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Originally Posted by PeteBooth
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
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I agree with you. If
everybody enforced this rule ... it would probably be easier for everybody.
The problem is this; baseball isn't generally played in this manner. It's not what they see on TV ... it's not what they do in practice ... it's very counter instinctive.
Keep one foot in the batter's box at all times for many players just seems so awkward and unnatural - that's why they don't do it.
I'm sure if it became a HUGE emphasis item and every umpire strictly enforced it, the behavior would change over a period of time. But it all seems so pointless to me.
Oh, it's not so much a bad rule as it is a misguided rule. If FED wants to really speed up a game, I can think of so many
better rules than this lemon.
David Emerling
Memphis, TN