Simple English in Black and White

When information is confusing, that information can often become distorted, misinterpreted, or argumentative. This is truly the case with conventional baseball rule information.

I’ve watched, played, coached and umpired the game of baseball collectively for over 60 years.  During most of those 60 years, I didn’t have a clear understanding of the more complex rules of the game. I remember thinking, that has to change. Years of reading conventional rule books were to no avail, I was going to find a way to improve my understanding of the rules of baseball.One way or another. 

I could no longer walk on the field as an umpire, and not have a clear understanding of the rules I was expected to enforce.  So, in 2016 my quest began.

I begrudgingly went line by line and converted complex conventional baseball rule information into simple English that was easy to read, understand and retain.  What I immediately saw was unbelievable. For the first time ever, this simplified language gave me a clear understanding of what I was reading.  Honestly, I never thought this was possible. It was an electrifying moment, to finally be able to understand information that had eluded me for years. It was staggering.  

The change was incredible, doubt replaced with confidence, trepidation with empowerment. I was no longer in my own head thinking about the what ifs, and could now focus more on the many other jobs a working umpire has, finally.

It’s now some 8 years later. The converted, simple English rule information I developed for myself, is now available to everyone in the Baseball Rules in Black and White App. You too can become a better coach, player, fan or umpire by using this great App. I know this is true, because that is what it did for me.

Jim Bettencourt, CEO, umpire, app creator, author

Baseball Rules in Black and White App

https://apps.apple.com/ng/app/baseball-rules/id1495289484

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.baseballrulesapp

www.baseballrulesinblackandwhite.com

http://www.youtube.com/@baseballrules

 

 

Dominate the Diamond

 

Just now and then someone(s) comes along and does something out of nowhere that is exceptional, positive and surprising.

Exceptional, because it was so professionally well done. Positive, because it was reaching out to provide help to others. Surprising, because what they did was completely “fall out of the sky” 100% unsolicited. No better compliment could I have asked for.

The gentlemen of who I praise are: Duke Baxter and Steve Nikorak. Both former professional ball players who own a company called Dominate the Diamond. Once you go to their website you immediately see Duke and Steve's passion and knowledge for the game of baseball.

Their commitment to making coaches better becomes obvious as you click through pages of dozens of baseball and softball courses for coaches. They offer multiple levels of player training video, game strategies, and additional resources. All broken geared for player ages and skill levels. And so much more.

What really stood out was their focus on teaching players respect, positive team culture, and how to be resilient when things don’t always go as planned. These are things that make every coach and player both successful on the field, and a better person off the field.

For those of you beginning your coaching careers, t-ball on up, no more excuses.  Now there is a manual, if you want to Dominate the Diamond that is.

Best Regards Duke and Steve

Jim Bettencourt CEO

Baseball Rules in Black and White App

 

For Better or Worse, Make The Damn Call

First posted May 17, 2021 

At today’s Senior Men’s Baseball game, my partner was on the bases and I was working behind the plate. In the second inning there was a runner on first base, as the ball was pitched, the runner from first began to steal second base. At the same time the batter swung at the pitch and stepped across home plate interfering with the catcher who threw to second in an attempt to put out the runner. This scenario was a textbook “a bit complicated” infraction in baseball called Batter’s Interference.

This infraction can be subtle or obvious, and in either case it can be challenging for the umpire to even recognize it took place in real time, that alone verbally announce he saw it. If the umpire does announce it took place, the play has to finish playing out, in case the runner is thrown out by the catcher, the interference is ignored. If the runner is not thrown out the umpire calls time, calls the batter out for interference and the runner is returned to the base he was at before the play. I said it was “a bit complicated”.

The way it played out in today’s game the runner was safe, I called time, announced the batter was out for interference, and returned the runner to first base. As luck would have it, two innings later it happened again with a different batter, and I again enforced the penalties. Here is where it gets interesting.

As I began applying the penalties, and as the batter walked toward the dugout, he became vocal with his displeasure regarding “in his eyes” my incorrect call. In baseball this is often the case. When his vocal displeasure continued on, now louder, I told him to stop in an umpire’s stern command voice and he did. For a second. He then continued to the dugout yelling even louder, then dangerously he threw his bat against the dugout, followed by his helmet. It was at the point my base partner ejected him from the game.

