike on the swing. 2) Did that nick his sleeve to gat that call? 3) No swing, clearly gets his hand.
Two plays in this I personally had an issue with was the one play at the plate where the runner stuck his hand in between the catchers legs. It is unchallengeable due to catcher interference period. Second was the Freddie Freeman play which is irrefutable due to the proximity rule. Great examples for more complex rule calling/ umpiring
I agree on the catcher obstruction which couldve been called........Im betting that if the hand didnt touch the plate b4 the tag then obstruction may have been called upon review
Good video. Just a suggestion look up the definition of foul tip and foul ball. I made this mistake until I went to umpire school. Keep up the great work!
A video like this is interesting and fun. But what would REALLY be a "you make the call" video realistic is if they put body cams on the umpires.. see the play the way the umpire saw it and make the call! Would probably make a person think twice about criticizing them
I might actually have a shot at this career I got a majority of the place calls correct which is good news for me since I start umpireing school in January
so on the hbp thing it was actually considered an out, bc the hands and knuckles count as part of the bat, so it would result in a foul tip. but the catcher caught it meaning that it was an out!
I don't know where you got that info from, but the hands are an extension of the body, not the bat. If the umps ended up calling him out on that, then they got the wrong call. Something I like to tell people who aren't aware of the difference is, if you go to the store and buy a baseball bat, does it come with hands? Obviously not, so the hands are not part of the bat.
@@monkeyman416 a swing is always a strike, whether it hits the hands or not. But, if the pitch hits the hands and its not deemed a swing(which in this video it wasnt) then its a HPB, award first base
i watched one game with angel hernandez umpiring at first base and he got 5 calls wrong out of 5 attempts. 3 he called out were safe and 2 call safe that were out. i know that balls and strikes aren't reviewable but in the same series when he was behind the plate his call rate was 78 per cent right. so now we know why they want the robot umpires.
They need to put go pros on umpires. And have a game televised purely through the umpires “eyes” it would shut up just about everyone and would be awesome to see. Tumpanes crew or a crew of the crew chiefs would be amazing since they are almost always going to be in the correct spot to get the call right
A fly ball was batted down the right-field line. The right-fielder made contact with the ball, which was still inflight in foul ground, but his feet may have been still in fair ground. The ball tipped off his glove and remained in foul ground. The ball was called foul, which in my opinion was the correct call. The other team however tried to argue that since his feet were in fair ground when he made contact with an inflight ball that the ball is fair and live. I have always been under the impression that fielder's position is irrelevant. I understand the rule to be where the ball was in relation to the line when the ball was contacted. So to summarize: inflight ball crosses the line into the foul side of the line when an outfielder in fair ground contacts the ball. Fair or foul? You make the call?
You are right, the position of the fielder is irrelevant. All that matters is whether or not the ball was over fair or foul territory when it was first touched. So in your last scenario, you have a foul ball.
if the umpire thought it was in the batters box area then its a HBP.......if it was outside the box and in the area over the plate or "the river" it should not be an awarded HPB, but should be called a ball or strike judged by where the pitch was
if youre talking about the first hit by pitch when he took a full swing and it hit his back foot, yes, its a strike(it was called a strike). However, on a hit by pitch(whether its a swing or not) its also a dead ball, so the runner who went to 3rd base had to return to 2nd base
The issue with umps are not the calls that get over turned. Everyone know the Naked eye doesn't see everything and replay is there to help. This is true with every sport. The Issue with Baseball however is the amount BS they can call and power they carry. If they don't like the way you look at them they can throw you out. How about Angel Hernandez, I dont even have to say what he has done, everyone knows. MLB cant do anything because a union protects them.
Common misperception, "tie goes to the runner". Actually is the opposite, if you believe it is really a tie, it goes to the defense. Rule reads the runner must touch the base before the fielder catches the ball while in contact with the base. If it's a tie, then the runner didn't arrive before the catch. 15 yr umpire
What bother me is that everyone knows this could all be easier, but umpires in the MLB have WAY too much influence on the creation of the rules. Automated eyes are routinely denied. And then you have dolts like Angel Hernandez. We are talking about 65 year old men that need to make decisions with their eyes. Thats an insane way to think.
The game could never be officiated by "autoumps", even the strikezone for roboumps is man-made and can change multiple times during a single at bat. There are far too many situations that could occur on the diamond for a computer to make the calls.
Having been an umpire for many many years at all levels up to semi-pro, I am glad to see them get it right. I have watched games where the first look is one way, but with slow replay and different angles the call is reversed. Love it.
thank you for the comment. Being a umpire is a very hard job and I could not imagine being a umpire at the MLB level. Even on replay its hard to distinguish a call. I wish they would apply replay for spring training too...
