disagree. the purpose of little league is to win, at all cost, this is the only way we teach the younger generation

@@pOOL_pANTS I hope your being sarcastic. 🤔🤔🤔

JeremyIsTheBoss reckball hahah

Goes for both fielders and base runners...

@@chrisvolnek6805 exactly

Ok but the pitcher was on the mound, after he’s on the rubber it’s a dead ball

This can be wrong in some situations. Like covering a base etc

@9Blair, Even IF the pitcher had "noticed", so what? There wasn't a CATCHER for him to *throw to* at the time, and so (as the video made clear) that run was on the catcher rather than the pitcher.

that happens plenty in youth sports

@@critter2 it happens in MLB as well. I was a game where Brady Anderson and Delano Shields failed to fun out an infield batted ball on a wet field. Both would have been safe had the run to first. Both were out even though the fielder slipped and fell.

my friend was the catcher at the time. That is kinda embarrassing tbh. he is such aa great kid though.

@@Mr-wj1xm he was on the 2018 team

Catchers learn something new every game. From foul tips to calling time every time you move

I skipped the high school part. But I’ve had travel teams. Get mad about my rulings. Saying “in our league.” And I always say. “Well that’s cool that your league does that but here we have slightly different rules apparently. I suggest you read the rule book for each field you play at in the future to avoid these types of situations.” Normally gets them to shut up real quick. Had 1 guy ask for my bosses number. My boss then told me always eject someone who does that. But I didn’t because I wanted to hear him say not 2 mins later. “You were right”

That comes from the 8-10 yo divisions where if the pitcher is ready to pitch (not within the 'circle') runners cannot advance. It's so much fun having to remind high school football coaches of the rule differences between their rules and the rules for college and pro's. My standard answer is, "That's a Saturday (or Sunday) rule, coach." The same sometimes applies to baseball, but not as often.

When the pitcher has the ball everyone knows play is over, it's unwritten rule like not shooting the basketball when you are ahead and the clock is winding down for the game to end, everyone quits playing, you don't just run in for a layup because no one is guarding you, it's understood.

@@tnoble "Unwritten rules" aren't rules. If you can't play by the ACTUAL rules, stay out of sports.

@@tnoble As soon as I hear "everyone knows" I assume it is another made rule of one of those baseball rules that everyone knows, but won't find it in a rule book. If it is an unwritten rule, then it isn't a rule.

gc.com/game-5d0d55082fb94c0001147951

I agree with you about comments made about youth players and that could have been said much better. Thanks for pointing it out.

@@MJHBaseball All good. Fun watching your high quality videos (content and production).

well I guess that's that then... my "house" at Al Houghton Stadium will not be put up this year. A big loss for everyone but my daughter... "daddy, it's too hot.... daddy, baseball is boring... daddy, it takes too long between games..."

@@davej3781 U1 is a friend as well... Hello from D62!

@@Kevin-jy3uj if they actually let fans in to Al Houghton stadium this year, come to the D30 tent and say hi... I plan to be there most afternoons

@@davej3781 We will see... IF they let people in, I'll come see you @ D30 and you can come see us at the D62 tent! Several of our friends are getting the opportunity of a lifetime... 2nd regional and or world series assignments! How cool is that?

@@Kevin-jy3uj yeah, I've heard the story, pretty cool for those guys. strange that we don't know if fans will be allowed 6 weeks from now, when everything else is already fully open with minimal precautions... hopefully they are re-evaluating as we get closer to the tournament.

Thanks for talking to my coach like that

😆😆😆😆😆

That's a very good point.

When the player walked onto the field to pick up the bat ump should have called time or made an interference call. If play was live that player isn't allowed on the field.

@@edwinhughes6493 I'm going to call you out every single time you make this stupid comment. you are wrong, dead wrong, stop saying this crap or cite the rule

@@davej3781 lol 😆

Our umps in 12u and 13u baseball call time after every play and the ball isn't live again until he points at the pitcher

@LJ Gryphons why would I lie about that😂

This is exactly what I was thinking.

@@tristanbrewer4523 the next on-deck hitter retrieving the bat while the ball is live is entirely normal at every level of baseball. I have no idea why everyone suddenly thinks this is somehow unusual or outside the rules.

@@davej3781 it was always the next batter that retrieved the bat when I played, never the double deck batter.

