I realize that not many here have professional experience, but I have seen some tremendous resources on this Board. For the last week or so, there has been some discussion about rules differences between different OBR publications. I offered that even the American and National Leagues operated with different versions of the rule book for many years. Does anyone recall the Red (American) and Green (National) books? In addition to the Designated Hitter rule, American League umpires called a balk when the pitcher threw to first and the first baseman was further than ten feet away. There are several other rule differences and I'm trying to locate the most recent versions of these books. Since they consolidated, the MLB boys use a rule book that contains the DH rule variances.

Has anyone seen these two books? What is the most recent version you can find?

Anyone...Bueller? Bueller? Altar Boy? Bueller?

This seems amazing. Last week the Altar Boy challenged my assertion that the Major Leagues operated under separate rule books for American & National Leagues. I know that he and the Wizard have NO MINOR LEAGUE EXPERIENCE, but I would have thought that one of them would have tried to challenge my latest post. They seemed to eager to do it before I could back it up. Now, where are they? It seems that the Altar Boy just got thumped again by the "Fed/Juco wannabe".

The two separate books have been around for almost half of a century. Even the new black book for the MLB has a separate section for American League only rules. Since these books are issued to professional umpires, it is hard to get your hands on them. But, they are out there - especially the older versions. It makes for some boring reading, but a bar bet is a definite possibility.

WCB Wrote: "Even the new black book for the MLB has a separate section for American League only rules."


Wow. I have an electronic copy of the 2002 MLB Umpire Manual and someone must have omitted the "American League Only" section. Could you please post the section number and it's contents? Thanks.

[Edited by Rich Ives on Sep 28th, 2004 at 11:52 AM]

I suggest you get a copy of the "black book".
It contains the necesary rules and looks gret on your shelf.
The electronic version of the MLB rules looks great on your desktop.

Thanks for avoiding the question.

Just what do you mean by "The Black Book"? I said I have an e-copy of the MLB Umpire Manual.

I also have the PBUC, J/R, and BRD.

I also have an e-copy of the rule book.

I do not have JEA.

What else is there (other than these books) that covers PLAYING rules?

BTW, the Designated Hitter rule is optional. It's in the rule book. The NL just elects to not use one.

[Edited by Rich Ives on Sep 28th, 2004 at 05:22 PM]

I can see why you edited that complex retort.

The MLB umpires use the black book as their reference for their rulings. It is an actual printed text - published for professional umpires.

As I indicated earlier, there used to be separate books for each league. Now that they are under the world union umbrella, they have consolidated to one. Since you never served as a professional umpire, it will be very difficult to obtain this manual. However, you can always spend the money and live the dream or contact someone who has.

WindBag:

My edit was adding the comment about the DH rule.

The only "black book" I have heard of is:

<b>MLB UMPIRE MANUAL
PROCEDURES
AND INTERPRETATIONS


Office of the Commissioner of Baseball
Copyright ® 2002 Office of the Commissioner of Baseball
All rights reserved.


Developed by the
Joint Committee on Training
Ralph E. Nelson, Jr., Chairman
Frank Pulli
Steve Palermo
Tom Lepperd
Randy Marsh
Tim McClelland
Mark Hirschbeck

The Joint Committee on Training wishes
to express gratitude to the following
umpires who contributed significantly to
the development of this Manual:
Jeff Nelson
Jim Reynolds

Editing, Design and Layout by
Tom Lepperd</b>


Is that the "black book" you say exists?

Is that the one I have said twice before that I have and from which I copied the title page to this post?

Again, if this isn't it, what is it? Don't be shy now . . let us in on your little secret.

No secret...it is the official rule book issue to professional baseball umpires. Just like the red and green ones that you probably can't find, they are out there. If you don't have one or know how to get one - or even one of the red or green ones - then it says more about you than me.

Up until I posted about the different rule books (red and green), no one here even knew about them. Yet, here I am again showing the world that this Fed/Juco wannabe is a little more than what you think. If your obsession is so great, enroll in pro school - the next sessions are just months away - or contact MLBUA and ask them if they have ever heard of these colored books. Maybe you'll just pretened that they don't exist, because you've never seen one. (That could be because you've never been a professional umpire, but I digress.) I've read a number of your posts, you seem to dismiss a great deal of things that you can't prove. Are you an agnostic, too? That would make sense since the Altar Boy shares your sense of logic. (Uhhhh, I've never seen it - so it can't be!)

WCB: You must be in politics. You're in "Trust me, I have a plan (but won't show it to you)" mode.

Yes sir, the pea is definitely under one of the shells.

So what's a "professionsl umpire"? Do you mean you get paid to umpire (albeit amateur games) or do you mean you were once employed by a professional league?

If you were employed by a pro league, why aren't you now?

Most of the trustworthy sources have AND SHARE real names. Do you? Will you?

like a fish...
 

I'll rise on this lure because Windy has occasionally taught me something...

Since you, Windy, started this rant about Red Books and Green Books, I started digging. I can find, as late as 1985 a Red Book and Green Book, published by the MLB Staff. This book dealt primarily with rules interpretations, similar to the JEA, BRD or J/R. I have found references to a Red Book and Green Book, but not seen them, published as late as 1999 by The Sporting News and a Mr. Melchior as the editor. However, a search of the Library of Congress online catalogue returned negative.

