[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Larks

My main point isn't so much relevant to what umpires do. It's the rule itself and the fact that tournaments and leagues throughout the country set it aside at their convenience. Then we go to the National and all the sudden it's enforced and I gotta tell you, that rule has teeth. In our case, we did not know the rule (please don't reply "well you should have")

Well, you sh.....okay

and it was not covered in ground rules or the managers meeting.

That's because it is not a ground rule, nor a special rule that needs to be covered.

Your issue is with your local tournaments/leagues. Personally, I don't know what the big deal is about running out a ball you hit over the fence for a run.

So we reverted to what we always do and lost a two run homer as a result.
I think its selectively (intentionally or unintentionally) enforced at all levels which leads to problems. Do we really want teams to lose earned runs in a national tournament as a result of a rule that is only enforced one weekend a year??

I'm sorry, but I cannot answer this any other way.

The rule is the rule. It hasn't changed for a couple years. The only ones at fault here is your team. There is nothing selective about it. The only time the rule can be "officially" discarded is by a tournament director as a speed-up rule in an attempt to complete a tournament delayed by weather or some other reason out of the TD's control.

Your issue is with those who CHANGE the rule at their discretion, not those whom abide by it without exception. Just because something happens in your area or games does not mean it happens everywhere. I can tell you that I've never allowed players to not run out home runs unless that classification was permitted by rule which would be the Exception to 4.3.

If you want to keep it fine, but how about adding that as an item to be reviewed during ground rules. We cover run rules and home run limits....how about making sure everyone knows to run em out. Or....just drop it and quit running them out. Why should B & C be any different than A in this regard?

Again, it is not a ground rule or a special rule. Why is B & C different? What about D, are they not the same? As I stated earlier, it is a speed-up rule meant to deal with a select few, not the masses.

Of course, every time a runner is not required to run the bases on a HR, the defense loses anywhere from four to ten possible opportunities to get an out.

I know this isn't the answer you wanted to hear, but it's the only one available.