Review of the Wendelstedt Umpire School Rules and Interpretations Manual

Every rec coach and high school baseball player believes he knows the rules of baseball. Heck, even the casual baseball fan thinks he knows the rules. For red-blooded American males (and some females), its like baseball is part of our DNA - we know the rules instinctively.

Well, umpires know differently. We know that the baseball rules are far more complex than the plain meaning of the rulebook. Baseball rules are made up of the printed rules, interpretation, and tradition. Understanding and correctly applying the rules of baseball is quite complex. For instance, did you know that the professional rules require the ball to be pitched within 12 seconds when the bases are unoccupied? That’s Rule 8.04, but don’t feel bad if you didn’t know it. That rule and many others like it are largely ignored or only selectively applied.

So how do you know “the real rules” of baseball? You study. . . a lot.

The Official Rules of Baseball (OBR) is a convoluted mess. It is poorly organized and in many cases vague. Reading the OBR is like reading Moby Dick – it will give you a brain freeze. Consequently, there are several secondary resources on the market for amateur and professional umpires. These books present the rules of baseball in a more systematic and organized manner. One of these books is the Wendelstedt Umpire School Rules and Interpretations Manual, or the Wendelstedt Umpire Manual (WUM).

The WUM is “A Complete Annotated Rewrite,” which means that its supposed to make sense of the rules. The WUM succeeds on this point and baseball rules are presented in a straightforward, no-nonsense manner.

While the interpretation and explanation of the rules is first-rate, the organization of the manual is challenging. Its layout follows the progression of the Wendelstedt Umpire School five week course, which does not make the manual conducive to quick reference.

Harry Wendelstedt makes suggestions as ‘Harry’s Hints” for certain rules. These suggestions are sprinkled throughout the book. Cites from MLBUM and PBUC are also used, when appropriate. Reference Plays put the rules into a scenario for further study. One of the best features of the manual is the historical references. The WUM explains the genesis of some of the rules, which enhances understanding of its purpose and place in the rulebook.

The WUM contains some OBR rules that are reprinted in a small font that is tough to read. I speculate that the smaller font is used to set the rule apart from the rest of the book, and also to save printing space. For umpires over 40 (like this writer), the smaller font is a nuisance.

There are A LOT of errors in the WUM. I can appreciate grammatical errors, sh*t happens all the time on this blog. However, there are A LOT of errors (A LOT). Even the cover of the WUM contains errors:

“Our staff includes some of the most experienced MLB umpires in baseball.”

“Our students routinely receives higher placement in professional baseball. . .”

These errors are pervasive throughout the book (e.g. “When the ball goes out of play, the umpire should call time and the runners be awarded their bases.”) These typos distract from the content and undermine the authoritative nature of the book. Maybe it is unfair to hold an umpire manual to the same standard as a book mass-produced for the general public and professionally edited. Unfortunately, as an umpire (howbeit “amateur umpire”) I know that appearances matter. When I present myself to the world as an umpire, my shoes are shined, my uniform is neat and clean, my hat does not show sweat stains. . . This book is full of sweat stains and seems hastily prepared, which calls into question the thoroughness and accuracy of its interpretations.

The regular advertised price of the WUM is $54.99 + tax and shipping. That is considerably steeper than a competitor resource, the Jaksa/Roder Manual, which sells for $39.99 plus shipping.

FAIR or FOUL?

I’m calling this one FAIR because the WUM is one of the very few authoritative secondary resources for umpires. If you get the opportunity to buy this manual, I recommend getting it and reading it cover to cover.

However, while the content of the manual is good, the organization of the WUM is not. The higher price tag and lack of editing makes this manual a disappointment.

Review of The 2011 BRD

 

How can I describe The 2011 Baseball Rules Differences by Carl Childress?

Phrases like “must have” and “invaluable resource” do not underscore just how important this book is to the amateur umpire. Even the publisher’s promotion of the book doesn’t do it justice: “In 2003 Referee Magazine selected [the Baseball Rule Differences] as one of the forty essential baseball books – required reading for serious umpires.”

Calling the BRD a “godsend” is more accurate.

