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I agree with the earlier post about consistency, only it just has to be in my game. If I call an IP at the first of the game, I need to be calling it at the end of the game also. If I let it slide at the start of the game ( for whatever reason ) I need to let it slide at the end of the game. I've noticed, just like the other guys, that it's not called the same by all the blues. If the rule is there, you gotta enforce it. I'm not too worried about what the coaches think, or the parents. Part of my obligation is to enforce rules that they may not want enforced. Kinda like making a close call that went against a coach who says he woulda called it the other way. That's the fun of wearing the blue shirt, you get to hear all that stuff all the time. I think you need to read the rules, and apply them as you interpret them and just be consistent. You can't worry about whether the other guys will call it or not. However, that's what the off games are for, is to "debate" the rules. I probably learned more from these debates than I ever did by reading the book. I got scratched by a HS coach 2 years ago for calling an IP against his star pitcher. After talking to other umpires, I found out there was a name for her move "California 2 step" and they had called it also. They also got scratched. But that's OK, cause I was calling a tournament later on that year and I got that team again. The pitcher announced to me she wasn't gonna do that IP in that game, which tells me she thought I was consistent in my calls. To me that's a compliment. I know that a lot of the pitching coaches around here teach 2 ways to pitch, the illegal way and the legal way. Once it's called, start pitching the legal way. You just gotta show how you're gonna call the game and stay that way. That doesn't mean go looking for an IP, you'll find 'em, just don't be bashful about them either.
Rick
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