THE OFFICIAL MECHANICS AND PHILOSOPHIES OF THE OREGON ATHLETIC OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION U1 UMPIRES 2020 MANUALOREGON BASEBALL update 2 AND 3 PERSON HIGH SCHOOL CREWS BR PUBLISHED BY REFEREE AND THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SPORTS OFFICIALS OREGON BASEBALL UMPIRES MANUAL: 2020 UPDATE OREGON BASEBALL UMPIRES MANUAL: 2020 UPDATE 2020 NFHS RULE CHANGE: NEW DH The NFHS Baseball Rules now also be a starting defensive Committee opted for just one rule player. change during its annual meeting Teams that utilize this option will in June in Indianapolis. But it is have one player in the lineup listed significant and will require high with two positions: one of the nine school umpires to consider all of defensive positions and designated its ramifications during the 2020 hitter. This may include any of the season. The rule change, related nine defensive positions on the to the use of the designated hitter, field and is not confined to just the was subsequently approved by the pitcher. Teams using this scenario NFHS board of directors and made would begin the game with a lineup public in late June. featuring nine starters — nine defensive players, one of whom is Designated Hitter (3-1-4b) also the designated hitter. The change to rule 3-1-4 This differs from the traditional provides an extra scenario in which use of the designated hitter at the a designated hitter may be used. NFHS level. In that scenario, which The starting designated hitter may remains an option, the designated hitter is listed as a 10th starter who hits for any one of the nine starting defensive players. Teams also still have the option of not using a designated hitter and batting a straight lineup of nine players. The role of the defensive player in this dual role may be substituted for by any legal substitute. Once that occurs, the original player/ designated hitter may re-enter as a defensive player one time. However, the role of the designated hitter is terminated for the remainder of the game when a substitute or former substitute for the defensive role subsequently participates in an offensive role, or the starting defensive player/ designated hitter is substituted for either as a hitter or runner. This is a major difference with the traditional designated hitter scenario, in 2 OAOA BASEBALL OREGON BASEBALL UMPIRES MANUAL: 2020 UPDATE OREGON BASEBALL UMPIRES MANUAL: 2020 UPDATE which a substitute may replace as the role of the defensive player the designated hitter as a hitter or has been substituted by a legal runner, and the designated hitter substitute, while the designated may re-enter the lineup one time hitter role remains intact. The and maintain his designated hitter original defensive player/designated status. hitter is also allowed one re-entry The two available designated on defense. hitter options are also a point of emphasis for the 2020 season. Play 3: Team A lists Daniels as the starting designated hitter and the Play 1: Team A lists Daniels as the starting first baseman in the No. 4 starting designated hitter and the position in the lineup. In the fourth starting first baseman in the No. inning, Jackson substitutes as the 4 position in the lineup. Ruling 1: first baseman. In the fifth inning, This is legal, as a player can now be Jackson comes to bat in the No. 4 listed on the starting lineup as one position. Ruling 3: This is legal, and of the nine defensive positions and the role of the designated hitter is a designated hitter. terminated for the remainder of the game. However, Daniels still has Play 2: Team A lists Daniels as the re-entry rights, may re-enter at any starting designated hitter and the defensive position and may replace starting first baseman in the No. 4 Jackson as the No. 4 hitter in the position in the lineup. In the fourth lineup. inning, Jackson substitutes as the first baseman. In the fifth inning, Play 4: Team A lists Daniels as the Daniels comes to bat in the No. 4 starting designated hitter and the position. In the sixth inning, Daniels starting first baseman in the No. 4 re-enters defensively as the first position in the lineup. In the top of baseman. Ruling 2: This is legal, the fifth inning, Daniels hits a single, OAOA BASEBALL 3 OREGON BASEBALL UMPIRES MANUAL: 2020 UPDATE OREGON BASEBALL UMPIRES MANUAL: 2020 UPDATE and Jackson substitutes for him the starting designated hitter in as a pinch-runner. In the bottom of the No. 4 position in the lineup, the fifth inning, Daniels continues and Jackson as the starting first to play first base on defense. In baseman in the No. 10 position. In the sixth inning, Daniels