Amateur umpires routinely deal with several rulebooks, each of which has its own interpretations, history, and philosophy. For instance, the National Federation of High Schools (NFHS) places greater emphasis on the safety of participants, and rightly so. This emphasis permeates throughout its rules and, over time, results in rule changes and interpretations that are deviate from the Official Baseball Rules (OBR). The confusing maze of different rules and interpretations is mind-numbing.

The concept for this magnum opus by Carl Childress is simple: The BRD catalogs the rule differences in four different baseball codes: NFHS, NCAA, NAIA, and OBR. Well, the only “simple” thing about the book is its description, much like a description of Gray’s Anatomy obfuscates the difficulty of its subject matter. It is a challenging task to understand one rulebook, let alone four. The BRD acts as a guide that aids the umpire in identifying how (and often why) the rulebooks deviate from one another, and presents practical advice for applying the rules at the different levels.

The BRD is an impressive 412 pages long (plus appendix), but it is not an exhaustive comparison of rules.  A rule or situation is only included in the book when it has received different treatment between the codes.  For instance, at the high school level a balk results in an immediate dead ball, which is different from college and pro rules.  The BRD discusses the status of the ball following a balk at the pro, college and high school levels.

The Baseball Rule Difference is arranged alphabetically beginning with Appeals and ending with Uniforms.  It also contains an alphabetical index, and a citation index for each rulebook. Since many situations are interpreted or handled differently between rulebooks, the BRD can be a kind of quick-reference guide to the rules.

The last BRD I purchased, the 2008 edition, is spiral bound. The spiral binding made the different sections easy to study when referencing other sources.  I am disappointed to see that the 2011 Edition is not spiral bound, but is glued at the spine. The font is also smaller than its predecessor, and not as easy to read.

I purchased my copy of The 2011 Baseball Rule Differences from Amazon.com for $27.72. Mr. Childress (aka Papa C) is also offering an electronic version of the BRD for an additional $15. Instructions for purchase are included in the book.  The e-book contains hyperlinks for quick reference and additional indices.  The electronic version is well worth the extra money (no sharing with your friends!)

Fair or Foul?

This book is one of the best. It is absolutely FAIR and a home run.  If you don’t own this book, you are missing out on a “invaluable resource” that you “must have.”

Review of MLB Umpire Manual

The 2010 edition of the Major League Baseball Umpire Manual (MLBUM) is 79 pages, the same number of pages as my edition of Sun Tzu's The Art of War.

Coincidence?

The MLBUM may be small, but it packs quite a wallop. It is not comprehensive, and unlike the PBUC Manual it does not deign to teach its reader the rules, customs, or courtesies. It is an elaboration on certain rules, a collection of interpretations that every MLB umpire needs to know to survive at the highest level.

How to Improve As An Umpire During the Off-Season

My season just ended here in the Midwest and it is time to settle in for the fall and enjoy the upcoming holidays. For ol’ Pete there is nothing better than using this time for umpire study. So for this article I want to give the aspiring umpire a suggested reading list for the off-season.

The Official Rules of Major League Baseball
This book is the bible of our sport. It is the mother of all other baseball rulebooks. But who actually reads it? You! You should read it! Once you know the rules of professional baseball, learning any other baseball rulebook is simply a matter of learning the differences. Read a couple rules each day. It is only a couple hundred pages and it will help you more than any other book in learning the rules. Make it a goal this season to read it cover to cover.

The Official Rules of Major League Baseball can be purchased for $10.00 from Jim Evans' store or from Amazon.

The Rules of Professional Baseball: A Comprehensive Reorganization and Interpretation by Chris Jaksa and Rick Roder

The rules of professional baseball are poorly written and full of contradictions. The Rules of Professional Baseball is a recognized authority in the interpretation of the rules and will help you understand the complexities of the rules. This book requires study and a commitment from its reader. However, what you get back from your effort is a better understanding of how and when the rules should be enforced.

