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How are allstar players picked?

dorothy800 — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 22:30:51 GMT

I would like information on how most leagues pick the allstar teams.In my town the coaches each recomended their players and the coach that was given the alstar coach position dismissed their players and took most of the members from his team . Is there any rules on this?

Baseball coach hand gestures

Clulessgirl — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 16:53:50 GMT

Hi there -- I googled this everywhere and can't seem to find an answer. In baseball, when the coach pounds one of his fists on top of the other one - what does that mean? Please help!! Thanks!!

MLB Balk rule issue

TigerCoach__8 — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 03:48:35 GMT

I've asked the following question on a few "Ask the umpire" sites including Major League Baseball and have never gotten a response. When I ask HS certified umps, I usually just get a look of disbelief and a comment about how they're glad they don't use the MLB rule book for most of their games. In the Major League Rule book, in the fourth paragraph of rule number 8.01 (a), the full wind up position is described. Then it says "From this position the pitcher may: (1) deliver the ball to the batter, or (2) step and throw to a base in an attempt to pick off a runner, or (3) disengage the rubber by stepping off first with his pivot foot and not his free foot.

What?????? Is anyone besides me confused by number (2)? Does the umpire exist that won't call a balk if a pitcher from the full wind up position tries to pick off a runner without doing number (3) first? If so, I've got to teach this pick off move to my pitchers and have him ump all my games.

2 runners on same base make the call

ethankolby__1 — Sat, 30 May 2009 04:56:04 GMT

runner on third runner on second runner from third takes off for home runner from second gets too third runner going home turns back to third base both players feet are on third but runner goes back to second no tags are made is runner on third out?

12 YR OLD LOUISA LITTLE LEAGUE ALL STARS

BLUELADY — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:32:02 GMT

I'D LIKE TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 12 YR OLDS BASEBALL TEAM FOR WINNING THE 2ND PLACE IN DISTRICT 14. THIS IS A TEAM!!! HOLD YOUR HEADS PROUD AND HIGH, BECAUSE YOU, BOYS, STUCK TOGETHER!! TO DO THIS ON YOUR OWN YOU SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF YOURSELVES! IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO BE PICKED FOR ALL STARS AND YOU GUYS WERE OUT TO WIN AND DID NOT GIVE UP! YOU GAVE IT ALL YOU COULD. THANK YOU LOUISA BOYS FOR STICKING TOGETHER AND BEING A TEAM!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Moved by MyTwoSons: A post like this deserves to be on the front.

When the umps do a bad job...

BFam — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 07:48:48 GMT

Maybe I just need to vent... but I just think it stinks a hundred times over when the umpires make blatantly lousy calls that end up costing kids a championship game. A game that they deserved to win.

Maybe I'm wrong and you can clarify something for me.... here's just the two most awful calls of the game. Were the umps right? Wrong?

1st scenario: Kid A is stealing 3rd base. The 3rd baseman is blocking 3rd with his foot. Kid A slides into 3rd base causing pain to the 3rd baseman's toe. The 3rd baseban bobbles the ball, never lays a tag on Kid A. The umpire calls Kid A out. When the manager comes out to question the call, the umpire explains to the manager that he agrees that the 3rd baseman didn't tag the kid, but that "the 3rd baseman's foot isn't a part of the bag and since Kid A stepped on his toe, then Kid A is out." HUH? Let me just say that since it was the bottom of the last inning, the next pitch, the batter hits a screaming line drive that would have scored the winning run had Kid A not been called out.

2nd scenario: Team A is out in the field now (the team that Kid A is on). There is a runner on 2nd base. Game is tied. Two outs. The batter hits a line drive to left field. The left fielder throws it and hits the cut-off man. The cut-off man turns and throws the ball to the catcher. The throw is not on the money. The catcher has to move to his left in order to catch the ball. When the catcher catches the ball, he is standing in the baseline and the runner who was on 2nd base has rounded 3rd base and is trying to come home. The catcher lays the tag on the runner. The runner never touches home plate. The umpire calls the runner safe because he says the catcher was "obstructing home plate." Let me just say that at the bottom of the same inning when Team A was up to bat again, and the other team had a play at home, their catcher was standing in front of home plate and Team A's runner had to go into home plate around their catcher, and the umpire doesn't make the same call.

I know it's just a game. In the big scheme of life, it doesn't matter. It was just an awful way for a championship game to end -- with the game being given away to one team by the umpires. That's a hard lesson for the "losing" team to have to learn. Makes me wonder if the umps were in cahoots with the coaches on the other team.

about allstars

nanahasquestions — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:44:10 GMT

When you pick a 9-10 year old allstar team, can you not pick some little league players and pick from the farm team?

How to increase my fastball speed?!

Daniel or Deej — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 22:38:22 GMT

I play highschool ball, and play AAU baseball. I am a relief pitcher. I am 5 feet 7 inches or 5 feet 8 inches and way roughly 135 to 140. My fastball speed now is around 74. I do ab work, push ups, long toss, and resistances bands all the time, but my fastball speed has stayed the same since I was 14 (I am 16). I was wonder what I could do to get my fastball up at least 3 mph. I also runs cross country and track to keep leg strength.

baseball

jodyszykowny — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 23:00:33 GMT

Does anyone know where there are tryouts for 15/16 yr. olds in the south suburbs in IL?

Hit batter rule?

TigerCoach__8 — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 03:28:51 GMT

I have been coaching baseball for many years at many different levels and I have never had major trouble with the hit batter rule until now. I and many other coaches I have spoken to believe the interpretation of the rule has changed and definitely not for the better. Until this past season, I can't remember an umpire ever not awarding a hit batter first base unless it was completely obvious that the the batter initiated the contact. Some of the responses I've received from umps when I question their call are as follows: "I'm looking for the batter's feet to move to prove to me that he made a legitimate attempt to avoid being hit." And, "I'm looking for a batter to be hit in the back. Anywhere else and I seriously consider not awarding him first base." And, "Any time a batter turns his upper body so that his front shoulder comes back toward me instead of just keeping his shoulders square and jumping back towards the on deck circle, I consider him to be turning into the ball and not trying to avoid being hit."

Where's the consistency? Where's the common sense? On average, a batter has to make up his mind whether to swing, hold up, or get out of the way when the pitch is 15 to 20 feet from the hitting zone. If he hesitates even for an instant, he won't have time to react the way many umps seem to be expecting him to.

Is anyone else experiencing this problem?

What do I do with these parents???

albaseball24 — Sat, 24 May 2008 18:59:41 GMT

I am a manager of a travel team and I have been having a ton of problems with parents lately, especially those that are my asst. coaches. The biggest problem I am having is getting my kids to use big barrel bats. Most of them are in rec ball and have these puny 2 1/4" $20 Walmart bats. We have all different size big barrels and when i try to get kids to switch, they either tell me "Well my dad said to use my own bat" or the parents actually confront me about it. I have tried to explain to them that I feel they would be more productive with our team bats, but they just don't get it. My other major problem is with a dad (his son is on the team) not letting his kid hit with a 20 oz. big barrel. He says its just too heavy for him. Well, the kid is 9 and he is a big strong player. He weighs close to 100lbs and is solid. I wouldn't have a problem with it, but he struggles so much at the plate because he is losing balance and power. I feel our 29" 20oz. 2 5/8" bat would help him tremendously, but dad disagrees and I don't know what to do!!! He is sticking to his 18oz 2 1/4" bat. Has anyone else ever had similar problems with parents/coaches that can give me some advice? Or maybe I am wrong...I don't know.