RANT ON
Is it just me, or am I expecting too much by expecting every umpire to understand the CR rule and the Flex/DP?
By every I don't literally mean every, but for pity's sake if we have folks working in championship play, those rules should be as second nature to us as the infield fly rule. They are NOT that difficult, and, yes, we have umpires up here who don't get one, or both, messed up.
I agree with a previous poster: the plate meeting is not the place for a rules clinic. A plate meeting lasting much over a minute is too long. Hi, I'm John, hi hi hi hi hi while shaking hands, coach, your lineup please...any changes? good. Coach, you're lineup please...any changes...quickly cover any quirky ground rules. Hustle on and off the field. Keep a foot in the batter's box on plain vanilla balls and strikes. Have fun. Have a great game everyone.
Everybody knows the freaking run rules and time limits. If you have to tell them you are in charge, you're not doing your job as an umpire. Why even waste time telling coaches that all changes come through you? If they don't know that, they deserve the consequences of unannounced/illegal subs.
RANT OFF
