" If you have a rule book, that gives you more leverage for a rules call. A good umpire will look in the book on a rules question, IMO. "
Negative. A good umpire knows the rules, and never busts open the rule book on the field.
"The 3B coach should not have sent the runner back to 2nd. That was stupid."
Nope. If the umpire instructed the runner back to second he'd better go. The manager not protesting an easily reversed call is stupid.
"As for little league umpires being volunteers. At least around here they get paid, so there is an incentive to know the rules....you won't get asked back. If they are not getting paid for the plate, they are probably some sort of board member, etc. It is too much work for no pay."
It's not too much work, really. I do 5-6 games a week. It takes less time than running a team. Easy, no. But not too much work. No reason the parents in your league should pay for umpires when they could do it themselves.
" Either way, umpires MUST know the rules. It only hurts the kids. "
We agree, but so should every manager. They owe it to the kids not to make mistakes like this.
Protest. It's free in Little League.
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