Ball (I mean) State of Confusion

[PeteBooth]

Boy has the Balk topic really been "pounded" lately. We have the "Letter of the law" Group and we have Let's take at look at the True Intenet Group (BTW I am part of this group) which leads me to the following:

I'M SO CONFUSED.

Let's face it any new or first year umpire reading these boards lately must be saying to him / herself - What the hell is going on here.

When I first started, one of my very first calls was wrong - wouldn't you know it right out of the shoot didn't even have my feet wet. F1 threw a pitch in the dirt and I immediately called dead ball. I could see my partner at the time - "Cringe".

Since it was LL, apparently the coaches didn't know the rule either because no-one said anything to me. In between innings my partner explained the rule to me. ok got that one

Now next inning - Foul Tip - You guessed it - I called Foul Ball and as we all know by now - Very different rulings. So needless to say I had a very auspicious beginning.

Now I started to feel comfortable - read the rule-book and on my merry way - then I discover the Internet Boards - Purely by accident. At the time I was searching the Net - I was interested in finding bargains on umpire equipment.
I did on search on the Keyword Umpire and started inquiring on the various sites. My first site was the old TeamDiscovery Board which now is known as eteamz.

I thought I knew the rulebook until I started reading all the threads on the various Boards. If we can't agree amongst ourselves on certain topics, can you imagine what the coaches think.

The problem IMO is the OBR rulebook for leagues using those rules. OBR was written for the PRO Game and to be Officiated by PRO Umpires. Pro Umpires make a good living - 6 Figure Salaries plus all the quirks. Most of us (depends upon your association) make on average probably $50-$60 per game, yet our job seems harder because the Threads we have been discussing lately for all practical purposes NEVER HAPPEN at the PRO Level.

The rules we have been discussing IMO should be made clearer in the rule book so that there is no confusion. Amateur leagues should have their own set of rules because as was said many Times one cannot compare the Amateur Game to the PRO Game - It's like Night and Day.

When is the last time you heard Davy Johnson (I know he is fired) yell to Kevin Brown - Hey Kev - go from the Set - It just doesn't happen but happens on numerous occassions in Amateur Ball - hence IMO a need for a CLEAR CONCISE ruling so that there is no confusion.

I'm sure you guys can think of many other rules that are similiar in nature to our latest balk Discussion.

I would like once and for all for Amateur Leagues to simply have THEIR own set of rules that FIT THE LEVEL of play for Amateur Ball.

Pete Booth