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Jim Porter (quoted):
People learn more about baseball rules from TV than they ever would from the UIC of a local amateur game.....
.....Pete, pro umpires DO meet and discuss certain rulings and certain calls. The reason that they don't meet more often is in the design of the game. Papa C. gave us a list of all the calls that can be changed during a game. This was no arbitrary list. It is a well-thought out, time-proven list of all the incidences when the design of the game allows for a changed call. If it's not on the list, there is a good reason why it cannot be changed.
Tim C. (quoted):
MLB baseball is still the best officated sports in America (that is if you leave out the America's Cup)and you want change.
Warren Willson :
Part of the game, and among its underlying principles, are a requirement to have respect for authority and reward for self discipline. Baseball tries to instill those principles in its participants in many subtle ways.
Let's take these 3 statements and combine them. I agree that for the average person the game is learned on TV. Rule changes, however, need to be PUT INTO THE BOOK and not discussed at meetings and passed along to CC or someone else. This system is ludicrous !!
I disagree with Tim C. in that I feel the level of officiating displayed on TV in baseball is possibly the second worst of any sport (next to hockey). Warren, we certainly are teaching our youth (especially with what they see and idolize on TV).
Now, what do we see on TV ??
Highly skilled players playing primarily by the book in most instances.
What do we see from the officials ??
Highly skilled officials making many accurate calls of both routine and non routine plays. However, a large percentage of the non routine incidents, which are relatively rare in occurrence, are overlooked by these same officials. We excuse them as calls "not made at the MLB level due to the other pressures put upon them" by the league or paying fans. Warren speaks of respect and self-discipline taught by the game. That is certainly what we saw taught by the stern officiating in the WS when a pitcher through a jagged bat remnant at a runner (while he was running) and was not ejected. NOT
What do we see from the rule makers and interpreters ??
Very little and possibly none that is published as official interpretations or changes to the rules. Why ???? Would it be that frequent a need ?? Even the census is every ten years. Where is our official guidance ?? Kicking thoughts around in a forum ?? Is there not enough baseball in the country (world) to warrant it ?? We even have to decide what applies at what level. It is illegal to fake a tag on runner in amateur ball, yet it is a heralded play when seen on TV at the Pro level. Of course, we are teaching our kids and parents the rules by what they see called on TV. Now, the fielder is not obstructing the runner, he just made the mistake of putting the fake tag down because he thought the ball was actually coming. He certainly wasn't attempting to impede the progress of the runner. Great interpretation at the MLB level. Certainly in accordance with the rules and their intent. NOT.
(BTW, Abner Doubleday rolls over in his grave each time that one is not called---thanking the interpreters).
Gimme a break. The system stinks. We watch and emulate the Pros when we want (and that is where most learn), and then dismiss their actions, or lack thereof, because they are Pros. We take what we want when we want, and we dismiss what we want when we want.
Pete------you are on the money. Something needs to be done to address the obvious loopholes if only to make today's rules catch up to today's interpretations. We have been living in Pleasantville. At least the other sports have attempted to address apparent weaknesses and made attempts at improvement. Current OBR baseball is archaic.
Just my opinion,
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