As expected, the ejection elevated his rage to the next level of insanity and rambling cuss words that would make a lumberjack blush and small children cry. We waited as he packed his belongings and left the park, then continued the game. By the sixth inning it was a six-six tie. In the bottom of eight and final inning “time limit” it was an eight-eight tie, the home team with the two batter interference infractions, scoring and actually winning the game. What happened next was stunning.

After the game both teams went out of their way to tell my partner and I how they sincerely appreciated the job we did, complete with handshakes, fist bumps and pats on the back, at a level I’ve seldom seen in over 20 years officiating. Being praised by both teams for the job we did on the field was several things. Not common, and a tribute to our skills as umpires and the good nature of both teams. In the game today two veteran umpires where paid $95 each, but we were also paid something more important than the money, the respect after the game shown by both teams.

This game could have easily gone 180 degrees the other direction right into the toilet, even with two seasoned, skilled umpires. It’s difficult to consider what may have occurred if a newer official had made these calls, or failed to make them. Sadly, in sports today many officials are unable to or too scared to make these complicated calls, for fear of being yelled, screamed at by players, teams and or fans.

These bad scene scenarios are the leading causes for the national shortage of sports officials and new recruits, as well as other contributing factors. Lack of rule knowledge which creates doubt, which creates lack of confidence, which creates peer or group scorn, which reinforces failure to act, which increases doubt, lack of confidence and peer or group ridicule.

Young umpires too often handle all of this for either very little, or no pay, and or very little support driving a national shortage of officials. This must change, or the current trend of no officials will continue to grow. But even worse, young umpires will never feel the pride my partner and I felt after the game, being shown gratitude by both teams for doing our jobs. And, just like having no officials, that’s a very sad thing.

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Baseball Rules in Black and White App, Simply the Best!

 

Do conventional baseball rule books allow you to find rule information quickly? Is the language in baseball rule books easy to read, understand, and retain? If you are like a lot of baseball coaches, players, fans and umpires, the answer to both these questions is likely to be a resounding no. 

If no is truly your answer, then what other choices do you have? Is there a viable baseball rule resource that allows you to quickly locate an infraction, and is easy to read, understand and retain? Yes, there is. Our Baseball Rules in Black and White App does what no other conventional baseball rule book, or app does.

Our App effectively allows you the user to quickly find, read, understand and retain the rules of baseball. It also has been structured and formatted to provide related rulings to the infraction you are searching. Our App has videos of simulated play infractions with umpire rulings for some of the more complicated rulings. We offer eight rule sets. And, so much, much more. 

We've addressed and improved many of the defects of conventional baseball rule books, so you no longer have to use a substandard baseball rule resource. Baseball Rules in Black and White App, simply the best. 

https://apps.apple.com/ng/app/baseball-rules/id1495289484

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.baseballrulesapp

www.baseballrulesinblackandwhite.com

http://www.youtube.com/@baseballrules

 

Comfort Zone

 I posted the other day about a game I worked that was one of those games that we wished we could clone. A bit of backdrop about that game I left out, but had a big reason why this game went so well. I was in my comfort zone.

Why was I in my comfort zone? For starters, I’ve personally known both coaches for decades. One of the coaches, I umpired a high school game while he was an excellent pitcher some twenty-five years earlier. He went on to play college ball and graduate from University of Reno.

The other coach was a few years behind me in school. We played recreation league fast pitch softball with and against each other. I’ve umpired dozens of games he has coached, and games his kids played in. His parents knew my parents, a lifelong friendship. So needless to say, I was in my comfort zone.

But yesterday, two days later not so much. I find myself two hours from my home walking on the Solano College baseball field to work three-man rotation, for a game with the Solano Mudcats versus West Coast Kings in the Pacific Empire League. Definitely not in my comfort zone.

And the main reasons this was not my comfort zone, my time away from this level of play, three-man rotation with umpires (who work this level frequently), and the dozens of new faces on the benches and in the crowd. So, what’s the problem? Right?

