[GarthB]

"Youbefoolin" scrawled:

Carl, CC, C2, whatever all your butt-slapping buddies call you in the inner circle, I disagree.

We usually call him Cantankerous Carl. It used to be just Carl, but ever since he realized that some people just don't want to learn, he's gotten a little cranky.

It is not always an infield fly with the situation you suggested.

To normal umpires who understand the game, yes, it is.

Do not patronize, do not be all-inclusive, just try to learn the game.

Learn the game? LEARN THE GAME? LEARN THE GAME???
Do you have any inkling as to how stupid that statement is?

Without the internet a couple of years ago...who were you? So with that in mind, everyone who is taking all these "big-timers" who just sit around and post all the time, please read the rule books.

In answer to the question in the first sentence, in part only, of course: prior to the advent of the internet Carl was one of the highest regarded amateur umpires in the county working FED, NCAA, NBC and numerous other leagues and levels, a recognized and many times published rules expert, author, columnist, and clinican. This, of course, doesn't take into account his professional life.

It is impossible to respond to your second sentence. It just isn't constructed to make sense.

There are only two. Not complicated. Don't get caught up in someone trying to sell you "their" rule book. Fed or OBR. That is all you need. Study it, live it.

Only two?? I carry four and I know of at least three others.

Good try Carl. Now explain to everyone how you are messing up their infield fly calls.

How can one explain how they are doing something they are not doing? Is it similar to the sound of one hand clapping?

And what is up with the big words? Do you use that on the diamond? Good luck!

Aha...there's the problem. You don't understand big words. Let me simplify Carl's' message in three one-syllable (do you know what that means?) words:

You are wrong.

Again, the sound you are hearing is knee-slapping. You should be used to that.