Quote:
Originally posted by Tim C
Dave:
I am just confused as to how your advice could be implimented.
Balks,as balls and strikes, are not an issue that can be argued.
As you could not enter the field to talk with me it seems impossible to use your trap in a game where real umpires umpire.
Seems like this should be a private e-mail between rats.
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It gets implemented in
exactly the way I described it.
If the umpire is having "none of it." The case is closed and no argument can be made. In that regard, you're right. After all, it
is a judgment call - as you said.
You're probably a darn good umpire, Tim. So, naturally, you have a difficult time relating to this. First of all, you probably wouldn't make a gross rule misapplication. Secondly, you probably have the game management skills to cover your mistakes - as all good umpires have.
So, in that regard, you're right. You would never be in this situation.
But, would you consider this: Not all umpires are nearly as good as you? And, not all umpires would be able to conceal their incompetence beneath a veneer of "game management" skills?
I know this is a particularly hard pill for you to swallow, but there
is a little psychology involved when a person is trying to get "their way" with an individual who is predisposed to
not allow them to have "their way." This is just the dynamics of athletic competition and does not need to be characterized as being "sleazy" or "cheating" or "rat like."
When I umpire, I'm frequently aware when there is an attempt to manipulate or intimidate me. I don't let it bother me. I just recognize it for what it is and defuse it.
In the situation we are discussing, YOU would defuse it by never having the discussion with the coach. That would work!
The fact of the matter is that judgment plays
can be converted to rule issues if the umpire gets too chatty.
A example to highlight this fact:
Example: The batter hits a screaming shot that rings off the foul pole. The umpire rules it foul. Can there possibly be any call that is
more of a judgment call than whether a ball is fair or foul? Yet, if the coach inquires and the umpire categorically states that the ball
did, in fact, hit the foul pole, and it is
because of that that he ruled it foul. The umpire tells you that, "The foul pole is in foul territory."
Do you know of any rules committee or tournament director in the world that would not give serious consideration to overruling such silliness?
I don't see how this is much different than an umpire who calls a balk on a pitcher who executes a pickoff from the windup
specifically because the pitcher failed to
first step off the rubber.
"Why is it a balk, Blue?"
"The pitcher
must first step off the rubber before executing any pickoff move from the windup position?"
"And that's the only reason it was a balk?"
"Yes."
Bzzzzt!
Now, the tournament director would be free to say, "I can't overrule a judgment call." That's fine. But a team who would have such a gross injustice levied upon them would, at least, deserves to have it addressed. If nothing else, the umpire will never make that mistake again.
But, in answer to your inquiry as to how this could ever be implemented ... I
have done exactly this on several occasions over the years.
An umpire once awarded an opposing batter first for being hit with a pitch that bounced on the ground, struck the batter, while the batter was chasing it in a bunt attempt. I got the umpire to state that the batter
did, in fact attempt to bunt the pitch, but since he
missed the pitch, and it hit him - he is awarded 1st.
The batter clearly attempted to bunt the ball. There was no question about it. I just wanted to know whether the umpire didn't notice the bunt attempt, or, whether he
did see the bunt attempt and was misapplying the rule. I had to get him to say, one way or the other. As it turned out, he was of the misconception that a hit batsmen gets awarded a base, whether they attempt to strike the ball or not. That's what I figured.
"So, in your opinion, the batter
did attempt to bunt the pitch?"
"Yes. But the ball still hit him."
Bzzzzt!
We protested. The tournament director showed up and when the umpire told
him what he told
me (What else could he do?), the runner was promptly returned to the plate with a strike added to the count.
David Emerling
Memphis, TN
[Edited by David Emerling on Mar 21st, 2005 at 04:06 PM]