What's semi pro, no one calls anything semi pro.
@@russellbrooker2122 Isnt Semi-Pro baseball considered the international league and the other minor leagues?
Are you a good umpire
Daniel hamlin
One of the difficulties with trying to review from the angles that we see is that they're rarely the right angle to make a definitive call. The umpires are trained where to position themselves to have the best chance of getting the best look at the play.
Yes I agree, which is why I generally don’t agree with it….there’s another player on the field.
Out/Safe calls are usually actually easier for umpires in real life than they are on TV. Not saying that they're by any stretch *easy*, but when you're on the field and you can see the play in real time and hear the pop of the glove whilst looking at the bag, it's easier to call the close plays than looking at weird angles on TV (assuming you're in the right place).
as an nfhs baseball umpire, i would not give a hit-by-pitch on that last play. one of the most useful tips i was given in umpire camp to judge hbp's was this: from his original stance, did the batter place any part of his body CLOSER to the pitch than when he started, INCLUDING any part of a swing. if he did, then he has crossed the advantage/disadvantage line (which is the basis of 99% of rules enforcement). so, using that guidance, if a batter starts a swing and then stops, he has placed some part of his body (in this case, as usual, it is the hands) closer to the pitch and therefore should not be granted the award of a hbp. of course, it is a judgement call; would the pitch have hit the batter had he not attempted the swing is also part of the evaluation. but the moving closer tip has helped me support the overwhelming majority of my "discussions" with coaches when this happens. thanks again, greg.
In 2006, I went to an Aberdeen Ironbirds (MiLB) game and was selected for the "You Make the Call" minigame. They put the clip on the video board and stopped it right before the call (whacker at first with the BR). As the host asked me for my call, I came up with an out and blew out the mic with my "OUT!" call. The base umpire turned to see if I made the right call and actually applauded me.
1: Looks like he’s safe. When the catcher reaches his glove out, his opponent’s foot is just on the home plate. Although he did pull his glove back as soon as the opponent was mid-slid. He may have been out because you can’t tell if the catcher tagged him or was about to tag him. It’s a complicated call.
2: Out. I slowed it down and he seemed to get tagged just barely before he hit his foot on the bag after he was tagged. Which means he is out.
3: Safe! He put his hand in when he slid for the plate. Plus the catcher made an illegal move, standing guard on the plate. Safe either way.
4: Safe. The ball didn’t hit the glove until Turner hit the plate.
5: I wanna say that he’s out. But I cant tell from any angle given. It looked like his toe kept on the base until he fell.
6: Safe. It’s the same as number 4. The ball hadn’t hit the glove until the opponent had the foot on the base.
7: slowed it down. It went through a hole or got stuck. Which doesn’t count either way because it didn’t go OVER the wall.
8: I’m not sure what you would call. But I would give the man his home run. It went over and looked like it hit a rail or something.
9: That’s a home run. If it goes in the the crowd it’s a home run. Unless it goes in the foul zone.
10: Dead Ball! Batter swung at pitch and it went and hit his back ankle.
11: Wasn’t hit! He dodged it.
12: That one had to hurt. Didn’t hit the bat but it moved over slightly. So I think it is a HBP
Love this bro. People really watch the game and don’t realize how hard of a job it is.
Appreciate the meticulous analysis of calls with graphs and footage. Very entertaining, Chris!
thank you, i try. once we keep growing we will expand staff and software to make these videos next level.
What is the app you can see those on
The most difficult challenge types are likely the batted balls that land at the foul line or very slightly to the R of the foul line, and if the umpire does not have the right angle to see that ball, it will be hard for the umpire to rule it fair ball or foul ball.
That last one is interesting, because in cricket, the batters glove is counted as part of the bat in that context.
I was a second base blue for The British Baseball League. After my first game I sat in my car afterwards, mentally exhausted. I could not safely drive home for at least an hour or so. It did get easier. The venom from the crowd is toxic, when they believe you have called wrong. 50% totally hate you and 50% totally love you...until your decision affects your newest bestest friends team. No-one loves you.
we go over this exact topic on our podcast 'ball in play'. we focused on little league baseball/softball how parents are sometimes out of this world crazy towards umpires/coaches. There is giving blue a hard time a classic baseball way and then those who just don't get it and go over the line. hope your still out there helping call games, thank you for all you do. i could never nor want to be an umpire, too hard of a gig for me.
