[Rich]

Originally posted by 3appleshigh
I hate to give a bag for no reason. I'm a hue stickler on this rule, and I have no problem with the Sh** it may cause. It is my personal pet peeve. I require more than the minimum of movement, I personally require you make me give you the bag, give me no other choice. I love it and it always happens in the higher ball, where a good batter, leans into a slow curve ball. I love, relish, enjoy immensly putting that guy back in the box. I love dealing with he manager after and being able to say my favorite saying, and it always happens here, "Well, this ani't the Major Leagues no is it coach!" I have brought the same player back twice in the same game, and te best part always seems to be that thier batting average after being brought back is probably 700--850. But they think I care, it's funny. I love to see them hit a double afterwards I feel I've done my job as an official.

p.S. I take a lot of crap for my stance on it, but I will not change as long as the rule says what it does, must make an attempt to get out of the way. Many of my fellow ump here love to say, what about the Deer in the headlights? I don't care, the rule doesn't say unless your caught frozen. Just my humble opinion. But I hate to give the batter a base.

You should take a lot of crap. Nobody told the pitcher to throw the ball into the batter's box. And if you are working an NCAA game, the rule is that if the ball is inside the batter's box the batter does not have to avoid. Like Bob, I think this principle works well at all levels.