@@rhysfuuma4640 the next hitter may generally toss the bat away from the plate area, however the next on-deck hitter would be the one to actually pick it up and return it to the dugout. in little league it's fairly typical that the next on-deck hitter retrieves the bat entirely on his own (aka the hitter "in the hole"... I've never heard of "double deck batter" before in all my years playing, coaching and umpiring... I will assume it's a regional thing) in any case, a player other than the next batter entering the field to retrieve the bat is entirely normal and legal, unless of course they interfere with a play, and there is no reason whatsoever for the umpire to call time because of it. any claim otherwise is absurd and ignorant.

Except in (sp) associations where stealing is allowed of course.

If it was not a close play, it seems normal to not display a runner is safe. For example, a hitter gets a single the first base ump does not signal safe. Only if an actual play for an out was done.

there was no play on the runner, so there was nothing to signal. signaling "safe" when a runner reaches a base with no play is a mark of the rank beginner umpire, who should certainly have no business on a LLWS Regional crew.

@@brianyoungberg9904 exactly. Even a play at first and the runner is safe by a few steps. They just put up the safe sign. You only voice a call when it's very close. On plays that are not close everyone knows the outcome so you just do the sign. This case there wasn't even a play. I would have signaled safe without a voice call but either or works here.

he's not the bat boy, LL doesn't have bat boys, he's the next on-deck hitter and he's doing what he's supposed to do

Why would the umpire call time at all on this play?

Until a coach or player calls time as explained in the video

Only time an ump would call it on his own would be because of injury, otherwise, it has to be asked for and granted if the ump seems fit.

Okay, just make sure if you do start to umpire that you learn the rules first. It's not appropriate to call time without a legitimate reason as the game of baseball is intended to be a live game. The bat retrieval is 100% within the rules and expectations. Little League specifically says this player who picks up the bat is supposed to do so and to do it in the way he does it.

@@MJHBaseball The legitimate reason is that the bat is in line from the pitcher to home plate. That technically creates a dangerous situation. But way to be a complete asshat in your response.

@@scottdaniels3947 that is not a legitimate reason to call time. the bat is part of the field. play on.

@@davej3781 the problem with your response is that a player that is not in play comes out and collects the bat. Making it a dead play in the eyes of the offense. Therefore, time should have been called.

@@scottdaniels3947 the problem with your response is that it is completely wrong in all rulesets. A player or other personel coming out of the dugout to pick up the bat while the ball is live is legal, normal and expected at all levels of baseball. It is truly confounding to ponder where so many people get this ridiculous notion.

It sounds like they'd been making this same mistake the entire game, but nothing ever happened because there was no runner on third.

The coach does call time out , only the umpire can call time.

You are right. The Umpire knew the rule. The 3rd base COACH knew the rule. And now players on both teams know the rule. That's part of what coaching little league is about. Teaching children how to play and the rules of their sport.

I couldn't agree more. Now, who should we find to teach spelling and grammar to your children? ahhahahahahahahahahahah

I wasn’t aware Angel Hernandez moonlighted in Little League. 😂

good question. no. it had nothing to do with the batter or any action caused by the batter. it'd be in the same category as a run scored on a wild pitch, passed ball, or fielding error. See the first sentence of OBR 9.04: "A run batted in is a statistic credited to a *batter whose action at bat* *causes one or more runs to score,* as set forth in this Rule 9.04." [emphasis added]

That player is required to get the bat. Batboys and batgirls are not allowed to be used. Teams on offense are required to retrieve the bat as needed. The bat was in fair territory, so he got it. If it's in foul territory, that is STILL THE FIELD OF PLAY. Location is irrelevant. TIME should never called in the situation seen in the video unless the umpire completely mess up.

Yes, he does. He spots the runner right as he leaves third base. (3:50) Way to be alert!

That is very common in pretty much all youth baseball and doesn't impact any play. There is nothing wrong with doing it. Now, if that player interferes with a play, that's another story. That obviously wasn't the case here.

No such rule.

No

Yes because the rules say only runners , batters and 9defense players are allowed on field during live play. The instant that player crossed into the field of play during live play he interfered. You can't go by the exact rule about play being live in one instance and not the other.

Edwin, that's what I thought. Because if the bat is dropped in the field of play or rolls into the field of play then it BECOMES part of the field of play. Only a player that is part of that play can move it. Meaning if the 'ballboy' or the next batter was into the field, while the play is live, and takes the bat from the field it would be interference. At least that's what I thought.

