Heard in the past week alone:
- Close play at plate. Ball, runner and catcher all get there about the same time. Runner stays upright, sticks a foot across the plate, totally avoids any contact with the catcher and is safe.
From the defensive dugout: "Hey Blue, doesn't he have to slide?".
- Runners on first and second, one out. Sky high pop up to F6, who is settled under it for the catch. Infield Fly called while ball is near apex. Runner on second takes off before the catch and is easily doubled off the bag.
From the offensive coach: "But you called an Infield Fly. Isn't the ball dead on that?".
- Runner on first. Ball hit to the fence. R1 rounds second, then collides with an oblivious F6. I signal and call obstruction. Ball is still not picked up by the outfielder and I decide that I'm protecting the runner to home.
Relay throw comes in and the runner is tagged out by a step at the plate. I call time and award the runner home.
Defensive coach wants the out (naturally). "Hey Blue, doesn't he just get one base?".
Me: "No".
Coach: "How do you know that he would have scored?".
Me: "That's my judgment. I can award any base that negates the effect of the obstruction".
Coach: "You can't just give them a run like that!".
Me: "Yes I can!".
And finally...
- Batter-runner beats out a grounder at first, overruns the bag, then casually and without making any move toward second base turns to his left and heads back to the bag.
Defensive coach: "Tag him, tag him, he turned the wrong way!".
Come to think of it, maybe these aren't "new rules" after all. Different coaches seem to make these same arguments several times a season, year after year!
