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Let me highlight one situation that somewhat epidomizes situation. Several years ago I drove close to 200 miles with colleagues, both have been president of our Fed Chapter and well experienced, to do HS playoff regional series. 3 man crew requested of well experienced officials. Knowing that I DO call the rules, my partners impressed upon me to let them call any balks.
During the game with R1 and R3 and pitcher on rubber having stretched and set, R1 breaks to 2nd. F1 steps forward off rubber WITH HIS PIVOT FOOT approx 12"-18", turns to 1st and continues to turn and deliver to 2nd. My immediate instinct was to call balk for coming forward off rubber but caught myself to allow partners to call it as agreed. Nothing was called, R1 ends up in rundown, R3 breaks to plate, R1 continues to 2nd, R3 ultimately dives in safely at 3rd. No coaches arguments, nothing!!
Between innings I discuss in short center with my field partner. He indicates to me he didn't see F1 come forward off rubber. After game, well away from field going to lockers, UIC says, "did y'all know that F1 came off rubber forward with his pivot foot on that rundown play" (thereby acknowledging my judgement as same). He continued to talk about what a great "no call" that was as the coaches didn't argue after play was over.
Sorry guys, I wasn't impressed with field partner for not seeing it, I wasn't impressed with UIC for bragging about our great no call, and I wasn't impressed with myself for not calling what I should have called. We are all highly respected senior officials. I have not been swayed in that same manner since.
Yet this situation illustrates the hypocrisy I feel I see among many who teach the rules, see and know the situations vs. the rules, yet fail to apply them. This is only one of several similar incidents. Am I the only one who sees things like this? Do not the Pro incidents shown in the initial post reflect similar application of rules? I suspect those officials knew the rules. The plays SEEMED obvious, at least to me. I do, indeed, have difficulty digesting some of these hapennings.
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