[PeteBooth]

Pete, is there any administrative rule that you, personally, tend to let slide unless it becomes a problem?

David I do not consider rule 7-3-5 to be an administrative type rule. It is there to speed up the game. IMO, the problem is that the rule is not enforced unilaterally as evidenced by your post.

IMO a brand new post can be started called Umpire or Umpire Association consistency. If the rule is enforced from day one by ALL umpires within a given association there will be no problem.

IMO, Rule 7-3-5 reminds me of the old FED rule regarding the shoulder turn. Prior to last year's change, in FED F1 could not check the runner as he could do in an OBR game. How many umpires enforced that rule? Answer it varied from region to region and umpire to umpire which was probably a main reason for the change. Even MLB is talking about adopting the FED ruling about the batter's box. MLB is tired of seeing Jeter/Nomar take an inordinate amount of time at the plate.

I am not a hard a** with this rule. I treat this rule the same way with regards to F1 not coming to a stop. If I notice F1 not coming to a stop, I will call TIME dust off the plate and tell F2 to talk to his F1. That's their warning - Preventative umpire. If they do not adhere from that point on then it's enforced.

The rule states a batter MUST have one foot in the box and there is a reason.

As far as your questions about what administrative rules I ignore. Basically the uniform rules (unless I have to), the 20 second rule for F1.

As stated, IMO rule 7-3-5 is not an admistartive typr ruling. The problem as with other type rules is that the rule is not enforced unilaterally which causes a problem.

Pete Booth