[WhatWuzThatBlue]

from Carl's fingertips to your brain...

An asterisk (*) identifies my responses

"You've answered all my direct questions, you say. Let me ask some more. Let's talk just about FED: You told me you would "probably" enforce FED 2.22.1a. Would you be "cheating" if you didn't?"

* No, as I’ve said, it is not the same play. Please don’t make me question your reading skills. For those just tuning in, I say ‘probably’ on most of my specific play responses. I don’t understand how anyone can provide a definitive answer to any hypothetical play. There are simply too many grey areas and conditions involved in this great game. I provided several to Carl’s initial queries.

"Would you force the coach to stand with both feet in the coach's box?"

* During my pregame, I usually tell them to keep themselves where they are supposed to be, unless they need to talk with me. That goes for the coaching box or dugout. I usually let them meander, especially when they have a chance to interfere with a defensive play. Oh, I make sure they are dressed appropriately too. I’ve kept ‘coaches’ in the dugout who weren’t properly dressed – yes, on a college field, too.

Also, a coach can be in a wheel chair in the box - no feet on the ground at all! I bet you didn't know that.

"The score is 21 to 0 in the third inning of a game without a mercy rule. Do you widen your strike zone?"

* No, I’m kind of religious about not changing my zone when a pitcher has trouble, it’s getting late, it’s cold, my feet hurt, my wife made a great meal, the score is lopsided…

If you cater to an inning, score, pitcher, catcher or coach that is your prerogative. I found that climbing this ladder depends on consistency, not popularity. But let’s give your theory some legs, let’s say that the coaches decide to play some younger athletes. Are you serving them your best by opening your zone? What if that is the only at bat that kid gets all season and you job him with a nose to toes and line to line strike zone? I respect the game too much to play with the outcome. Also, I don't work too many games without some sort of a mercy rule.

"The pitcher assumes the set position stance with two inches of his pivot foot outside the end of the rubber. Do you make him put his foot completely inside the pitcher's plate?"

* I usually don’t look that close at his toes, (especially with a four inch hole in front of the rubber, he's not likely in contact with it either!) but if I did, I would probably tell his catcher to talk to him or I’ll handle it. It looks better when the catcher requests time and provides the message, rather than me strolling out there – I don’t play to the spotlight. You’d also be surprised how many illegal pitching plates are out there. I don’t measure those either, but I thought you appreciate that I’m aware that some schools cut corners in lots of ways.

"Do you require the coach to designate a captain and tell you who he is?"

* Nope, never have and it has never been a problem. In fact, I’m usually tickled pink when a player announces that he is the Captain. I ask him if I should salute and he usually laughs and says that he’s just happy to hand me the line up card. I don’t do a cup check either – I usually just ask if everyone is properly equipped and ready to play. I just didn’t want you asking me if I check for the mandatory cup on the catcher, since it’s in the rules too!

"Do you call a balk if the pitcher does not come to a stop with his glove at or below his chin?"

* Usually, I’ll get a better angle from the inside of the infield, but I’ve called my share of high balks from both positions. Again, I usually let the catcher know if I see it during his warm-ups. This usually prevents it from happening, but I don’t see a whole lot of technical balks on the college fields. Call it once and they figure it out – I’m pretty sure the pitcher from the CSF/ASU game won’t have a problem coming set next year either!

"The rule requires the pitcher to disengage the rubber by stepping back "at least partially" within the length of the pitcher's plate. Do you check that every time and call a balk is he does not?"

* During that millisecond of time, I’m watching many things, but probably not that fraction of an inch. I have balked pitchers for not disengaging the rubber before exhibiting distance and direction.

You seem confounded by minutiae. I said I enforce the rules I see, but you keep trying imply that I’m seeing things and ignoring them. We’ve already covered this and that is your domain.

"In the set position the pitcher must have his pitching hand down at his side or behind his back. If he does not, do you call a balk?"

* Yes, I have called this too many times to remember. It usually only takes one and the game moves along. This is an easy balk and not a difficult concept for pitching coaches to conquer.

"The rule requires the pitcher to take his sign from the catcher. If he takes it from the coach, do you call a balk or illegal pitch?"

* No, we’ve covered this before, as well. If the pitcher is taking his sign from the bench, the stands or Dionne Warwick, as long as he is engaging the rubber and looking at the catcher before he comes set, I have no problem with it. Chances are that the catcher is getting it at the same time as he is. Most of my catchers are smart enough to flash some silly signal toward the pitcher before he begins his windup. I’m not looking between the catcher’s legs, I won’t suggest you are either.

Most of us believe that this rule is to prevent quick pitching to confound a runner or the batter. I like to think that some OOC thinks he can call a better game than a monkey with a pair of dice.

"If a batted ball lodged in a pitcher's glove and he threw the glove/ball combination to first in advance of the runner, would you award the runner second base?"

* I knew this was coming and if you recall our last conversation, I said that I would call what was in the book, but I disagreed with the logic. It would be as painful for me as calling that missed plate for you.

"Or:

The first baseman's mitt in FED is 14 inches maximum; in NCAA, 12. Do you measure to see if the glove is legal for the level you're working?"

* Asked and answered, your honor. I don’t measure any equipment unless a problem is brought to my attention. Despite your assertions, the book does not tell us to measure mitts, bases, balls or uniform patches during the pregame.

"The baseball in an NCAA game may be one-quarter inch larger than the ball in a FED game. (I'll bet you didn't know that.) Do you insist on checking the size of the balls?"

* I was not aware that our balls were different sizes. (grin) I insist on having the correct number of approved baseballs to start the game. However, I have been known to look away when a coach hands me brand new professional baseballs instead of the shiny NFHS ones. I usually ask the other coach if he has a problem with it and most likely hear, ‘As long as there white and round, I don’t care.’

"I don't need to go on, do I?"

* Oh, please…this is such fun. Especially after the last four days I’ve had.

"I have given clinics in Halifax, Nova Scotia; Piedras Negras, Mexico; California, Florida, Iowa, Louisiana,
Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Wyoming, and more than 30 cities in Texas."

* Texas? You sank my battleship! I hope your accountant gets mileage reimbursement for you. I could never hope to have traveled to and taught in so many places. (bigger grin) My training and teaching experience are not relegated to a tiny hamlet in Illinois. Tsk, tsk, tsk...

"In my experience, umpires always choose which rules they will enforce — and when."

* a la verbal obstruction…or just when the ‘expected call’ is desirable?


"Regular questions at clinics are:

When do I open it up?"

* I suggest on the wedding night, but that is rather personal for most of my clinics. Or were you referring to Christmas presents? Because I like the little ones to open one on Christmas Eve; it just makes them all giddy.

"How strict should I be in calling balks?"

* What level do they work and what are their priorities? Does the league demand umpire enforcement of them or do they allow for discretion? If they were working coach pitch or tee ball, I would discourage them from calling balks.

"What should I do if I hear good-natured ribbing from one team to the other?"

* Write them down on the back of your line-up card. They make great off season fodder for umpire chat rooms. I like the one about the school for the blind playing the school for the deaf. As long as I don’t hear the Aristocrats joke one more time…

"Every rule book has an elastic clause. In FED it's 10-2-3g. Baseball tradition, history, practice: We use those to help us decide what to do when we reach uncharted waters."

* So, if it isn’t in the book, we can rule on it according to our best judgment? At last, we can agree on Verbal Obstruction from an infielder on a runner leading off. Thank you, I knew you’d finally see it my way.