The Rules of Professional Baseball: A Comprehensive Reorganization and Interpretation can be purchased for $39.95 from the ABUA Website

Maximizing the Two Umpire System by Jim Evans and Dick Nelson
As reviewed here, I think that Maximizing the Two Umpire System is a treasure of umpire literature. The two umpire system is umpiring mechanics for every level except high minor leagues, major leagues, and Division I NCAA. Read this book cover to cover and you will learn the two man system. Of course, there is no substitute for on the field experience, but study of the mechanics and responsibilities of umpiring will put you head and shoulders above your peers.

Maximizing the Two Umpire System can be purchased for $69.95 from Jim Evans' store.

If you read these books during the off-season, I guarantee that you will be a better umpire.

And now a word from our sponsor. . .
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Review of Maximizing the Two-Umpire System

Umpires are often isolated and universally despised. We are expected to be calm islands, towers of strength, and impenetrable fortresses of impartiality. It is mentally challenging to be an umpire. We never get to relax and just enjoy being at a game. Add to this the requirement of complete knowledge of the rules, knowing the correct application of the rules, knowing how to handle situations, and knowing how to physically perform the job of umpiring. Well, that’s a lot of “knowing!”

The rulebook tells us that the “[m]ost important rule for umpires is always “BE IN POSITION TO SEE EVERY PLAY.” Even though your decision may be 100% right, players still question it if they feel you were not in a spot to see the play clearly and definitely.” Rule 9, General Instructions to Umpire.

There are not many resources available that teach this “most important rule.” Teaching umpire mechanics is a small, niche market. Some umpires don’t consider the study of correct mechanics to be that important (what?! “THE most important rule,” remember?). Add to it that umpires tend to be a conservative group and also conservative with their dollars. While there are many cutesy books on the baseball rules written for coaches and fans, there are very few books that instruct an umpire on proper mechanics.

The Jim Evans book Maximizing the Two-Umpire System is a treasure of umpire literature. It is the most important book for an umpire to own after the rulebook. Perhaps I am overstating my point?

No. This book is outstanding.

Maximizing the Two-Umpire System is 283 pages long. That is 283 pages you need to study to learn the two umpire system. This is the same instruction given to students at the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring. This book is meant to be comprehensive and teach the reader how to umpire on the field.

Mission accomplished, Mr. Evans.

Maximizing the Two-Umpire System is authored by Jim Evans, Dick Nelson, former field supervisor for Major League Baseball's Umpire Development Program, and with special thanks to umpire Jason Klein. The book devotes 17 pages to a glossary of umpiring terms. The reader is introduced to basic umpiring concepts that are explained in direct and clear terms. Pause, Read and React; Watch the Ball, Glance at the Runners; Ninety-Degree Theory. You may know or think you know these terms, but the Maximizing the Two-Umpire System breaks the concept down and allows you to learn it the right way.

The second chapter summarizes the umpire’s basic responsibilities which are organized into a Pre-Game Checklist. Does Evans really expect umpires to use this 14 page pre-game checklist? YES! This is important stuff and can mean the difference between getting the call right and handling your situations, and dealing with a sh*t house.

Evans provides his Seven Laws of Umpiring:

1. Anticipate all play possibilities but not their outcome.

2. Proper positioning is defined by proper angle and distance.

3. Proper angle is primary to distance.

4. Proper positioning is a function of time.

5. There are three possible positions for every play.

6. The call is a mental process and the signal is physical.

7. No play can be considered routine until it is over.

Do you want to get better? Learn the laws, live the laws. Not because Evans preaches it, but because these concepts are fundamental. Heed the laws and strive to perfect your mechanics on the field.

Evans provides diagrams and explanation for eight runner situations. The reader is shown the proper position on the field and the responsibilities for the plate umpire and the base umpire for each base runner scenario. Tips and tricks are provided to help the umpire attain the proper position and anticipate play possibilities.

Finally, the last chapter of Maximizing the Two-Umpire System explains umpire communication and signaling.

If you have read this far you will think that I was either paid to write this article, or I am somehow good friends with Jim Evans. I have never met the guy and I am not paid to write this review. I personally think very highly of Mr. Evans for what he has done for “my profession” (as Doug Harvey calls it) I think he should be praised. Thank goodness we have people like Jim Evans to help us be better umpires.