@@michealargyle1608 No. That is 100% not true. Of course if you want to claim this, then I'm sure you can site the rule. I'll save you the time. It doesn't exist. And you'll see this same thing in EVERY GAME played at every level.

@@michealargyle1608 One more thing. Foul territory is considered "the field of play." Until you reach "dead ball territory" usually that is beyond a fence, you have the active field of play. You're trying to claim "fair territory" is the "field of play." Again, players or designated bat boys are expected to retrieve bats just like this player did.

Baseball managers don't get to decide how scorekeepers score the game...

@@Dynamice1337 I was the one who kept the scorebook. This was HS varsity baseball and I was the pitching\catching coach.

@@garygemmell3488 Ok, then you were scoring it wrong. It's fine to coach your catchers to make every effort to block every pitch regardless of how its scored, but there is a rulebook for a reason. That reason is consistency.

@@Dynamice1337 You so funny. I'm scoring it for MY team and no one else's. I will score it the way I see fit. I don't care whether you think it's wrong. I was consistent in how I applied the rule, to wit: 2-26 A passed ball is a pitch which the catcher fails to stop or control when he should have been able to do so with ORDINARY EFFORT, and which enables a runner including the batter-runner to advance. 2-41 A wild pitch is one which cannot be handled by the catcher with ORDINARY EFFORT. Those are the HS rules concerning wild pitches and passed balls. The MLB rule is virtually the same. If my catcher made no effort, let alone an ordinary effort, on what could be a wild pitch I am not going to penalize my pitcher for the catcher's laziness. Especially when I know what my catcher is capable of. No effort is never ordinary effort.

@@garygemmell3488 That is correct for high school rules. OBR scores differently. In NFHS if the catcher could/should have blocked the pitch and not allowed a runner to advance, it's a passed ball. In OBR if the ball hits the dirt prior to reaching the glove of the catcher and a runner advances, it's a wild pitch.

Are you from Oregon too?

Littleleague is also nowhere near the level of most select teams.

you might not like it but with out it little kids wouldn’t have the opportunity to play and love the sport of baseball

If you're playing in intermediate, junior or senior divisions, then yes you can lead off

Yes, its a pitchers plate.

While "the rubber" is a common term, its official name is "pitcher's plate". See any rule book diagram of the field of play.

That is not true.

No such rule.

Only umpires that don't know what they are doing.

For what?

they don't want to ask for time because it will more likely be a charged defensive visit if they ask for time. it looks like they'd gotten into a bad habit of sneaking in these little defensive conferences, and ultimately paid the price. I should ask my friend who was on that crew (U1) if they were doing that the whole game. I doubt I'd let the defense get away with that more than once. It's one thing if F2 takes a couple of steps away to quickly make sure he and his coach are on the same page, but here it looks like F2 walks all the way to the dugout fence... "Mike, that's a visit!" But, giving up a run probably fixes up that bad habit quicker than whatever the umpire might do.

At 2:09 is that player allowed to be on the field to grab the bat during the play?

@@MeistGamingChannel Yes, he is allowed. Looks like he is going to be the batter "on-deck". If he interferes with the play, that is another matter.

That is common practice at EVERY level of baseball. You may not see it on camera, but if you attend any level game, you will always see non-active players retrieving the bat from wherever it is located even during an active play.

@@MJHBaseball Sure...but when there is a play like this, that should be the risks you take in that it couild cause you to lose out by doing it. And honestly...it really DOESN'T happen very often. You don't generally see players TOTALLY not in the play (;even the on-deck batter) walking onto the field before the play is over, other than a game winning home run to congratulate the runner. But that is a dead ball. And should never. If you are in a league where players not in the play are running onto the field, you should tell them to stop. There is NO reason to do it. And they could get hurt since they are an unexpected presence on the field. You sure as hell don't see MLB players just wandering onto the field during a live ball to retrieve a bat. The umpires will often do that if the bat is in the way on a play that takes a long time to finish up. But even if the umpire doesn't, the on deck batter doesn't actually cross into fair territory to do so. They are usually standing on the first base side of home plate to give the runner trying to score a signal to slide or not. How far do you want to take that? Should you allow the team on the third base side go out with their brightly colored uniforms to make the fielders think a runner is going home, trying to draw a throw home so the actual runners can advance to second and third? "Oh sorry...I was just running onto the field to get a bat, but I thought it would be fun to get close to the baseline first. I swear to god I didn't mean to make the fielders think I was a runner running home! Honestly!"

