[Ump20]

Originally posted by PeteBooth

The uniform rule. I do not know about you, but there are many situations especially in doing modified and Freshman HS ball in which all kids believe it or not do not have proper uniforms, however, we continue the game anyway.

I think Warren's writings and the response to your post about game management and ethics is excellent. I don't think you need to "do the right thing" just to advance. I think it is part of a maturing process. Part of my philosophy is that no one comes to watch me umpire but yet. I disagree that I've done a good job if no one notices me. On uniforms I had several Varsity games with a poorer school [funding wise and ability wise] where hats didn't match. I mentioned it to the manager but let this go in this level with that team but I would not let it go in a game between two "A" schools.

Also, it pretty much is a give now-a-days that F3 is allowed to keep 1 foot in foul ground when holding a runner at bay even though the strict wording of the rule says that F2 is the only player allowed to have 1 or both feet in foul ground.

I don't think it is a given that we don't enforce it but we treat it somewhat like the coaching box rule. We don't enforce it until asked. Actually I'd be a little ticked if a coach wanted me to enforce the coach in the box rule. I would not with respect to the left-handed first baseman setting up in foul ground [see former Met Keith Hernandez who used to wipe out the lines by first base] as he gains a distinct advantage of glove being closer to the base.

In past threads, all the Boards had very Heated Discussions concerning the Neighborhood Play at second. In fact some of the threads (especially at McGriffths) got real nasty.

See Carl's reference to unusual calls on routine plays. I used to believe that the fielder needed to touch the bag at some point i.e. before he got the throw, at the same time, or after he released it. In fact I remembered a play where the second baseman never touched the bag and I ruled "safe". I was emphatic enough that the defensive coach agreed. I think most veteran officials would have seen what I saw as an out. Correctly called the neighborhood play adds harmony to the game.

This year we had a thread on F1 while in the wind-up hearing his coach say hey Joey go from the set - Joey steps back (with wrong foot), but runners are not going anywhere - we ignore.

I think Carl Childress addressed this at length here a month or two ago. I agree that it is a technical balk that does not need to be called. I didn't call just such a "balk" in the last inning of a Mickey Mantle tournament and after reading Carl's position felt better in hindsight.

Also, at least in modified, some concessions are made with regard to Balks otherwise we have a balk-a-thon on our hands.

Especially at lower levels I've told coaches I keep my balk gun in its holster or I don't think you came to see how many balks I could call. At higher levels sometimes a word between innings will help correct something that you see as borderline i.e. letting manager and pitcher know you are aware of what they are trying to achieve and that they are pushing the envelope so to speak.

Ok Finally to the point of all this - This might sound simple and ridiculous but How should we manage a game? , especially if we want to advance.
I know we are going to have to make some tough calls out there, but at what point do we enforce vs. let go?

I think Warren has made some specific points that begin to address this bigger picture type of inquiry. The one thing that I might add is sometimes mechanics, game control and appearance are more important than "rules knowledge" but if you want to excel whenever you can pick up and read the rulebook. Jim Simms/NYC