I’m in the A, for the first time in years. But with what I had retained, and excellent assistance from my partners I felt relatively confident. Game starts, and sure enough in the first inning F5 fields a grounder deep in the hole comes up throwing. F3 had a long stretch for the short throw, I was focusing on the touch as the ball hit the glove, then signaled and called out the runner. One minor detail, what about the catch. Or should I say what about the drop? The good news F3 quickly gloved the ball when it bounced straight back up.

I was so fixed on the touch I only saw the drop out of the corner of my eye. This was not the case for the first base coach. He looked like he swallowed his chewing tobacco, as he yelled “he dropped the ball”. I asked him if he wanted time, he said yes. I called time, and asked if he had a question. After he asked the obvious question, I said I will be right back and my partners and I came together to discuss the play. I came back to the coach and informed him F3 recovered the ball before the runner touched the bag.

Now I know there’s a hundred different things I could or should have done to one prevent this situation, and two to resolve it. None of that really matters as it has already happened, and as it worked out nothing negative came from it. But one thing I can tell you is, I sure saw the catches the rest of the game.

The rest of the game went problem free, but for me not so much. I’m in A 3-man rotation 101 hell class for the first six innings. Trying to digest experienced umpire dozens of directions and suggestions and apply them. The best thing to happen middle innings we had lots of runners on base. I could then see the situation, and understand why I need to be in the B, go home or stay in the A. By the end of the game, it felt like I had a 3-day umpire camp on rotation in one game.

The reality, first six innings I was working so hard to process the rotation component, it made normally what would be routine functions as an umpire, less routine. But by the sixth inning that was no longer the case.

Take aways. At 69 years old, was I out of my comfort zone? Hell yes, I was. Was it a great learning experience? The best. Staying in your comfort zone as an umpire often feels safe, and secure. But it can also prevent us from becoming a better umpire. Never be afraid to try new things. You never know what it will teach you,or where it will take you.

Jim Bettencourt
www.baseballrulesinblackandwhite.com
https://apps.apple.com/ng/app/baseball-rules/id1495289484

Simply the Best

 Conventional baseball rule books should always be a primary source, for those with the ability to correctly process rule book language. But even umpires with many years of experience have difficulty correctly processing some, or lots of rule book language.

Baseball Rules in Black and White App does the difficult work of processing rule book language for you. Our content is written in plain simple English. Plus, many other great features only available in the Black and White App. It has eight rule sets (not one), A to Z Table of Contents, infraction videos, and consolidated related rulings.

See the difference in Black and White; go to our website and see what other single rule book apps fail to give you. We are simply the best!

https://apps.apple.com/ng/app/baseball-rules/id1495289484 www.baseballrulesinblackandwhite.com

http://www.youtube.com/@baseballrules

#ripwilliemays #baseball #littleleague #mlb

Light at the End of the Tunnel.

Just finished backloading the 17,430 word NFHS Baseball Rules in Black and White manuscript into the Content Management System or CMS for our Baseball Rules in Black and White App. One down two manuscripts to go.

Next will be our 14,736 word Official Baseball Rules in Black and White Manuscript, it will also be translated into Spanish, Japanese and Chinese. By translating into additional languages this raises the OBR word count to 58,944.

After these daunting tasks I will finish with the endeavor by including our18,749 word NCAA Baseball Rules in Black and White manuscript.

As you can tell it is a lot of work in progress, but our beta app will be launched very soon and all the effort and time spent will become an awesome reality. 

If you'd like to see our prototype for our beta, click here.

Want more information about Baseball Rules in Black and White and our App, click here.

App Prototype, Baseball Rules in Black and White

Baseball Rules in Black and White now has a prototype for our app.  The prototype is a window into a fantastic technological achievement that will soon be coming to the global baseball community.

While at this moment the prototype is not fully functional, it does allow users to experience the amazing speed, that with a few touches of the screen you can find an exact or related baseball ruling you seek.

Click a language, a rule set OBR, NCAA or NFHS, a rule topic, a rule category or related ruling and you’re there. Four to five touches of your screen and a confusing ruling on the baseball field can be quickly found, easily and correctly explained.  In addition, videos of infractions are provided for the more complex rulings as well.

