Quote:
Originally posted by Ranger
Here is an idea: If you don't use common sense when enforcing the rules, you'll do a poor job. To call baseball, or any sport, exactly by the book is to call a "perfect game," which causes trouble every time.
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In 1981 I gave my first speech to the annual Texas State Umpires Association. The title was: "How to Call a Perfect Game." As I stood outside the door, waiting for the crowd to enter, I saw Durwood Merrill, featured speaker for the banquet the next day, headed inside with his good friend, Odie Adams. "Psst, Odie," I hissed. "What's Durwood doing here?" "Hell, Carl, he read the title of your speech and said, 'By God, I want to meet the sumbitch who can do that.'"
Durwood hadn't heard the subtitle to my talk, which was: "How to Call a Perfect Game, or Why I Got Scratched in San Benito."
I made my national reputation as an advocate for common sense umpiring. Warren's suggestions are the epitome of common sense, at least at the higher levels he calls. What works when AAA-1 Bail Bonds plays Wilkenson Chiropractic (Mustang league in my town) won't always get it done when the Melbourne Koalas play the Sydney 'Roos.