Maximizing the Two-Umpire System is available at the following on-line retailers:

Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring - $69.95

ABUA Website - $69.95

Fair Or Foul?
This book goes yard. It is absolutely fair, no video review necessary. It is simple: if you want to be a better umpire, first study the rules. The second thing to do is buy Maximizing the Two-Umpire System and read it cover to cover.

Umpire Study: Jaksa/Roder Manual

And another requisite of an umpire you’ve got to know that rule book from one end to the other and know when and how to apply the rules to the situation

-Cal Hubbard, Hall of Fame Induction Speech, 1976

Umpiring requires many things: poise, confidence, the ability to communicate, knowledge of proper mechanics, presence. . . but the most important thing is knowing the rules and how and when to apply them.

The baseball rulebook is certainly imperfect. It is vague, incomplete, and reading it often leaves you more confused than before you started. In order to correctly apply the rules of baseball the umpire must study both the rulebook and interpretations of the rulebook. Fortunately, there are a few authorities for interpreting the rules. While it is fortunate that we have these resources, it is unfortunate because sometimes these authorities can conflict.

One of the most respected authorities for rules interpretation is The Rules of Professional Baseball: A Comprehensive Reorganization and Interpretation by Chris Jaksa and Rick Roder. The Thirteenth Edition of the Jaksa/Roder Manual (as it is commonly called, or the "J/R Manual") is a complete rewrite of the Official Rules of Major League Baseball. It reads more like a textbook than a rulebook, which is not surprising since it was designed as a classroom textbook for the Joe Brinkman Umpire School (the Brinkman School was later aquired by Jim Evans).

I recently read the J/R Manual from start to finish. No, that's not exactly right. I didn't so much read the J/R Manual as study it from start to finish. The writing style is simple and direct and it can be read from cover to cover, but understanding the rules requires some work and takes study. I found very little ambiguity in the writing, although sometimes I had to focus on the material to understand the rule interpretation. Nearly every section has multiple examples that aid the student in understanding how the rule is applied in a real game situation. The J/R Manual is neatly organized into topics, such as:

Part IV: The Pitcher
16. Positions of Windup and Stretch
17. Pitching Proscriptions
18. Balks
19. Substitute Pitchers

I find the J/R manual incredibly insightful and useful. As an amateur umpire some of the information is inapplicable, but knowing the OBR is a solid foundation for any rules deviations in amateur baseball. Thankfully, the Jaksa/Roder Manual incorporates the rules differences in NCAA, NAIA, and NFHS rulebooks and elaborates on these amateur rules in an Appendix. My J/R Manual is full of hand written notes concerning the high school and college rules differences.

The J/R/ Manual is available for $39.95 from the ABUA website.

The Bottom Line: The Jaksa/Roder Manual is well organized and well-written. It is easy to comprehend and the many examples give the reader the opportunity to process each rule at the reader's own pace. I highly recommend the J/R Manual.

How to Umpire Including Knotty Problems by Billy Evans

How to Umpire (Including Knotty Problems) by Hall of Fame Umpire Billy Evans is available on-line at the Internet Archive. This classic is available in pdf and a few other formats.

This book, published in 1917, offers very practical advise to the modern umpire, such as:

Never lose sight of the ball. If you know where it is at all times, you are not going to lose very many plays. It is worse for someone to pull the hidden ball trick and the umpire not to see it, than it is for the player who has been trapped.

Don't turn your head and look the other way after you have given a decision. A lot of things can happen while you are looking in the opposite direction.

Show a little "pepper" in your work. If the umpire is always on the alert, the players invariably get the spirit. If the umpire is content to have the game drag, the players seldom offer any objection.

A lot of people say umpires are not human. They are wrong. It is human to err, and umpires err. If they made as many mistakes as most fans insist they do, they would indeed be very human.

Enjoy this terrific book from a umpire legend!