We are extremely proud that a fully functional Baseball Rules in Black and White beta app is coming in weeks. Until then you can click on any of the above highlighted links and witness a technological achievement for the rules of baseball and enjoy our prototype.

Best Regards,

Jim Bettencourt

Baseball Rules in Black and White LLC, President

Baseball Rules in Black and White App

We are pleased to announce that Baseball Rules in Black and White is quickly progressing through the many challenging steps required in building an app. 

The substantial and creative benefits provided by our innovative app are key to the many successes that have been accomplished to date. 

Baseball Rules in Black and White is committed to evolving and improving. Our 2020 app is another perfect example of that promise. 

Sincerely, 

Jim Bettencourt

President, Baseball Rules in Black and White LLC

Effective Resources Exist

William J Hart, 5.0 out of 5 stars The perfect complement to the NFHS Rules. April 2, 2019, Format: Paperback Verified Purchase. This book is a great supplement to the NFHS rules. You wouldn't navigate the seas without a map and or compass. Rule's in Black and White helps you navigate the rules. The print is BIG and enough space to write notes on the pages. The rules in simple to read format. The rule number resides with each infraction in alphabetical order. Looking for BALK,look up B for Balk. Then the ruling definition and rule number. Its thats easy. Rules in B&W needs to be in your umpire arsenal.

Greg Xepoleas, 5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Resource! March 28, 2019, Format: Paperback Verified Purchase. Another great item to add to the toolbelt. The baseball umpire community is always seeking resources to assist with rules interpretations and applications at all levels of the game...…. and this is a great tool. This book serves as an invaluable supplement to the NFHS rule book. The format and presentation allows for a convenient and easy-to-understand application and interpretation of the most frequently encountered rules and situations. Well worth the investment!

Umpires Friend or Foe

First game of the year I was umpiring the bases. At the completion of the top half of the first inning I approached the pitcher as he was walking off the diamond.  I wanted to let him know from the set when he came to a stop, his glove was above his chin and that is considered a balk in high school baseball. 

This is one balk seldom called, but rather than a pitcher not knowing and having a balk called on him in a playoff game, this was a perfect non-league game to help educate a player. The player thanked me and went to the dugout.

The bottom of the first inning now with the visiting pitcher on the mound, from the set he also had his glove above his chin when he came to a stop.  At the end of the inning I repeated the same information in the same manner to the pitcher but with just the opposite effect.

This pitcher became defensive and was not receptive. Soon I see his head coach approaching and asks what is going on. I informed him what his pitcher was doing wrong and let him know I was simply providing rule information. The coach first asked, “When did this become a rule?” As we parted, it was clear he was upset that I had even brought this rule to their attention.

One inning later I’m in the A position as the base assistant coach approaches and immediately begins a loud negative assault at me related to me providing information. I immediately shut him down without an ejection and with no further comments throughout the remainder of the game.

This umpire’s afterthoughts:  1. I should have told the head coach I had previously given the other pitcher the same information. This may or may not have reduced his concerns. 2. In this instance, I experienced small grief for providing what I thought would be helpful information. As umpires we are trained to limit information, for this very reason. 3. As umpires and coaches when we are quick to pre-judge or assume the worst, we can miss opportunities to become better.

Jim Bettencourt, NCOA, RCOA, Baseball Rules in Black and White

Baseball Rules in Black and White, what we don’t do.

Baseball Rules in Black and White does not scatter pertinent rule information and randomly hide it throughout a chapter or the entire book. We do not offer the reader bits and pieces of a ruling, as though only a portion of a ruling is what we need in a game. Instead we provide rulings that include related sub-rulings, from the time of the infraction until play has stopped.

Baseball Rules in Black and White does not provide every single rule in baseball and for very good reasons. We believe focusing on the most frequently called infractions umpires see throughout a game, season after season should be our priority. These are the infractions we must rule correctly most often, not the stitch count of the baseball.

Baseball Rules in Black and White’s books do not cause you to spend your valuable time flipping pages searching for hidden, scattered or partial rules in confusing language in tiny font. Instead we have taken obscure rule book language and random formatting and converted it into a structured format, with easy to read basic English sentences.