@@MJHBaseball You can definitely make a case that his presence confused the catcher. Play must be dead if the on deck batter is walking onto the field and getting ready to hit. Especially to a kid? Pretty confusing. Rule 3-23: No offensive team personnel, other than the base coach, shall be near a base for which a runner is trying so that a fielder may be confused, nor be on or near the baseline in such a way as to draw a throw, nor shall the base coach or members of the team at bat fail to vacate any area needed by a fielder in his attempt to put out a batter or runner,

This isn't softball. That is true in softball, not baseball. The ball is always live and anyone can run at anytime, unless the umpire specifically calls Time for a legitimate reason. Thanks for commenting.

@@MJHBaseball I don’t remember that

@@galactic_clashx4056 then obviously, a situation like this never happened to you. Players on both teams just learned a lesson on one of the rules of LITTLE LEAGUE baseball.

@@kpro9560 so if this is the case then if a runner gets to second and then they forget call time I can tag them out if we haven’t gone to the next play

@@galactic_clashx4056 LOL ok whatever. You can make up any scenario to try to rationalize your opinion. The fact is, you didn't draft the rules of LITTLE LEAGUE baseball. I didn't draft those rules either. Take up your opinions and grievances about those rules with the governing body of LITTLE LEAGUE baseball.

Snoop Dogg you know chopper willie from blackwood

wrong

Snoop Dogg sorry for the irrelevant comments, I thought you were the real snoop

Prove it. Show me the rule from Little League which says something even remotely resembling the statement you made. I don't believe this is true.

He talking straight facts

Show me that rule, if the pitcher has the ball is on the pitcher plate and the catcher is in the ready position that's true. In this video he explained that and the catcher wasn't in the ready position.

No such rule.

Only true on Tuesday and Thursday night games when the opposing team name starts with a vowel. Also, free popcorn for everyone. Its in the rule book people! I swear it is!

There is no rule that prevents the runner in this game from stealing home. In softball if the pitcher has the ball in the circle the runner may not advance, but this is Little League baseball and there is no such rule. The rule you'd want to read is Rule 7.13.

Catcher ALSO has to be in his box. It's explained in the video.

yet it is a thing that was neither requested nor called... fun fact (which is actually a fact, unlike most times when someone starts by saying "fun fact"): if F2 had asked for time and then gone and talked to his coach in the dugout, that would be properly charged as a mound visit.

WTH? Are you kidding? The Little League rules specifically say that THAT player is the one who needs to get the bat. He's doing his job and following the rules as stated. Bat Boys are not allowed in Little League, but in MLB you see this same thing only it's the guy with BB on his back.

@@MJHBaseball NOT by a secondary player from the bench UNTIL play is stopped or time out called. Batboys or Batgirls included entering the official field of play. Just as the rule for throwing a bat constitutes an out...the same should apply here.

Okay. But you are wrong.

@@mikesherrett8928 you are entirely ignorant of the rules. The next hitter or on-deck hitter retrieves the bat while the ball is live in every level of baseball, and throwing the bat is not generally an out unless the thrown bat strikes the ball or interferes with a player making a play.

According to what rule?

Did you not pay attention? Play is ALWAYS live, and runners can't advance if the pitcher is on the pitching plate AND the catcher is in his box.

Of course the umpire isn't calling time after every play or when the pitcher is on the mound. You don't get to umpire at this level without knowing the basics of the job. Time should not be called without a specific justifiable reason. Umpires are taught to keep the play live as much as possible.

@@MJHBaseball I have seen many umpires automatically call time so there goes your "of course" statement and umpires are taught many things like a strike zone and screw that up often.

If an umpire was calling time willy-nilly in any game I was involved in, I'd be out there asking why he's trying to be the 10th member of the defense

@@denniswebb341 In what league, and/or age bracket, and under what rules?

If you don’t know the rules, then turn to profanity. That will win your argument every time.

?

I do not know Dixie Youth Baseball rules. But in Little League they can't advance "When the pitcher is in possession of the ball and in contact with the pitcher's plate, AND the catcher is in the catcher's box ready to receive delivery of the ball." The catcher was not in the catcher's box, so any runner is free to advance.

How is it cheating if its by the rules? Your ignorance to the rule doesn't make it cheating. It makes the other team/coaches/players more informed than you are. You are literally what's wrong with the game today.