Review of The Rules of Professional Baseball: A Comprehensive Reorganization and Interpretation by Chris Jaksa and Rick Roder

Rick Roder’s Preface to The Rules of Professional Baseball: A Comprehensive Reorganization and Interpretation likens The Official Baseball Rules to the U.S. federal tax code. You can read the book’s Preface here. Reading many of the baseball rules, just like many sections of the tax code, takes a considerable amount of effort simply to decipher the “plain meaning.” Other baseball rules may seem clear enough on the surface, but the rules as written turn out to be vague, incomplete, and in some cases misleading from the way the rules are enforced on the diamond.

The Rules of Professional Baseball: A Comprehensive Reorganization and Interpretation, also known as the “Jaksa/Roder Manual,” is billed by its authors as “The World’s Only Complete Rewrite of Baseball’s Official Rules.” Chris Jaksa and Rick Roder set out to interpret the elusive meaning of the Official Baseball Rules ("OBR") in clear and practical terms.

The Jaksa/Roder Manual is well organized and uses clear language. The J/R Manual is sectioned into topical chapters that beg to be read and digested as a whole and assist the reader in understanding both the meaning and context of the OBR. The chapters cite the OBR by number and terms are defined with exacting language to avoid ambiguity. The J/R Manual also incorporates 2008 Major League Baseball and Professional Baseball Umpire Corporation interpretations in its discussion of the rules. Although the focus and emphasis is on the professional rules, NCAA, NAIA, and NFHS rule differences are also annotated within the J/R Manual for easy reference. The J/R Manual also contains a very useful index for quick reference.

So how useful is the J/R Manual? Co-author Rick Roder acknowledges in the Preface that the J/R Manual is only one resource for the aspiring umpire. Rulebooks, casebooks, and supplemental books like the J/R Manual and the Baseball Rules Differences by Carl Childress are vital to understanding the rules at the various professional and amateur levels. While the J/R Manual is an authoritative interpretation of the Rules, it is only one helpful resource for interpreting the Rules.

The importance of these authoritative interpretations is that it aids the umpire in understanding the rules, but ultimately it is the umpire’s own interpretation of the Rules that matters. To illustrate this point, consider the (in)famous voluntary release play during game 4 of the 2008 American League Divisional Series between the Angels and Red Sox. Jason Veritek recorded an out by tagging the Angels Reggie Willits during a run down after a botched squeeze bunt. However, after the tag Veritek lost control of the ball. Third base umpire Tim Welke called the out even though the ball was lying on the ground.

Was Welke right? Well, that depends on who you ask.

OBR Rule 2.00 defines a “TAG” as “the action of a fielder in touching a base with his body while holding the ball securely and firmly in his hand or glove; or touching a runner with the ball, or with his hand or glove holding the ball, while holding the ball securely and firmly in his hand or glove.”

This definition is only a starting point in interpreting the Veritek play, and tells us nothing about control after the tag. So let’s look at some authoritative interpretations on when a tag occurs:

The Official Baseball Rules Annotated by Jim Evans determines a tag by “the status of the ball at the time the runner or base is touched and not on the final proof of possession."

The J/R Manual states that for a tag the player must have “complete control of the ball during and after the touch.”

The Wendelstedt Rules and Mechanics Manual states that for a tag to occur the player must show “complete control of the ball during and immediately following the touch of the runner.”

The foregoing makes clear that an interpretation of the rules is simply someone’s opinion, but isn’t that the point of umpiring? As arbiter of the game an umpire is compelled to give an opinion, so the prudent umpire will study the rules, read the casebooks, and pore over the authoritative interpretations in order to formulate his or her own opinion (of course an opinion based upon and within the rules). Authoritative interpretations are based upon the game’s traditions, common sense, and the author’s experience (and sometimes biases).

The bottom line is: an authoritative interpretation of the OBR like The Rules of Professional Baseball: A Comprehensive Reorganization and Interpretation is a necessary element of an umpire’s education in order to understand and apply the rules of baseball.

Available at the ABUA website for $39.95

NFHS Baseball Rules and Rulebook

I have been asked a few times if the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) baseball rulebook is available online. The answer is yes, but you must be a member of an NFHS Professional Association or state staff member in order to access it. As a HS umpire registered with my state's activities association I was able to register with the NFHS and log on. The link for the rulebook is:

https://www.nfhs.org/custom/resourcelibrary/Ajax/Action.aspx?action=download&fileid=%2fbrjOESE61Q%3d

The baseball casebook is also available online at the same site.