You’re going to spend your valuable time searching and flipping pages anyway, instead try studying, retaining and correctly applying the most frequently called rules with Baseball Rules in Black and White.

Baseball Umpires Young and Old Benefit

Take a time and listen to what Billy Haze CWS umpire knows, that beginner or veteran every umpire can benefit from

Baseball Rule in Black and White 

Endorsements Matter

The 2019 NCAA and NFHS Baseball Rules in Black and White resources take readers quickly to a rule, use straightforward language, while retaining accuracy, to convey a clear and decisive interpretation, in a beneficial format. We are honored to have the following accomplished umpires and associations from across the country endorse the many benefits of our books.

Bradley Hungerford California Baseball Umpires Association’s Executive Instructional Chairman - "It is my opinion Baseball Rules in Black and White’s 2019 High School Edition reader friendly content and format should be read and studied by every high school umpire and coach across the country."

Billy Haze 2016 NCAA Division I, College World Series Umpire - “I believe the message in Baseball Rules in Black and White. You must understand what the rule is saying before you can properly call and explain that rule.”

The National High School Baseball Coaches Association - "In the continuing effort to help our members of the National High School Baseball Coaches Association, we recommend the 2019 edition of NFHS Baseball Rules in Black and White as a beneficial and effective resource for all High School baseball coaches"

    Doug McClure, Triple Play Umpires - “The 2018 College Edition of Baseball Rules in Black and White will help you to understand NCAA rules, along with the rule references so that your knowledge will be spot on. We at Triple Play Umpires and many others fully recommend that you give this your attention.”

Pre-order our 2019 NCAA and NFHS editions at Amazon or at our website below, copies retails for $14.99 

www.baseballrulesinblackandwhite.com  

Baseball's Effective Rules Resource

Baseball rule books contain a peculiar format, which causes these books to be flawed as an education resource. How so? Their format provides unconnected singular rulings. Now ask yourself, how many of the common, but complicated infractions in baseball require a single ruling. When an education resource fails to connect important information, it is flawed.

An effective baseball rule resource should use straightforward language to convey a clear and decisive interpretation of related and pertinent rulings pertaining to an infraction, while retaining accuracy. The 2019 NCAA and NFHS Baseball Rules in Black and White series of books are those resources.

These effective resources have been honored with the endorsements of the California Baseball Umpires Association, Executive Instructional Chairman, Bradley Hungerford, Sacramento’s own Billy Haze, a 2016 NCAA Division I College World Series Umpire and the National High School Baseball Coaches Association. 

To pre-order our NCAA and NFHS editions through Amazon click on the highlighted blue links or for more information and see our endorsements visit our website at www.baseballrulesinblackandwhite.com  Each copy retails for $14.99

Baseball Umpires Turn the Page

In order for baseball umpires to correctly apply a ruling on the field the majority of time they are enforcing numerous, individual, but related rules.  Official baseball rule books tend to scatter these numerous, individual, but related rules randomly throughout their pages.

So, this causes anyone, not just umpires trying to find the rule(s) for a correct ruling, to begin an intensive page turning investigation in order to see all the rules that were or were not correctly applied.  Another joyless format, these rules have tiny font, spread out over several pages or chapters and there is a very good chance while searching, finding and reading the third rule of five, we will forget the first rule we read.

After twenty years as an umpire, personally I do not need practice turning dozens of pages and searching randomly for rulings. Now instead of hurriedly turning pages, searching and turning too many pages I use my time actually studying, learning and retaining the rules. I easily find the infraction, with all the related rulings from an A to Z Table of Contents.  Now, rather than turn pages back and forth, I study an infraction using all the related rulings, examples, exceptions and notes on the same page in big font in Baseball Rules in Black and White.  

Baseball Rules in Black and White an Effective Resource

We have deconstructed wordy, confusing baseball rule book language, then we reconstructed that rule book language into basic English sentences that are easy to read and make sense. Some of the rule book language was so confusing and poorly worded it took weeks to extract the jest of the rule, in order to construct a basic English sentence.