Yeah it’s a rough job.
last hit by pitch was not, first he swings at the pitch and second never attempts to avoid the ball
Thanks for this I’m already an umpire but this was fun too do lol, on the one slide it would be overturned anyway cause the catcher did not give the runner a lane even before receiving the ball so safe no matter what happened after.
I have to say with that much space there at the plate, it is enough space and not obstruction!
The video content is so excellent, congratulations
The first call is that the runner made it extremely barely in time before the catcher tagged the runner at the plate towards the runner's L leg. I say that the runner's foot hit the plate about 1/15th of a second before the tag happened when I review it on the replay. There I make the final ruling - RUNNER IS SAFE AT HOME!
Tag:
1) Safe. We bitch at the umps, but that's a great bang-bang call. How you could do that in real time, I have no clue.
2) Overturn it, he's out. His front leg never touches second in time, and the tag is applied, as you see in the slow-mo, before the trail leg gets in.
3) He barely nicks it, so we don't have to go to the plate block rule (if it was applicable). Safe, and you'd need replay to see it.
1B:
1) Safe, and not that close.
2) Hell of a stretch and the ump was right on it -- and he was right.
3) Same as #1.
HR:
1) Nope. Joc will go back to second.
2) Yep, bounces off the railing above the yellow line.
3) Top of the wall, then the Pesky Pole, that a homer -- one of the shortest in modern baseball.
HBP:
1) Neither HBP or foul tip, it's a strike on the swing.
2) Did that nick his sleeve to gat that call?
3) No swing, clearly gets his hand.
I was today years old that I knew Marcus Semien was ever on the Athletics... I mean THE MORE YOU KNOW
Two plays in this I personally had an issue with was the one play at the plate where the runner stuck his hand in between the catchers legs. It is unchallengeable due to catcher interference period. Second was the Freddie Freeman play which is irrefutable due to the proximity rule. Great examples for more complex rule calling/ umpiring
I agree on the catcher obstruction which couldve been called........Im betting that if the hand didnt touch the plate b4 the tag then obstruction may have been called upon review
The homerun call is hard to make a call in the video unless you know the ground rules for those particular ball parks.
Good video. Just a suggestion look up the definition of foul tip and foul ball. I made this mistake until I went to umpire school. Keep up the great work!
I love these things
A video like this is interesting and fun. But what would REALLY be a "you make the call" video realistic is if they put body cams on the umpires.. see the play the way the umpire saw it and make the call!
Would probably make a person think twice about criticizing them
Good job. 👍
I might actually have a shot at this career I got a majority of the place calls correct which is good news for me since I start umpireing school in January
Look at where the ump was in# 1 He had the BEST view in the stadium! He got it right!!
Close play Review #3 , the catcher was not blocking the plate.
The one clip by the foul pole is a ground rule double. I thought it hit the foul pole, but it didn't.
It went out of play on the fly over the fence, how is it a ground rule double?
so on the hbp thing it was actually considered an out, bc the hands and knuckles count as part of the bat, so it would result in a foul tip. but the catcher caught it meaning that it was an out!
I don't know where you got that info from, but the hands are an extension of the body, not the bat. If the umps ended up calling him out on that, then they got the wrong call. Something I like to tell people who aren't aware of the difference is, if you go to the store and buy a baseball bat, does it come with hands? Obviously not, so the hands are not part of the bat.
i never said they were attached to the bat, i said the umpires count it as part of the bat :)
and it’s also only if he’s going for the pitch, but if he is trying to avoid it, he gets his free base
@@monkeyman416 a swing is always a strike, whether it hits the hands or not. But, if the pitch hits the hands and its not deemed a swing(which in this video it wasnt) then its a HPB, award first base
@@monkeyman416 You are completely wrong. Umpires do not consider the hands as part of the bat, because they aren't.
i watched one game with angel hernandez umpiring at first base and he got 5 calls wrong out of 5 attempts. 3 he called out were safe and 2 call safe that were out. i know that balls and strikes aren't reviewable but in the same series when he was behind the plate his call rate was 78 per cent right. so now we know why they want the robot umpires.
Watch for the foot while listening for the pop of the glove; The job of tHe First Base Umpire
seems so easy right? Theres not always a pop when its caught in the webbing of the glove
Good job by that sharp-eyed Red Sox fan to advocate for his team.
4:50 I watched it in fast motion and called him out
The other team challenge the bat and it was found to be illegal same as if the bat broke and there was cork found in the bat batter is out
Good video
First play was definitely a fair ball .. no question
They need to put go pros on umpires. And have a game televised purely through the umpires “eyes” it would shut up just about everyone and would be awesome to see.
