Quote:
Originally posted by PAT THE REF
Here was the story:
Team A was in the lead by 4 runs. Team B was up too bat. Top of the 5th. (We play 6 innings) Two out - no one on. Team B's batter hits the ball but only lets it go about 15 feet. The pitcher picks up the ball. The batter starts walking down the 1st base line. The pitcher walks down towards 1st base. The pitcher starts skipping (literally). The batter then runs like anything to 1st base. The 1st baseman was standing on the base waiting for the pitcher to throw the ball. The pitcher thinks he can out run the batter so he runs. The batter is at least 1-2 steps safe. Then the pitchers foot hits the base. I call & sell the safe signal. (Now the "fun" begins).
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Interesting situation.
I'm a stickler for sportsmanship. I love passing out minor penalties in for Unsportsmanlike Conduct and Misconducts for the like in hockey games. It sends really big messages to the players that I'm the MF in charge of judging the game. I take the field the same way, too.
I'd have not only called the kid who ran safe, I'd have called him safe on principle and then tossed the pitcher for making a travesty of the game. Plain and simple. I never played baseball, but there's a certain amount of respect that one has to have for the game and for the other participants. The pitcher had an obligation to the play the game the right way and throw the ball to the first baseman. I will not tolerate "Superman" attitudes like that on my field.
Of course, that does mean that I'd have to turn around immediately and toss the coach, but who cares. It's obvious he's a worthless coach or he'd instill a sense of respect for the game in his players.
-Craig