Our unique format is far superior to official rule books. With official rule books you get what I call a scavenger hunt format, related pertinent rulings scattered randomly through-out the book. This scavenger hunt format can cause partially correct rulings. 

With the Baseball Rules in Black and White format we have collected and organized related and pertinent rulings, then print them in order of sequence and importance. You get all the related rule information on the same page, instead of wasting time flipping pages looking for numbers. 

The fact is, when we read confusing rule book language or a partial ruling, what we retain becomes distorted and what we recall is doubtful. The worst part, we then apply a ruling that’s weak. Until we are able to easily comprehend rules that we read, we will struggle to retain, recall and apply an accurate ruling. Baseball Rules in Black and White books are easy to comprehend and this makes them a very effective resource.

You can now pre-order these books at Amazon

Baseball's Most Effective Rules Resource Available on Amazon

For an umpire to advance, he must have a solid knowledge of the rules of baseball!

Having a proficient level of rules knowledge empowers umpires to have greater confidence and accuracy when making split-second calls. This in turn improves an umpire’s ability to articulate his rule interpretations and establish superior game management skills. Rules knowledge is vital to becoming a respected umpire.

Effective baseball rules resources should take a reader quickly to a rule, use straightforward language to convey a clear and decisive interpretation, while retaining accuracy. The 2019 NCAA and NFHS Baseball Rules in Black and White series of books are those resources.

These books have incredibly strong endorsements from accomplished and respected umpires, assignors and instructional chairs from across the country, which can be seen on our website: www.baseballrulesinblackandwhite.com

You can pre-order the NCAA and NFHS editions through Amazon by clicking on the highlighted links. Each copy retails for $14.99

Baseball Rules in Black and White, 2019 NCAA & NFHS pre-order now!

For an umpire to advance, he must have a solid knowledge of the rules of baseball!

Having a proficient level of rules knowledge empowers umpires to have greater confidence and accuracy when making split-second calls. This in turn improves an umpire’s ability to articulate his rule interpretations and establish superior game management skills. Rules knowledge is vital to becoming a respected umpire.

Effective baseball rules resources should take a reader quickly to a rule, use straightforward language to convey a clear and decisive interpretation, while retaining accuracy. The 2019 NCAA and NFHS Baseball Rules in Black and White series of books are those resources.

These books have incredibly strong endorsements from accomplished and respected umpires, assignors and instructional chairs from across the country, which can be seen on our website: www.baseballrulesinblackandwhite.com

You can pre-order the NCAA and NFHS editions through Amazon by clicking on the highlighted links. Each copy retails for $14.99

2018 Blessings and Empowerment

Reflecting at years end on what we have done and where we are, can be an empowering instrument of revitalization and motivation. After dozens of exhausting weeks of battling the routine of daily life, it can become difficult to stay focused, overcome negativity and simply continue to believe in what you are trying to accomplish is worthwhile.

Baseball Rules in Black and White signed a five-year author’s agreement with The Cardinal Publishing Group and Blue River Press. The 2019 NFHS & NCAA Baseball Rules in Black and White manuscripts were produced and will be released January 2019.

Mr. Bradley Hungerford, The Executive Instructional Chairman of the California Baseball Umpires Association endorsed the 2019 NFHS Baseball Rules in Black and White.

The National HighSchool Baseball Coaches Association endorsed the 2019 NFHS Baseball Rules in Black and White edition and is partnering to promote NFHS rule education for umpires and coaches using their weekly newsletter.

We have broken ground on two future projects: Official Baseball Rules in Black and White and a Baseball Rules in Black and White IT prototype.

We have maintained and enhanced the Baseball Rules in Black and White website with an interactive umpire and coach’s education page.

I had the privilege to umpire over seventy awesome baseball games for the Northern California Officials Association and Rancho Cordova Officials Associations. 

I cannot express in words my gratefulness for having the loving support and encouragement of family, friends and peers over the years, and what it has meant to me personally. This is why looking back on 2018 was so important, to see the many gifts and rewards Baseball Rules in Black and White has been blessed to attain, we are truly in awe and empowered by these achievements.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Jim Bettencourt, look out 2019 - here we come!