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Originally Posted by Tim C
I think perhaps that you have identified the issue we all deal with one day:
As noted there are "black letter rule" guys and "usage and tradition guys."
I have found over the years on the internet that "black letter rules guys" take great umbrage to the "real world" guys. The inverse does not seem to be true.
NIUmp50 has been painted as unreasonable. It may seem that on the surface but his points need to be considered. The question soon becomes: "gee, what other rules do you guys ignore."
My answer: "Several." Remember I am a guy that only calls balks that EVERYONE sees . . . I select to ignore technical balks.
This is what separates great umpires (i.e. those that get the "Big Game" assignments) and those that twist in the land of also-ran games.
But that is just my view. I am sure that NIUmp50 gets just as many important games as I do . . . we just see umpiring differently.
I know of NO UMPIRE in shaving aged games that would call a strike that bounces into the catcher's mitt. None.
Perhaps NIUmp50 works in a region where this is a common occurance.
It is just too obvious from the posts in this thread that the view professed by umpires like myself appears, on first blush, to be what is accepted universally.
Except of course, in games viewed by "black letter law" umpires.
This is all just opinion and I hope you can separate the chaf and learn something from the thread.
Regards,
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I think you're painting with a wide brush.
I grew up in baseball as a pitcher, my two sons are accomplished pitchers.
I have a soft spot for pitchers. On this particular issue, I choose not to punish a great pitch for the sake of making the expected call, instead I see by rule, a strike, and call it.
So on this issue I am a 'black letter ump', as I am on the FPSR.
Many other rules like the balks I'm more 'real world', another example is the phantom tag. When a fielder makes a quick tag move and pulls up to avoid the spikes I usually give the out even if he misses the tag.
There's HS umps out there still today that are so 'real world' they refuse to enter the 21st century and call FPSR. They're still stuck on OBR.
So if I differ from the pack on one issue and on that issue I am within the rules, does that make me a bad umpire? Should I not be allowed on the field with kids that shave?
Being black letter is not always a bad thing. After all we are umpires not rules makers.
Oh, and regarding this statement:
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Originally Posted by Tim C
I have found over the years on the internet that "black letter rules guys" take great umbrage to the "real world" guys. The inverse does not seem to be true.
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Please go back and reread the thread.
#24 my first opinion of the subject. I was only giving my opinion no umbrage taken. No personal attacks and no inferences about those who differ from my opinion.
#35 You say "no umpire of quality" could call a ball in the dirt a strike.
You took 'umbrage' and attacked my 'black letter' interpretation of the strike zone and inferred I could not be a quality ump.
How can you maintain credibility and make statements like the above quote?