comes the fifth inning, Jackson comes to to bat again in the No. 4 position. bat in the No. 4 position. Ruling Ruling 4: This is legal. Once 6: This is legal. Jackson is allowed Jackson entered as an offensive to pinch-hit, and the role of the substitute for Daniels, the role of designated hitter is terminated for the designated hitter is terminated. the remainder of the game. However, Daniels still has re- entry rights, may re-enter at any Play 7: Team A lists Daniels as defensive position and may replace the starting designated hitter in Jackson as the No. 4 hitter in the the No. 4 position in the lineup, lineup. and Jackson as the starting first baseman in the No. 10 position. In Play 5: Team A lists Daniels as the fifth inning, Daniels replaces the starting designated hitter in Jackson as the first baseman. the No. 4 position in the lineup, Ruling 7: This is legal. Daniels is and Jackson as the starting first allowed to play a defensive position, baseman in the No. 10 position. and the role of the designated hitter Ruling 5: This is legal, as the is terminated for the remainder of designated hitter may still be a 10th the game. However, Jackson still starter hitting for any one of the nine has re-entry rights as a starter and starting defensive players. may either pinch-hit or pinch-run for Daniels, and may also re-enter on Play 6: Team A lists Daniels as defense. 2020 OREGON POINTS OF EMPHASIS Strike Zone the focal point of virtually every • Calling balls and strikes game. To that end, it is imperative remains the most significant task that all umpires work hard to of any umpiring crew. It is the remain consistent, defendable, most visible, and scrutinized, and reasonable in calling pitches. aspect of officiating a high school Sometimes these three goals baseball contest. Although the conflict, but the good umpire state committee is committed to should be able to use all available teaching efficient and effective information to call virtually every base mechanics, and does not pitch in a way that serves the wish to diminish the importance of playability of the game, while the umpire(s) working the bases, maintaining the integrity of the the umpire “on the dish” remains sport. 4 OAOA BASEBALL OREGON BASEBALL UMPIRES MANUAL: 2020 UPDATE OREGON BASEBALL UMPIRES MANUAL: 2020 UPDATE • It is important to be aware of home plate, the top of which is the strike zone as it is defined in halfway between the batter’s Rule 2 (Definitions), SECTION 35 shoulders and the waistline, and of the rule book: STRIKE ZONE the bottom being the knees, The strike zone is that space over when he assumes his natural OAOA BASEBALL 5 OREGON BASEBALL UMPIRES MANUAL: 2020 UPDATE OREGON BASEBALL UMPIRES MANUAL: 2020 UPDATE batting stance. The height of the thumb is that every pitch is a strike strike zone is determined by the until you are forced to call it a ball. batter’s normal batting stance. If he crouches or leans over to Fly Ball coverage make the shoulder line lower, The state committee is the umpire determines height concerned that many, if not most, by what would be the batter’s of the state’s umpires are neglecting normal stance. Umpires absolutely fly ball coverage fundamentals. need to begin developing their Whether it be ignorance, laziness, interpretation of the strike zone with or a lack of urgency (likely some the rule-book definition as a base. combination of the three), umpires do not seem to be giving the proper • Players, coaches, and fans effort in covering fly balls. need to understand that the strike Whether it be a system of two, or zone will vary marginally from game three, umpires, the covering umpire to game based on: 1) the umpire, needs to “read” and “react” to every particularly the umpire’s stance fly ball. In a two-person system, the behind the catcher 2) the ability base umpire should always “pause” of the catchers to present the before moving on to “reading” any ball effectively 3) the ability of the fly ball. In the three-person system, pitchers to “hit their spots” 4) the U3 often has the advantage of nature and/or score of the game “running” while reading a fly ball hit in their area of coverage. Take • Umpires should work hard to advantage of those initial moments, be consistent from game to game whether on the run or not, to get a and from pitch to pitch. However, it feel for where the fly ball has been should be understood that a pitch hit and who the primary defender in a freshman game that is called a is likely to be (which outfielder or, strike might well be properly called potentially, an infielder moving back a ball in a varsity play-off contest.