Quote:
Originally posted by SamNVa
The biggest problem I see with this approach is that it would make games that are already too long, unbearably longer. I realize that baseball is a pastoral game that's supposed to be played at a leisurely pace, but there is only so much time a person is willing to invest into any one thing these days and that amount is decreasing, not increasing.
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Actually, I don't think it would significantly slow the game down. Especially not at the PRO level.
Unlike youth league games where unusual things are happening all the time, seldom do very unusual things happen in professional games. Most games are rather vanilla - I'd have to say.
Yes, on occassion, something unusual will occur. But that would be an excellent time for the umpire to do just as Pete is suggesting - explain to the fans.
I'm assuming that the umpire would be allowed to use his own discretion as to whether a particular ruling rises to the level of needing an explanation.
How often do we see running lane interference at the pro level? Not often. And when it occurs, I
also think it would be beneficial to give a very short explanation of the public address system (ala football)
How often do we see obstruction violations at the pro level?
Unlike football, where you can have penalty after penalty after penalty, where it seems the official is having a running dialogue with the fans ... I don't envision anything close to that occurring in baseball if they were to employ this same technique of communicating infractions. They just don't occur with the same frequency as in football.
I'm assuming, of course, that if adopted, the umpires would not be explaining the obvious. For instance, I would not expect to hear.
"The batter is declared out as a result of the third strike being called and the ball being securely held by the catcher."
But I might expect to hear:
"The ball is dead. The runner at first is OUT for being struck with a batted ball. The batter is awarded first. No runners may advance unless forced. Therefore, the runner on third must return to his base."
It may be the only thing this umpire may say to the crowd all game.
I would sure rather the umpires explain the ruling than have to listen to Joe Morgan or Tim McCarver muddle through it for the next 15 minutes.
I think it's an innovative idea!