Last post.

WCB wrote:

"I was able to show that he was wrong."

Nobody said they don't/didn't exist - merely that they hadn't seen/heard of them.

Sorry Charlie, merely saying they exist doesn't prove it. We're all from Missouri - show us.

Give me your home address and I'll mail you a copy of the cover.

No? Hmm, several others have said that they know of them. Your phones must not work in the state of Misery, because I can pick mine up and call any number of MLB reps. Maybe officiating.com contributor Scott Ehret will chime in and stick it up you a**. The books are out there, they served their purpose until consolidation and you don't have one. That says far more about where you've been then where I've worked.

You must be very lonely on Sundays. "Show me or I won't believe." (For my Jewish brethren, I offer Saturday.)

BTW, go back and look again. Mini Me and the Wizard said that the rule book for baseball was universal and that separate ones didn't exist. A couple of others came back and said that the knew there were and I dug in my attic to get them out. No need to apolgize, your agony is enough.

This is a correct statement. There is only one rule book for both leagues, however, the AL and NL each issued the red book and green book to their respective umpires. Now the seperate books have been replaced with the single volume known commonly as the "black" book. From your conversation w/ Mr. Ives this "black" book is the MLB Umpire Manual Procedures and Interpretations. That is a big difference from a rule book.

Windy, I am curious, why must you make an a$$ out of yourself? You, at times, offer insightful commentary that makes me think and become better, then you pull a Jekyl/Hyde move and begin rambling like that other moron from Chicage. I thought you were above that type of action. I would think that a man with the experience you claim to have and the faith you profess should be above some of the rambles, flames and name-calling crap that has come so profusely of late.

Windy, I am curious, why must you make an a$$ out of yourself? You, at times, offer insightful commentary that makes me think and become better, then you pull a Jekyl/Hyde move and begin rambling like <font color = red>that other moron from Chicage</font>. I thought you were above that type of action. I would think that a man with the experience you claim to have and the faith you profess <font color = red>should be above some of the rambles, flames and name-calling crap that has come so profusely of late</font>. [/B][/QUOTE]Kinda hypocritical, aren't you? You give Windy hell for name-calling and try to take the holier-than-thou route, and you're doing exactly the same thing?

Brothers-in-arms, I'd say.

Alan,

The black book that I'm referring to, indeed has the rules of Major League Baseball. Much like the red and green books, it contains additional information applicable to officiating the game at that level. It is part case book, part guidelines and part rules. I have one in front of me.



MLB Umpire Manual Procedures and Interpretations is another volume issued to all rostered MLBUA members and any AAA umpire that substitutes. I also have one of those.

I'm only pointing out the facts. A couple of people enjoyed piling on a few weeks ago and I was able to live through it. They called names and cast aspersions on my experience and knowledge. I defended myself and threw a few barbs back. I found it ironic that when I first posted this thread. Almost 60 members viewed it and not one responded. In my heart of hearts, I know that the Wizard and Mini Me were two of those (they can't help themselves when they see my name). Yet, they had no argument for the new evidence. No apology...no integrity. Mr. Ives chose to enter the fray and was thumped in the process. (If you throw stones...)

I appreciate the fact that you are trying to tame my thoughts. The fact is, that more than a few people here realize that if you are going to offer up something here, you need to be able to handle the criticism. I am a man of my convictions. I have lived a life that few get to enjoy. I make some radical opinions and stand by them. If I make a mistake, and I have mad many, I have tried to acknowledge as much. Some may view my opinions as mistaken ("Get the Call Right") while others see the thoughts behind them. I am not here to win friends or show people how intelligent I am. My thoughts are usually clear and my points salient.

Name calling is part of officiating. Having been there, I can testify to the fact that professional umpires know how to give it back without ejecting. I'm not a sailor, but when I worked at that level, if someone got in my face and started in, I always won.

WCB: Gee, I hate to break a promise but

You said: "Give me your home address and I'll mail you a copy of the cover."


So I went to your profile to send you an e-mail with my address but you have declined having your address available.

Chicage??
 

What is Chicage? Is that some place in Mexico?

Peace

Since when has that been the case? I do not know what world you live in, but the only place I hear officials name call is here (on the internet). Funny you do not see people man up behind a computer screen very often.

