Quote:
Originally posted by LDUB
Quote:
Originally posted by D-Man
I understand NFHS's quest to eliminate all instances where an umpire must use judgment. I even agree with most of them. I can't, in my wildest dreams, ever justify a three base award for use of a distracting glove. There has been no performance modification made to a glove containing the color white. This glove is not the same as one that exceeds the size limits or has a tacky substance applied to it. We cannot hide behind the term "illegal glove" in this instance. Please, use the penalty pointed out by SDS. You will not lose a protest. Especially in CT where they are not allowed.
D-MAN
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In 2003 there was an interpretation in which the pitcher fielded a batted ball with a then illegal multi-colored glove. The penalty was listed as a 3 base award. Obviously the Federation does approve of awarding bases when illegally colored gloves are used for fieldeing balls.
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If the 2003 interpretation is true, this rule is clearly not written in the spirit of fair play. The "why is white (or gray) distracting?" debate goes nowhere. Everyone has an opinion and mine is this. Uniforms can be white and/or gray. What does a little white on the glove do in an advantage/disadvantage situation. Unless there is a big, white ball shaped design on the back of a glove, I can see no possibility for sufficient distraction to cause a disadvantage to the batter. If a bat that constantly marks the ball is deemed to be removed, we don't apply the illegal bat penalty. If a pitcher wearing a white batting glove under his fielding glove makes a catch, we don't apply the illegal glove penalty. What's the difference? I am a big proponent of most of the NFHS rules. I normally do what B.E. Hopkins and my state interpreter say. Like I said before, I believe by not awarding bases for contacting a batted or thrown ball an umpire should still be able to win a protest based on the sheer absurdity of the rule. This isn't purely opinion, it's fact backed up by nearly every post and verbal reaction to hearing the rule. Technically, if a catcher throws the ball back to the pitcher (with an "illegal" glove) with runners on base, we can award each runner two bases, so long as the ball is live.
Dead ball balks...maybe NFHS thinks that saves lives, I can get behind that.
FPSR...real good, kids have futures, amateurs have day jobs
DH for any fielder...I like that too, and the rule is easy.
White on the glove??? Flourescent pink is way more distracting...and it's legal. Why to we have to enforce NFHS's oversights?
D-MAN