[chris s]

Hey Pete, hockey has miked some refs this season. Fans LOVE it from what I have heard, true you have delayed penaltys, but when homeys getting the door to the box, ref explains call over p-a system when at the scorers window. But I agree with everything else, I sure don't wanna be miked out there!

Originally posted by PeteBooth

But in addition, baseball is a different beast. Why conform to what others are doing. Basketball is not "Miked".

The reason I think it would be hard, like hockey, a lot of the plays that are ruled upon are not immediately dead (i.e., foul tip, infield fly, dropped third strike, incidental contact,etc...). You would have to kill the ball to give an explanation, only dragging out the games more.

Max in Hockey and Basketball while they are not "Miked" - they do tell the public what happened by their motions.

In Hockey, the referee will give the signal ie; holding / Boarding / charging etc. so the coach, players and public know what is going on. Same is true in Basketball - The ref will instruct the scorers table who committed the foul and by his actions indicate what the foul is all about.

If it's a charge - the ref will give the charge signal. If it's a block the ref will put his hands on his hips indicating it. If the basket counts on a continuation foul he will also indicate.

In other words, In Football, Basketball and Hockey, for the most part, the Coaches / Players and Fans know what the penalty is all about. Not true in baseball

In baseball, the Fan is left "hanging" as to what is going on out there because the UIC does not tell the puclic as in the other sports. He will discuss with the coach but only if the coach questions it.

I'm not talking about every single play so the game would be dragged out even longer, but only on those plays which warrent it - like a ball thrown out of play and awarding bases. The ball is already dead so whats wrong with giving the ruling - it does not take that long.

If I had to guess, I would probably say that the average Fan knows more about the rules of Football, Basketball and Hockey than Baseball. I'm sure there are a number of reasons but one of those reasons is because the officials in the other sports educate the fan whereas the Baseball Umpire does not.

I know baseball is a different game and I'm not talking about every single ruling, but those in which you hear the Coaches / Players and Fans say "What is happening" such as when a shattered bat strikes the ball in the field a play - that's not an everyday event and therefore, after end of playing action - it would be nice for the UIC to explain what the ruling is.

Pete Booth