​@@adamwarren1918 Try to remain calm, they are talking about making a league just for Transvestites to play, so you will be able to play ball, and with Sissies that will not say anything to upset you. Good Luck!

@@ericbarnes3829 How does it feel to have peaked in stature at high school? Did you make it all the way through college? Were the math courses too hard for you? Enjoy the rest of your mediocre life.

The ump should have sent the kid back to 3rd after he crossed home plate and told him play was dead

@@tnoble why would play be dead? what rule would make play dead here?

Read a rule book sometime.

@@MJHBaseball The rule book, the rule book, THE RULE BOOK. It's called the rubber you fucken child. You ever hear ANYONE in MLB refer to that as "the pitcher's plate?" I'll wait for some examples.................

@@jessewahwah Rubber is slang for pitchers plate

@@frankgonzales8340 Still waiting........

@@jessewahwah Its official name is the "pitcher's plate", in every rule book, for every sanctioning body, including MLB. Try reading the rules on pitching. It is there many times. "The rubber" only gets an occasional mention in some of the comments. img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/mlb/atcjzj9j7wrgvsm8wnjq.pdf

That would not be true. In the MLB they have Bat Boys that do this during live play all the time. In Little League, Bat Boys are not permitted and so it's up to the next on-deck batter to get the bat, or a player not in the line up. Watch games live and you will see this after EVERY base hit. It doesn't always get shown on camera. But thanks for commenting.

No he's not

In a younger age bracket, maybe. In FP softball, definitely. Here, no. Not even close.

The offensive coach? Absolutely he is right, even got a run out of it. Defensive? Not so much...

Because that is his job.

Even more fun fact. That is not the case. Rule 7.13 is the Little League Rule. Check it out and see why the runner could steal home in this situation.

That is what it is called.

MJH-Baseball no it’s not is called a pitchers mound or pitcher rubber

Try reading any baseball rule book and then see if you still feel that way.

Michael Beastmode91 that’s slang. It’s officially a plate.

That is not a thing. Players or batboys are always retrieving bats from the playing area (foul territory is also live play territory by the way). The only way an out can occur is if that person interferes, which they did not do. Not sure why people think this is or should be a thing? The ball is live and runners can do run if they so choose. And fielders can tag them out if they do. Umpires are not allowed to just call time for no reason. They are required to keep the ball live here.

Ummm, That is not an issue and happens during pretty much every at bat where the ball is put in play. Bat boys can be on the field during live play, and are all the time, to retrieve a bat or other items. They, however, may not interfere, which obviously doesn't happen here. And yes, even on the fair territory of the field if that is where the bat landed.

Sorry not a bat boy this is another player and the rule says he can't be on the field during live play. You don't get to have it both ways. The exact rule was applied about pitcher and catcher being in position to stop play. Then the exact rule applies for who is allowed on the field. He was not one of the players allowed and the instant he crossed into the field of play the play is either dead or he should have been called for interference. The it happens all the time excuse isn't accepted in one case but allowed in another. Ump decided to go by exact rule regarding the play being live then that ruling applies in all aspects.

@@edwinhughes6493 cite the rule

@@davej3781 you mean that little known rule that says the only players allowed on the field during live play are batter runner/ runners and the nine defensive players. Do you mean that rule?

@@edwinhughes6493 again, cite the rule

The call is "Foul", or "Foul Ball", and the play is dead. No umpire shouts "Time!" on a foul ball.

Then I hope you don't umpire baseball...at least not until you learn the rules anyway. Ball Boys always retrieve bats, AND since little league does not allow ball boys, the offensive players retrieve bats. This happens in every inning of every game of baseball.

@@MH-Tesla Yeah I know and it happens during dead ball time. When a game is live they may not retrieve the bats. Why don’t you learn the rules a little bit? And yes you can have bat boys in little league. They may not at the LLWS but I’ve never heard of a league not allowing it.

@@ShirfyrBlaze @Travis Blase Again, you're wrong. Baseball does NOT call time after every play. The ball is nearly always live. If a player needs to wait for time to retrieve a bat, then their are tons of bats on the field. Obviously that can't be. And no, Little League does not allow bat boys, so players have to retrieve bats. If you're local league allows this, then god help them if the bat boy is injured since it's specifically banned by little league international. This really is funny. You're focusing on a player picking up a bat, and not on the catcher abandoning his post with a runner on 3rd. If there was a problem here, then why did they allow the run to score? The manager had every right to appeal. He didn't because the runner scored legally.

