[Carl Childress]

Originally posted by Carl Childress
A bad habit is a weakness. Turning your head is a bad habit. Therefore....

Now, do you believe the umpire who turns his head at the plate after a call gains something from that "mechanics"?

I say it is not a weakness or a bad habit. Stick to rules, Carl, where you can rightfully claim to have superior knowledge.

[Edited by Rich Fronheiser on May 30th, 2004 at 12:14 PM]

Rich: I appreciate your admitting my superior knowledge about the rules.

You seem to disparage my knowledge of mechanics.

Here's my resume:

Referee Enterprises published:

Behind the Mask (c) 1987
On the Bases (c) 1987
Take Charge (c) 1990

RightSports published:

51 Ways to Ruin a Baseball Game (c) 2000

Gerry Davis Sports Education published:

Working the Plate/Working the Bases (c) 2002

Due out at the end of the summer:

50 MORE Ways to Ruin a Baseball Game (c) 2004

I don't claim I have mechanics knowledge superior to yours; but three separate publishers, in three separate decades, have thought my work sufficiently "plausible" (shall we say) to stake their money on my ideas.

I repeat:

The umpire gains nothing when he turns his head away from the field.

The umpire may lose when he turns his head.

As yet, I have heard nothing other than "cosmetics" (I like to do it!) to support this bad habit.