Tumpanes crew or a crew of the crew chiefs would be amazing since they are almost always going to be in the correct spot to get the call right
MLB had umpire cam a few times last year and I'm still perplexed why cams are not on umpires or catchers full time. Its a great view for fans
#2 was a hit on him. It swiped and it would be considered a hit.
I got one wrong. It was that Houston home run.
A fly ball was batted down the right-field line. The right-fielder made contact with the ball, which was still inflight in foul ground, but his feet may have been still in fair ground. The ball tipped off his glove and remained in foul ground. The ball was called foul, which in my opinion was the correct call. The other team however tried to argue that since his feet were in fair ground when he made contact with an inflight ball that the ball is fair and live.
I have always been under the impression that fielder's position is irrelevant. I understand the rule to be where the ball was in relation to the line when the ball was contacted.
So to summarize: inflight ball crosses the line into the foul side of the line when an outfielder in fair ground contacts the ball. Fair or foul? You make the call?
You are right, the position of the fielder is irrelevant. All that matters is whether or not the ball was over fair or foul territory when it was first touched. So in your last scenario, you have a foul ball.
How can you have a hit by pitch on a ball in the strike zone?
if the umpire thought it was in the batters box area then its a HBP.......if it was outside the box and in the area over the plate or "the river" it should not be an awarded HPB, but should be called a ball or strike judged by where the pitch was
First clip he safe
thank you for the comment
Umpiring is easy. Just think of what Angel Hernandez would do and then do the exact opposite…100% correct calls all the time.
Id like to be an umpire do the ahhh Boom! Earl Weaver Heave Ho😅
Can you do the same thing with terrible calls
I love being an umpire
Batter was hit by pitch on review but still swung and missed. Shouldn't that be called a strike?
if youre talking about the first hit by pitch when he took a full swing and it hit his back foot, yes, its a strike(it was called a strike). However, on a hit by pitch(whether its a swing or not) its also a dead ball, so the runner who went to 3rd base had to return to 2nd base
Nice
The overturned infield plays, look at the umpires mechanics. Where is the umpire on the field when the play happens?
10 out of 12
The issue with umps are not the calls that get over turned. Everyone know the Naked eye doesn't see everything and replay is there to help. This is true with every sport. The Issue with Baseball however is the amount BS they can call and power they carry. If they don't like the way you look at them they can throw you out. How about Angel Hernandez, I dont even have to say what he has done, everyone knows. MLB cant do anything because a union protects them.
so youre problem should be with unions
Since umpiring is so easy why is there such an umpire shortage?
Most amateur umpires quit because of coaches, parents, and players who don't know the rules but berate the umpire when he makes the correct call.
tbh I got them all right first try I was suprised
First play is safe
second comment and keep these coming
check out the new one today. Minor league funny team names.. thank you for the comment
1st play is safe
Seems stupid that the hands are HBP.
Seems stupid that some people think the hands are part of the bat.
In certain situations the earhole shouldn't be a hbp either
Did the rule change? My dad taught me that when he had played sandlot and little league "hands are part of the bat" was the rule
@@alanhess9306 Strawman. I didn’t say they were a part of the bat.
@@alanhess9306the MLB may be different, but in every league I played you couldn’t have a HBP if the ball was in the strike zone.
"Couldn't pay you...." at $225K to start as a rookie MLB ump I'll bet you would.
Tie goes to the runner. If it’s very close, unless you’re absolutely sure, he’s safe.
Common misperception, "tie goes to the runner". Actually is the opposite, if you believe it is really a tie, it goes to the defense. Rule reads the runner must touch the base before the fielder catches the ball while in contact with the base. If it's a tie, then the runner didn't arrive before the catch. 15 yr umpire
I went 8/12
What bother me is that everyone knows this could all be easier, but umpires in the MLB have WAY too much influence on the creation of the rules. Automated eyes are routinely denied. And then you have dolts like Angel Hernandez. We are talking about 65 year old men that need to make decisions with their eyes. Thats an insane way to think.
and yet when I Google "average age of a MLB umpire" it says 46 years old. And umpires don't "create" the rules, they just enforce them lol
hmmmm.....last one hit by pitch. Nope
No it's a job better left to autoump.
The game could never be officiated by "autoumps", even the strikezone for roboumps is man-made and can change multiple times during a single at bat. There are far too many situations that could occur on the diamond for a computer to make the calls.
#1 he was out
I only got 1 wrong
4
Like I said, only 2 out of 10 umpires can do the job properly as shown by all these missed calls in the PRO game.
No I don’t want that job baseball is too slow and boring I was a basketball official in Southern Ohio for a number of years lots of fun and extra $.
Blake shutdown
Out
I prefer the NFL red flag!
Cool but I didn’t ask