Quote:
Originally posted by Jerry
Rich,
I have to agree with you. Our job as officials is to administer the rules as they're written. That's all.
If we don't like the rule . . . who cares? We may have to sympathize; but that's as far as it can go.
Jerry
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When you write the above, you are stating that the umpires job is to enforce the regulations that are on the book, even if we don't like them.
How then, can you, in the very next sentence state "I have "overruled" the rules in some youth leagues; as far as having to pitch four times. It doesn't make any sense in time-limit games." The two sentences are in opposition to each other.
Either we enforce the rules that are written (like 'em or not) or we don't enforce the rules as written.
Intentional walks make sense in a timed game. They make sense because you should have to throw the ball to the plate four times. I just watched ESPN this morning and a major league pitcher threw a ball to the backstop on an intentional walk once and except for terrific athletic play by his catcher, nearly twice. If you can't execute the play, you get the resultant penalty of a wild pitch.
In a timed game, there is now also a time penalty that the coach has to consider if he decides to intentionally walk a player. If the team runs out of time in the end, then take you accept your penalty and go home. Besides, you would have to incur atleast the same amount of time to pitch to the kid. That takes time too. So by just giving the player a base with out pitching to him, you are giving them time they wouldn't have had. That's not right
In the end, we as umpires try to enforce the rules as best we can. We don't get to pick and choose what rules to enforce. It is not our job. If you don't like the rule, petition to whomever you have to to change it. Change 'em yourself and you open up a whole can of worms by doing that.