@@MH-Tesla I get it but most leagues around the country have their own version of the rules and while arguing to me that such and such is an official rule doesn’t really matter. The video asked us how we would call it. At the LLWS sure you can go by those rules but in general little league most umps wouldn’t allow this run due to another player on the field during a play to home. Catchers can move bats too and that’s how I generally promote this situation. Get your player off the field of play when it’s live. Otherwise I can think up a ton of loophole strategies to use to your advantage. Clearly it’s a rule that will have controversy and in my opinion should be changed. Don’t come at me and say I shouldn’t ump, you want to come at me like a dickhead you’re gonna get treated like one back.

@@ShirfyrBlaze There's not a single baseball rule set that does not allow an on dec player to retrieve a bat from the field. You are literally making up rules out of your head which is why I said you should not be an umpire until you learn the rules. The player retrieving the bat made 0 difference in the play. He did not make any changes or interfere in any way whatsoever. Therefore you cannot call a player out or call time simply because a bat is being picked up. It is not the catcher's job to pick up bats for the opposing team. While they do it often, it is not their job and at no time are they ever expected to do it. Also, the official rules of every baseball league that has ever been written does not allow umpires to call time while play is still being active. There was an active play on the field and in no way can the umpire arbitrarily stop play in order to benefit one team over another. These umpires did everything correct. You're wrong and instead of arguing with me, someone you do not know, I suggest you ask someone you do know and do trust. Show them the video. Then discuss it. I'll not even expect an apology after you do this. You're knowing what's correct is enough. Ask someone you trust that you know understands the rules.

According to what rule?

Poor umpiring and poor reporting in this vid.

Ummm, That is not an issue and happens during pretty much every at bat where the ball is put in play. Bat boys can be on the field during live play, and are all the time, to retrieve a bat or other items. They, however, may not interfere, which obviously doesn't happen here. And yes, even on the fair territory of the field if that is where the bat landed.

Seriously, where do people get these crazy ideas? Trying to dispell this stupidity is exhausting...

Wrong, wrong , and wrong. Let's start with non-player on the field. LL Safety Regulations state, "PLAYERS WHO LEAVE THE DUGOUT TO RETRIEVE THE BAT BACK TO THE DUGOUT MUST HAVE A HELMET ON, WITHOUT EXCEPTION, AT ALL LEVEL OF BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL." (caps original, not mine) How about interference? By definition (Rule 2.00) "Offensive interference is an act by a member of the team at bat which interferes with, obstructs, impedes, hinder or confuses any fielder attempting to make a play." Anyone on defense attempting to make a play? No. What about simply being on the field/in fair territory? Rule 7.09(d) states, "It is interference by a batter or runner when....Any member or members of the offensive team stand or gather around any base to which a runner is advancing, to confuse, hinder or add to the difficulty of the fielders. Such runner shall be declared out for the interference of teammate or teammates." No one is standing around, or gathering near a base, no catcher is at home to be hindered, and the pitcher is asleep. If the defense is confused, it is not due to the clearing of the bat. No reason to call "Time", ball is live, and no interference occurred. Run scores. You can prove me wrong by accurately citing the rule that supports your statement.

How did he interfere?

What game are you watching?

@@backpacker57 The regional tournament game

@@dusterfreebottom My question was for Roofus. We obviously didn't have interference by the player who picked up the bat in this game, so which game is he watching? BTW, I was at this game.

dusterfreebottom, I did not say that he interfered, I said I would have argued that he interfered. Besides a player is not allowed to add confusion or deception knowingluy or unknowing and by him running into the field of play he could have been seen as the next player coming to bat and by crossing into the field of play the umpire should have called timeout in my opinion, no different than a coach crossing into fair territory during a live ball. Jeff Frese, I guess a sarcastic question deserves a halfway sarcastic reply. Obviously you were the only one watching the game, I was only watching one play.

read a rulebook: "pitcher's plate" and "rubber" are used interchangeably. OBR uses "pitcher's plate" 41 times and "rubber" 30 times, while NFHS Baseball uses "pitcher's plate" 38 times and "rubber" only 13 times. "Pitcher's plate" is the proper term, while "rubber" is officially-accepted slang.

Ahhhhh, nope.