[GarthB]

Originally Posted by PeteBooth

Tees latest thread about dealing with coaches got me thinking (probably a big mistake)

We all know the following:

OBR 9.02
(a) Any umpire’s decision which involves judgment, such as, but not limited to, whether a batted ball is fair or foul, whether a pitch is a strike or a ball, or whether a runner is safe or out, is final. No player, manager, coach or substitute shall object to any such judgment decisions.

It's the last part of OBR 9.02(a) that I would like to discuss.

There's a reason the rule exists otherwise the game would resemble a farce, but my question

When did umpires start allowing managers to question judgement calls to begin with? After the rule makers put in the rule, then why did umpires allow coaches to argue over safes / outs?

It seems on surface anyway that there should be no discussion on balls/ strikes; safes and outs therefore why have an argument with a coach to begin with when the rule is SPECIFIC?

If umpire associations stuck together and STRICTLY enforced the rule, all the various confrontations that have been noted would go away. By allowing coaches to come out and question judgement calls leads to altercations which frankly according to the rules should not happen.

I fully understand that the PRO game is unique and in a separate category all it's own. They have the Players Union etc to deal with plus there is BIG Bucks in the PRO game.

However, amateur baseball IMO should be different. First and foremost, for most amateur umpires, umpiring is not their chosen profession. It's one thing when you make 6 figures as do many PRO Umpires that umpire MLB, it's quite another when you work for a $50.00 game FEE (depending upon one's area)

Amateur league coaches emulate the PROS, so in just about every amateur game, you will have a coach request TIME to discuss a Safe / Out call. If umpire associations stuck together and did as the rule implied, IMO this would put an end to this confrontation business.

The rules do allow the coach to request TIME and ask about a Rule application but that's it.

It would probably take 1/2 eason, but if we started tossing coaches every time they requested TIME to discuss balls / strikes safes/ outs they would get the message.

In Summary, after reading Tee's post about dealing with coaches, why have a rule as referenced above if we as umpires are not going to enforce it and allow coaches to request TIME and discuss and out / safe call.

The bottom line is that we all make mistakes and kick some calls, but players make errors, F1's give up gopher balls, etc.

Pete Booth

Pete:

First, continue reading. The casebook/comments provide the more definitive interpretation:

"Official Notes - Case Book - Comments: Players leaving their position in the field or on base, or managers or coaches leaving the bench or coaches box, to argue on BALLS AND STRIKES will not be permitted. They should be warned if they start for the plate to protest the call. if they continue, they will be ejected from the game."

Second, since baseball is unique in not having an intermediate disciplinary step (basketball has the technical, football has the unsportmanlike, etc.) a little leniency has developed over the years and "discussions" have been allowed to avoid the major penalty of ejection. Even at the amateur level, I believe this is a good thing.