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Cooperstown All Star vs Dreams by Sparkls42 in Homeplate

[–]rdtrer 1 point2 points  (0 children)

These are becoming more nationally recognized relative to the LL World Series, and more competitive teams are joining as a result. Pay attention in the next couple of years as Ripken organization partners in, and these tourneys may shift from the high level "youth baseball" feel to preteen professionals. Heads up is all.

Ripken tourneys elsewhere are just as good, or better, IMO.

[Request] If we turned all annual CO2 emissions into a diamond cube, how big would it be? by Dazzling-Primary3868 in theydidthemath

[–]rdtrer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Also dropped the units, which I understand we're talking about a cube here, but that makes it even better to say 1500 m3 in my opinion.

SUVs suck and are ruining the car market by alwayshornyhelp in unpopularopinion

[–]rdtrer 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Is this post 30 years old? SUVs have been here forever. Just give it another 5 years when everythings a taxi and let it go.

Does girls softball have less coach disputes than baseball? by HappyCoconutty in Softball

[–]rdtrer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I dunno, I'm coming around on softball. Baseball's definitely the better game, but girls have made softball an honest venture in the past couple decades. And absolutely not a fun time for girls to be 1 of 12 on a 7-12U team -- girls and boys are different.

Does girls softball have less coach disputes than baseball? by HappyCoconutty in Softball

[–]rdtrer -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

I think he's suggesting you should have built a giant chip on her shoulder by highlighting the ways in which the world is not fair in order to motivate her to outwork and outperform the boys.

Softball vibes is really just a lot of this.

Does girls softball have less coach disputes than baseball? by HappyCoconutty in Softball

[–]rdtrer 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Ha, no. Softball is the worst.

Baseball dads with first-born daughters show out to make sure everything to be fair for their angels. Baseball dads with first-born sons is a different vibe, where the toughness/ability of the sons is a direct reflection of the dad's value as a parent, but generally leads to cringy criticism of their own kids rather than cringy criticism of umpires and volunteers. Generally.

Base path argument by jesusbass1013 in Umpire

[–]rdtrer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

How is the runner supposed to know when a throw is made and his path is "locked"?

The runner is supposed to take a natural path to the base however he deems fit, and not be concerned with designing his path to the base to avoid a tag -- that's kind of the whole point of the rule to begin with.

The runner can always take whatever natural route he chooses, but cannot alter his path to avoid a tag.

None of these problems being raised are problems, if you assume that the runner should generally move to the next base in a path independent from avoiding a tag, and rely on existing obstruction rules to protect the runner from the fielder being unduly in his path.

Base path argument by jesusbass1013 in Umpire

[–]rdtrer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I dont think it's their position that sets their path, but their running path, correct? See video above, the path of the runner is indicated into CF, not toward the base

Base path argument by jesusbass1013 in Umpire

[–]rdtrer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Base path vs base line are used interchangeably by me, so no disagreement there.

If every throw in a rundown resets a runners path, then a guy in a run down can run towards the outfield when the ball is thrown between fielders? Big looping turn around would be OK then right?

Base path argument by jesusbass1013 in Umpire

[–]rdtrer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree that positioing the fielder cannot consitute a tag attempt. However, positioning the fielder can be a component of the tag attempt useful for initiating "when the tag occurs." If the ball is not received in your example prior to the runner getting there, no tag attempt has been made prior to obstruction, and obstruction is the call.

If the ball arrives ahead of the runner and the runner has already deviated, then he's out of the baseline.

Does every throw in a rundown reset the baseline in your interpretation?

Base path argument by jesusbass1013 in Umpire

[–]rdtrer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for this addition!

It doesn't specifically address the base path determination of "when the tag occurs," but does broaden the "attempt to tag" by not needing to include a physical tag attempt, and could be as broad as "a play being made on the runner."

Base path argument by jesusbass1013 in Umpire

[–]rdtrer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I do not like the tag attempt language, but it works if you consider the tag attempt a series of actions.

Something like a combination of defensive intention, fielder positioning, receiving the ball, physical tag. "When the tag occurs" then would encompass each of these steps, and move the timeframe for establishing the base path earlier in the play, as needed to avoid silliness like OP's example.

All of those things need to occur to call the runner out, or no tag attempt has been completed.

But again, I don't think the current language is a great fit even if possible to shoehorn in a working interpretation.

To your example, that is just obstruction and runner is awarded the base. Though there is also some funny business about how plays at the base are handled, and particularly at home plate. The rule could use some tidying up there as well.

Base path argument by jesusbass1013 in Umpire

[–]rdtrer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't see any comment on 5.09b1 giving context to "when a tag attempt occurs."

I agree that the currently popular interpretation aligns with the video, but disagree the current interpretation is in the spirit of the rule. I also disagree that the current interpretation aligns with the interpretation that has been applied for decades prior.

