About Ed Spindler Expertise Baseball rules and interpretations of plays and what is and should be the correct call.
Experience I have umpired at all college levels for 20 years. I have umpired high school baseball in Iowa for 24 years, working 15 state tournament finals(mostly large school classifications).
Organizations IHSBCA (Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association)
Publications none
Education/Credentials I was(now retired)a high school history teacher for 15 years. I was also the athletic director. I officiated all the major sports other than baseball as well.
Awards and Honors Umpire of the year in Iowa 1991. District umpire of the year 3 times.
Question two questions please.. why doesn't anyone count the amount of pitches thrown by a pitcher when he is warming up in the bullpen and warming up between innings.. you hear about pitch counts..they're throwing the ball....also how high does a foul tip have to go before it becomes a popup? thank you..
Answer about the pitch count, almost all pitchers throw about the same number of pitches getting ready and between innings so the game pitch count is a good barometer for the manager and pitching coach...
by defintion a foul tip goes directly from the bat and touches the catchers glove...it can then richocet off anything and be caught(even by the pitcher) and the ball is alive, NOT DEAD, a runner is in jeopardy of being thrown out if that happens...if the ball touches the ground it then is considered a foul ball and is dead...you now are probably only one of 100 who now know that rule except for all umpires...
if the FOUL BALL goes up to head height and is caught it becomes an out...
you'll hear announcers(usually the worst at knowing the rules)say that a foul ball just barely dropped by the catcher is a "foul tip"...not so, and now you know the rule
