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I've got an irritating problem with local Blues at the last two open tourneys in Central Tx. Website advertising tourney says the E games will be 70 minutes. At the plate conference, Blue announces "70 minute ballgame no inning to start after 65."
We will play till we have a winner, so now we're really talking about a 65 minute time length, mentioning 70 minutes in this manner is superfluous.
The shaving of the five minutes isn't bothering me, the $24 paid to the umps hasn't changed for the last couple of years but his/her gas price sure has so no big deal.
My problem is there is often only one Blue at these plate conferences, and that Blue starts the clock as soon as the conference ends. Now, we wait another 2-3 minutes after the home team takes the field for the other ump to show so we can start the ballgame. I have been insisting that we not start the clock until the other blue is on the field. A couple of umps have worked with me and agreed to wait (although they are clearly put out that I would make such an issue out of it.)
You ask, where is the other Blue? Extending his break, using restroom, hustling over from another field, I don't know. I just know I have 11 sets of kids and parents I have to get into this ballgame and the more the time is squeezed the less I can get meaningful participation.
Please give me your thumbs up or thumbs down on whether I should let this go or keep being a burr in their blanket. I have not found any rule book guidance that I can use on the Blues, and remember, these are open tourneys , so you get what you pay for...........
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