Review of the PBUC Umpire Manual

The Professional Baseball Umpire Corp. (PBUC) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues (NAPBL) and is responsible for the training, evaluation, and recommendation for promotion, retention, or release of all umpires in the Minor League Baseball system throughout the United States and Canada.

The PBUC Umpire Manual is the official umpire manual for Minor League Baseball. It contains the official rule interpretations and clarifications used throughout Minor League Baseball and includes sections on equipment, players and the playing field, lineups and substitutions, interference and obstruction, pitching regulations, appeals and base awards, progress of the game, instructions to umpires, three- and four-umpire mechanics, plus policies, general practices, rulings and guidelines.

The manual is full of insightful interpretations of the Official Rules of Major League Baseball (OBR). This manual is focused on the art of umpiring and assisting the umpire in his craft rather than regurgitating the OBR. The PBUC Umpire Manual discusses the rules from an umpire's perspective and aids in understanding how and when the rules are to be enforced.

In some cases the rules are elaborated on by examples with citations to the OBR (Official Rules of Baseball). In other case the manual discusses and describes the issue with a refreshing use of plain language.

The PBUC Umpire Manual will help umpires at any level. Reading the OBR without further study is like spaghetti without sauce (or gravy for my Italian friends). Reading the OBR is one thing, understanding the OBR is another, and applying the OBR is a third. The PBUC Umpire Manual will help with #2 and #3. I give this publication a five indicator rating - essential to the amateur umpire for the study of the OBR.

Umpire Study Materials

2008 Official Rules of Major League Baseball, $9.95 sold by Amazon.com
The starting point for baseball umpire study material is the Official Rules of Major League Baseball. These are the rules set forth by Major League baseball governing the playing of baseball games by professional teams of Major League Baseball and the leagues that are members of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues. It is also used by many amateur leagues. Baseball rules have been around since before the 1850's and the National League Rules were promulgated in 1877. Today the Official Rules of Major League baseball (or OBR as umpires refer to it) is well over 200 pages.

Knowing the OBR rules is one thing. Understanding the rules is something different. The following publications aid in the study and understanding of the baseball rules:

PBUC Umpire Manual, $14.95 sold by Jim Evan's Umpire Academy
This umpire manual is endorsed by Minor League Baseball and the Professional Baseball Umpire Corp. (PBUC). It contains contains interpretations, clarifications, general practices, and rulings and is a supplement to the Official Baseball Playing Rules which govern all games in Minor League Baseball.

Jaksa Roder Manual, $39.99
The Rules of Professional Baseball: A Comprehensive Reorganization and Clarification by Chris Jaska and Rick Roder. The J/R Manual is a complete rewrite of Baseball's Official Rules and includes MLB and PBUC interpretations as well as NCAA, NAIA, and NFHS rule differences. While not an authorized by any league, it is endorsed by many professional umpires and is considered an essential publication for understanding the rules of baseball.

Baseball Rules Differences
The BRD by Carl Childress offers information and comparison on the NFHS (high school), NCAA and NAIA (college), and the Official Baseball Rules. For umpires that work with these different rules this book is terrific!

NCAA
For college play the CCA Umpire's Manual provides necessary information on mechanics and techniques. For NCAA rules, the Study Guide: College Baseball Rules is a great resource with easy to read analysis of the NCAA rules.

NFHS
High School Baseball Rules: Simplified and Illustrated is designed to help you visualize the NFHS rules through the use of illustrations.

Manual For The Two-Umpire System $14.95, sold by Jim Evan's Umpire Academy
Superior umpiring requires complete competence of the two-umpire system. This system serves as the fundamental building block upon which the three-, four-, and even six-umpire systems are developed. This manual has accordingly been prepared by the Professional Baseball Umpire Corp. as a reference and guide for umpires working in the Minor Leagues when working a two-umpire system. Its concepts and methods are those taught at the Professional Umpire Schools and at the Professional Baseball Umpire Evaluation Program for candidates seeking umpiring positions in the Minor Leagues.