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DAKOTA -
"First, I'd like to think my personal integrity would outweigh any consideration of umpire ratings / post season assignments. If I ever find myself making calls in order to brown nose the coach, I'll know it is time to hang up my mask."
Admirable statment; holding the high ground of idealism as I expected you would.
But then you become a little pragmatic when you recognize the real world we exist in.
"What we really have here is a flaw in the system that uses coaches to rate the performance of umpires. . . . . .but the coach's ratings need to have some kind of counterbalance."
We both know the "Outie" umpires; anything that can be sold is going to be an out. Bunter hold bat in strike zone and get a strike call. Point out that pitch was out of strike zone and you'll be told it doesn't matter; he knows for sure that she must have attempted because, by golly, I've got a strike. I think these same umpires know how to make the crowd pleasing call; the safe call. They dont make technical calls; no crow hops, no obstruction or leaving early when the game is on the line. They don't make enemies; they get good ratings; and yes they get tournament slots.
Here is a tough one will you make this call?
Bottom of 7th, tying run on 3B, LH batter executes running slap hit that F1 snags. F1 wants to make a play on R1, but she dives back into 3B. Looks towards 1B, but speedy B-R is going to beat it out. So F1 holds on to ball.
Meantime B-R blew past 1B, turned right and was coming back to the base when she realized that Coach wanted her to continue to 2B and draw a throw. So she heads towards 2B in a slow jog.
Now the entire park is set up to enjoy the drama. Will the defensive team execute the right plays to get the runner out and not give up the run? Will the home team tie it up and send the game into extra innings? We will never know because the PU killed the play and called the B-R out for violation of the LBR! Game over, home team loses, and you are looking for the first opening in the fence to get through to the sanctuary of your car.
This is possibly the most obscure rule in the book. Probably nobody on the field or in the dugouts knows it; even your partner doesnt. But you know it. Are you going to call it? Pragmatism? Or Idealism?
WMB
[Edited by WestMichBlue on May 15th, 2004 at 12:49 AM]
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