Umpires Derryl Cousins, Ron Kulpa & Jim Wolf took time out of their pre-game routine to share their umpiring knowledge with prospect Malachi Moore; their visit—which also featured Triple-A call-up Alan Porter—took place about 60 minutes prior to first pitch of an April Braves-Dodgers game at Dodger Stadium. Originally reported by UEFL'er Russ and published online just recently,
Moore asks the veteran crew about the home plate umpire's ability to decipher whether a batted ball has hit the batter and whether this contact results in a foul ball or an interference out. (
Video)
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| Aspiring Umpire Malachi Moore |
Malachi Moore is a 22-year-old Compton native,
who attended MLB's first Urban Youth Academy (UYA) in Southern California. With previous dreams of becoming a professional baseball player, Moore changed course in late 2010 before his sophomore season at El Camino College, squaring his sights on becoming the UYA's first alum to reach the Major League level as an umpire.
After missing the PBUC cut at the Harry Wendelstedt Umpire School in early 2011, Moore attended MLB's one-week November Umpire Camp later that year and returned to Florida. With a UYA umpiring school sponsorship in hand, Moore made the most of his second go-around and was selected for the PBUC evaluation course following the month-long course. Moore was also a 2011 umpire in the
Northwoods League.
Back to the Dodger Stadium umpires' dressing room and the umpires are discussing mechanics on a fairly difficult play. Moore's question comes just days after Tim Welke and his crew of Paul Schrieber and Mikes Estabrook and Everitt
incorrectly determined a bunted ball did not strike the batter during a Tigers-Rangers game. The resulting RBI bunt single proved to be decisive in the outcome of that particular contest.
As previously reported by the UEFL,
Rules 6.05(g) and (h) govern batter's interference.
