Thanks, everybody. I knew I'd get great pearls of wisdom out of my question.
0&2, Mike: Those are a couple of motivations for my packing a book, too. (a) For my own reinforcement, after the game (and everybody's gone), when a play I might have the slightest question about is still fresh (the Casebook is great for this too, which I also pack), and (b) To discuss calls & rules with anyone who's nice about it
after the game. It eventually makes my job easier if everyone knows about the rule book -- I
will see both teams again
There's at least one clinic in my future this winter. I've got mechanics things to work on, and I can always use more case work.
I would NEVER EVER whip that book out without it being last resort (although it's sometimes tempting to slam the door on a stupid argument. Buf if I can't do that with my own authority, I have work to do).
Steve, Glen: Wherever I can get work around here during the regular season, I
am the UIC (scary, huh?). There's never any on-field help available, nobody to overrule me. If I hear about anything, it's from the protest board (hasn't happened yet, but it will someday). To make it worse, it's all single-ump system. Not only am I UIC, PU, and sole on-field authority, but I'm also head groundskeeper. I have to take the bases off the field, lock up everything, shut down the lights, etc ... I'm usually the last guy there, so I have lots of time alone to read those books whenever I want it. The only thing I don't have to do is rake & chalk the field
I was hoping somebody would tell me that the UIC role was a justification for packing those books
bluezebra: Yeah, I hear you. That's why I haven't resorted to it yet. More than once I've refrained from doing so just for fear of losing control of the game.
Some of the remarks we get are downright stupid in P&R SP play. I often hear "I've been playing this game for X*10 years, and
(insert myth here)". If I respond at all, I ask if they've ever seen the rule book. If they answer in the affirmative, I ask them to tell me the color of the cover. End of argument, right there -- none of those jokers has ever given me the right answer. "BZZZZT ... PLAY BALL!"
I often have this suicidal fantasy about whipping out the rule book and saying "Here: this is what the rule book looks like; go get one." But now we're talking about attitude, and I'm working on having a good one. I can't end an argument with belittlement, no matter how tempting it might be, or I risk losing respect. Once you lose it, getting it back is nearly impossible.
Scott: Thanks for a really well-thought out reply. I'm a lot like you, even going back to when we were originally trained. I don't want to risk losing control of the game; but I want all calls as right as humanly possible, and I don't wanna hear from the protest board (although it's inevitable). In this league, the rule book doesn't seem to have made the rounds among all players & coaches: if I get a chance to correct an old myth, I'm gonna do it (after the game, if all parties are level-headed about it) -- I just won't do it on-field.
Play 8-2.39 from the Casebook happened to me about a month ago. I got the call right (DP). The DP victims just couldn't believe that it was right; at the time of the call I stood firm, and they were good sports about it, played on and lost. After the game, they asked (nicely), so I read them the rules and the applicable POE -- the conversation went on for about 20 minutes. The reasoning was made clear to them: they learned something. Good for them, good for me, good for the game. There's
one play I'll never kick. But that was a "book smart" call ... I'd read about it in advance and had never
seen it.
I really take your statement
"Be smart, not just book smart" to heart: it's been the watch-phrase for this, my second rookie season. I'm not threatened by anybody with a rule book in hand, either. I *hate* getting a rules lesson from a coach (it's happened); but if that's the way I have to learn, at least the lesson will be permanent. I hate being embarrassed by my own mistake; hopefully, that will be the last time it's ever made by me.
I'm just waiting for that sitch where the level of play and bizzareness of the ball bounce exceed my level of ability: it's gonna happen someday. I'm not afraid to correct myself; but I want to be 100% certain before I do it. Having that book available is more a security blanket than anything else, so far. I haven't had to use it on-field yet; but
I just couldn't understand why we'd deny ourselves that option if the old wives' tale were true.
I
am having fun with my games. I wish everybody the same. The better I get, the more fun I have! Maybe I'll even get to the next level someday.
I got stopped by a player after a game the other day. It was a first-round playoff game ... we were supposed to have two umps on the field; but due to scheduling messups, we only had me. Both managers were pi$$ed, to put it mildly. All I could do was promise them my "A" game in the pregame conf, which I gave them, never mind the 100+-degree heat index. After the game, a player from the losing side stopped me and said, "Blue, I've never seen an ump in this league hustle so hard. You hauled a$$ to get to those 2nd base calls, and you got them all dead right. You called balls and strikes with absolute authority. We appreciate that." All I could do was thank him. What he couldn't know is that I work for that kind of respect, and that kind of feedback that my game is getting better ... it sure ain't the money at this stage
Now I'm excited. I got an e-mail from the league assignor: I have another playoff game Tuesday. It will be the first time I've worked double-ump in almost 20 years. I'm scheduled to be the BU. I've had my head in every umpire's manual I can -- this "new" SP 2-man system is interesting, and even makes sense. I was brought up under the "foul side theory" nobody-on mechanic. Let's see if I can get it right.
Thanks again, everyone -- you guys are great. Sorry for the length of the post. I love this place