[streamdoc]

Sorry for the long dissertation, but I like to explain the situation thoroughly.

Situation:
HS Varsity Playoff game, visiting team is the 2004 4A State Champs, and is leading by 2 runs in the 6th. Home team pitcher is leaping on some of her pitches, some worse than others. I did not call it because evertime she would do it it would catch me off guard, and I'd tell myself to call it next time - you guessed it, she'd be legal for several pitches in a row. Home team puts in a new pitcher who is crow hopping, I call IP on the 2nd pitch. Home bench asks for reason, which I give. From that point, she is making a real attempt to maintain legality, and in this type if situation, where IP could really be called on every pitch, I felt it was best to pick my spots, and only call it when it was very obvious. Fast Forward to 6th inning. Visiting starting pitcher gets injured and replaced. I watch the new picher and don't see anything illegal. Home coach tells me that she has not pitched in a while, and to watch her for IP. On her 2nd pitch, both feet are so far off the ground that I literally can see daylight under them. Out comes the left arm. Ball on the batter, runners advance 1 base, scoring the 2nd run. Visiting coach is all over me with "you picked a nice time to get in the game blue" "you could have called IP on them anytime, but you do it to me with a runner on third", etc. I let him have his say, then tell him that I did not pick the time for IP, his pitcher did and to go sit down, we are done discussing it. Home team ends up tying the game 3-3. In between innings, as visiting coach makes his way to the 1st base box (he had been coaching 3rd all game) he starts in on me again. I tell him "1 more word and he'll be sent to the bus".

Question:

Do you pick your spots for calling the IP based on game situation?
Do you give pitchers that are IPing every pitch some leeway after calling it once if they are making an effort to be legal?
Should I have jacked the coach for bringing the situation up again in between innings after my declaration that we were done discussing it on the field during the 6th inning?

Now, I know that I will get flack (and deservedly so) for giving the home pitcher some leeway, but really, when she would do it, it would catch me off guard. When I was really looking for it, she would not do it - uncanny.

Let's have it! BTW - visiting team won 4-3, everyone both head coaches shook my hand after the game.

[Edited by streamdoc on May 25th, 2005 at 04:45 PM]