Peace

Jeff,
What part of my quote was unclear? Name calling has always been part of officiating! Go to almost any ball park in the country and yo'll hear the same taunts and jeers. If you were confused by the way professional baseball umpires have handled hot situations, I suggest you talk with Gerry Davis or Tim Tschida the next time they come through our area. I have had dinner with them and talked about what we've endured and laughed at how we handled the situations. They related stories of some of the most recognizable umps in the game and how nasty they can be behind the mask. Go to a minor league game some day and get close to the action. You'll be surprised at how a nose to nose discussion goes.
I'm not saying that's what should be done...it is done. We've heard and seen teh comments by players who have disagreements with umpires and how they accuse them of using the same language as the players. Sorry, but they aren't all angels up there.

Rich,
I figured you for being smarter than that. Yes, I hid my real name for all of this time, but left my actual e-mail address for some cyber geek to track down - no thanks.
Still want to play? Post your mailing address here. I'll send it (and I'm sure a few of my fans will have some fun with flaming poop.)

I am not talking about on a baseball field. I should know that you get that from fans. Hell, baseball is one of the tamest places to hear taunts on a field. Try a basketball court, not only can you hear the comments, you can touch the people saying it. But it is not apart of ripping each other (or at least it should not be).

There you go again (in honor of the debates tonight). ;)

Peace

WindBag,

That's the name that Mr. Ives gave you and it's appropriate.

In yesterday's post, I pointed out that a AAA umpire I know told me that there is only one set of rules and interpretations for minor league baseball. You led us to believe that there were two sets of rules or interpretations. You were misinformed.

Don't believe me? I recently acquired a bootleg copy of the "Official Baseball Rules Annotated" by Jim Evans. On the first page of the preface, Jim tells us that these rules are the rules for all minor league play. Lo and behold, when I look in the rules in his book, they are exactly the same as my $5.95 Official Baseball Rules book that's available to the public. The added value that Jim gives is in the explanations. In the back of the book are appendices which Jim says reflects National, American, or UDP interpretations of the rules. He attributes each explanation to the league which it applies. He tells us how the the two Major Leagues interpret the rules as well as the minor leagues. It is very clear that there are only one set of rules, not two sets as you initially claimed. There are two sets of interpretations.

Jim Evans had to get permission from Major League Baseball to reprint the Official Baseball Rules. He gives credit to Major League Baseball because they own the copyright. Now why would Major League Baseball own a copyright to rules that they don't play by?

So who are we to believe, a windbag with no name or Jim Evans? It's you who've been thumped, WindBag, not Rich. It is hard to believe that you have the experience and contacts that you claim when you did not know so basic a fact about the rules. Sure, there are two sets of interpretations for MLB only. What good do these interpretations do for anyone but an MLB umpire? The minor league interpretations are 99.9% in line with MLB anyway. Jim gives us the minor league interpretations in the main body of the book. There is only one set of OBR rules, however and you've wasted a whole lot of bandwidth confusing this forum.

I'm sure you'll follow up with a Rut like post to twist all facts and obscure your ignorance. We'll get another of your long winded answers about how us lesser umpires cannot understand the greatness that is WindBag. When all else fails, you'll find the spelling and grammatical errors in this post to deflect the criticism of your ignorance. Maybe you'll add another couple of lines to your fake resume to impress us. I can't wait.

I'll throw in an edit to give you something else to talk about besides your ignorance.

Now who is twisting the facts and the issues? Leave my name out of your mouth and off this board. If you do not like someone, leave my name out of it. You have not contributed one thing to this board but going after people. I have been here for some time. Some people agree some do not. That is life. But then again, your comments are the very reason we do not have as many people that even care to umpire anymore. Now are you going to go over my grammar and my spelling to divert this discussion?

Peace

WCB:

"Mr. Ives chose to enter the fray and was thumped in the process."

Thumped? It's hard to get thumped by a will-o-the-wisp.

I'm not the one who won't post my name.

I'm not the one that hides my e-mail address.

I'm not the one who volunteered to mail a photocopy of the book cover but won't let me send him my address. Of course, I'm in the phone book so you could look up my address and send me the copy - but you won't.

I'm not the one who claims to have something but avoids providing hard proof.

Re: Chicage??
 

Sorry, Chicage is redneck for Chicago. I forgot you Yankees don't speak redneck!

:D

Mr. Ives -

Nice try...the gauntlet was laid. Provide your address here, in living black and whte, and I will mail you a photocopy. Who's being the coward now?

Mr. Lyle,

Have you seen the red, green or black books?
Yes or No?

I suspect not or you would not be proclaiming your ignorance.

WCB