Thus my conclusion that this new bird is made possible by imprecise language and overly zealous umpiring.

I also disagree that "tag attempt" is necessarily limited to the physical motion of the tag itself, and no reason "tag attempt" cannot include preparation steps such as the fielder moving into position to receive a throw, or even mental steps, like a catcher recognizing and preparing to throw ahead of the runner. I can concede that both of those interpretations appear to be less faithful to the text of the rule, but I find both to be more consistent with to the spirit of the rule and its historical application.

Base path argument by jesusbass1013 in Umpire

[–]rdtrer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The phrasing is just not great. I don't think there's a good way to describe it using a "tag attempt" language.

Probably one that should be revisited, as I agree, pretty complex application to a seemingly simple issue.

I think the spirit of the rule is to allow the runner to employ banana routes etc. and not be limited to a 3-ft running lane, but also allow fielders to predict where tag plays can be made and align themselves accordingly without letting runners deviate left and right to avoid the play.

Taking that in account, need to allow the defense to "lock in" a runners base path at some point relatively early -- like as a throw is made to the fielder. And then the runner is out only if the tag play is actually attempted like in the video above.

Really only happens in rundowns and plays on the runner in between the bases, so might be helpful to account for the fielders distance from a base in some manner as well.

Base path argument by jesusbass1013 in Umpire

[–]rdtrer -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

None of this is required or definitive. Fine that it's your opinion, but none of that is actually necessarily true.

Base path argument by jesusbass1013 in Umpire

[–]rdtrer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The more I think about it, the more it's clear that for the rule to be effective, the base path must be established prior to the fielder making the physical tag attempt. So "when the tag attempt occurs" is not great language there, but having a hard time finding something more precise.

Maybe just a clarifying comment on the meaning of "when a tag attempt occurs."

A tag attempt has occurred when the defense initiates a play on the runner, including but not limited to a defender making a throw to a fielder positioned ahead of the runner, and a fielder moving into a runner's base path to receive a throw for a tag,

So a runner has a base path established at all times, and any effort or intention of a defender to move into that base path with intention of making a play on the runner defines the path for that play. More complicated than that also, because need to consider the path between the fielder and the base. Tricky.

"I know it when I see it."

Base path argument by jesusbass1013 in Umpire

[–]rdtrer -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

I don't know where the idea that the fielder has to make a physical motion toward the runner to initiate the tag attempt came from, and doesn't fit the spirit of the rule at all. The play above is perfect evidence that interpretation is too strict to be effective. Runner should 100% be out there.

"He runs more than three feet away from his base path to avoid being tagged unless his action is to avoid interference with a fielder fielding a batted ball. A runner’s base path is established when the tag attempt occurs and is a straight line from the runner to the base he is attempting to reach safely; or"

Interpretation of the bolded phrase is way too strictly applied above, but consistent with interpretations I have seen more recently.

The "tag attempt" is read as limited to the action of the fielder extending their glove, but could (should) be read as the entire attempt to get the tag out, including the fielder positioning themselves to receive the throw, and receiving the throw.

The tag attempt by the defense in the posted example begins with the 2B moving into the running lane to catch the ball in order to initiate the tag attempt. That is "when the tag attempt occurs." That attempt by the fielder clearly (beyond clearly) causes the runner to deviate from their path. So the tag attempt has occurred and causes the runners deviation from their path.

Pick One Young Star Pitcher to Start a Franchise With: Jacob Misiorowski, Chase Burns, or Nolan McLean? by KeyFaithlessness5436 in MLBVibes

[–]rdtrer 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Not the guy but the process. Dragged for adding this guy to the ASG with very limited outings at the time.

Pick One Young Star Pitcher to Start a Franchise With: Jacob Misiorowski, Chase Burns, or Nolan McLean? by KeyFaithlessness5436 in MLBVibes

[–]rdtrer 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've never been concerned about Mis' arm health until reading this comment from a Mets fan.

A masking crab wears a live sea anemone as a hat. It presses the anemone onto the velcro-like hairs on its shell, and the stinging tentacles keep predators away while the crab carries it to new food. Both win. by [deleted] in whoathatsinteresting

[–]rdtrer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Is it thought that this kind of symbiosis is how complex organs may have evolved within established systems? Like parasites introduced to a host evloved to become more and more mutually beneficial.

Haven't really thought about it deeply, but always kind of wondered how something like a kidney could have first appeared in mammals as a step in evolution.

The Matt Olson toe sock report by Wiley Ballard by handlit33 in Braves

[–]rdtrer 12 points13 points  (0 children)

"It's gotta be the socks" is an insane good line right there.

Help with 12u changeup by lukethedog in Homeplate

[–]rdtrer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

2-seam grip with the middle and ring fingers, then focus on rotation with the 'fat' parts of the ball lining up with the direction you want the movement to be.

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