Pulling the resources I have, including a AAA umpire, we have deduced that the books you are referencing are actually interpretation books specific to the leagues in question.

I do have a bootleg copy of a book that covers the ground rules of each park, etc published by the PBUC. Based upon the dialogue between yourself and Mr. Ives, I have deduced that this is the "Black Book" (although mine has phone #s):D.

Is it possible that the PBUC ceased publishing seperate books and now publishes one single volume known as the "Black Book?"

If I am off base, and you are what you claim to be, please fill me/us in. I would imagine that Carl would be interested as well b/c these could be authoritative rulings previously unknown to us "underlings".

Alan:

The PBUC book is the minor league book. It includes interpretations and "codes of conduct" - but no groundrules.

The "MLB Umpire Manual; Procedures and Interpreetations" is the equavalent book for MLB. I was published after the umpiring staffs were consolidated under the MLB umbrella vs. the prior way of having separate staffs for each league.

It has the following to say about groundrules:

<i>"1.7 GROUND RULES DISCUSSION
Ground rules are not permitted to conflict with Official Baseball Rules (see Official Baseball Rule 3.13) and are printed on the reverse side of the home club batting order cards. Conflicts or problems with ground rules should be reported immediately to the Umpiring Department by the
Crew Chief.

Umpires will be provided ground rules for each park on an annual basis.

Clubs may not change ground rules during the season unless prior approval has been obtained by the Office of the Commissioner.

Umpires should not hesitate to ask questions about ground rules during the meeting at home plate prior to a game."</i>

Re: like a fish...
 

Windy's showing his age. I called a AAA umpire friend about these books. He has been doing minor league ball since 1994 and he never received a red or green book. Since he has been involved in the game, all of the minor leagues play with the same rules. Some use the DH and some don't, but that rule is listed as optional.

Whatever Windy's alluding to must be over ten years old and maybe much older. My friend had never heard of these books in the minor leagues. He has heard about and seen books that MLB umpires use but they have no bearing on minor league play. A few amateur umpires acquire copies of these books but they're not for public distribution.

Windy's puffing out his chest and trying to act big. The rules of the 1980's and before are interesting for history buffs but they don't impact us in 2004. The fact that Windy's unaware of how long ago these books went out of date in the minor leagues, if they ever existed, raises some questions about his supposed experience.

I do not know if there were ever red and green rule books issued to umpires. Having never been a MLB umpire, one was never given to me.

I do know there were the AL and NL Red and Green books (and no, I do not remember which was which) that were used in the press box. These were hard cover books, and I saw some with spiral binding so they would lay flat when opened.

The did contain the rules, along with many records, previous years results by team and by player, etc., and were primarily used by the media. They were certainly not of a size convenient for carrying around as a rule book would be.

When first issued, these were only available through the MLB clubs. Later they were offered for sale through some league representative, and even later, were sold in bookstores after the Bill James stat expansion of the 1980s.

If these are the Red and Green books in question, the rules were a very small part of the contents. But they were there, so I guess that made these "red and green rulebooks".

Are you a peacock? It sure sounds like you're trying to show some sort of dominance on something that means absolutely nothing.

Although I can't speak for Altar Boy or Wizard, I hazard a guess that they didn't respond because they don't want to talk to you. Which is the decision I should have made instead of typing this message.

Edit: this simple message was edited so that you think there was originally something complex here.

[Edited by JugglingReferee on Sep 30th, 2004 at 09:50 AM]

Why is it that when one member says there are no separate rules books for American and National League umpires, another cannot disprove him? That was alleged and I was able to show that he was wrong. I take satisfaction in this and the fact that I have met a standard that few do. I was hired to be a Minor League umpire and worked that level of baseball for several years, before realizing that it wasn't fun. Every call was life or death and many of the players were no better than the ones I saw in major college baseball. I still work as a local Minor Legue umpire for several independent leagues in my area.

The last red book that I have is from 1998. The last green one is from 1996. The black book I have is the current annum. These books are issued to all professional umpires and anyone who worked during the strike year. To assist Mr. Ives, a professional umpire is one who is hired to work professional baseball. Most independent leagues provide rule books to their officials, but they are not the official one given by those that are actively involved in the Minor or Major Leagues.

I have many friends that have worked in the Minors. All of them have these books. If one of them was still at it since 1994, I would have to sit him down for a talk. If he didn't receive one of these books, it may be that he was affiliated with an independent league or that the director thought better of it.

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

Hey WBAH . . why should I post my address for someone who hasn't the guts to post his name?

I told you how to find it. You can also find an address at http://www.eteamz.com/owego that you can use.

Been out of town on business for a while. Had to double check the settings on my "favorites". I was sure I stumbled into a thread at McGriffs.

You challenged me to prove the books exist. Others have supported my claim, told you that the books are real and issued to professional umpires, but that is not enough. I offered to photocopy the cover and mail it to you. I called your bluff and now you are the one hiding.

You must be the last daft person in your state. I have said numerous times that I will not provide a means for identifying myself. Giving an email address or sending you an email that can then be traced back to myself, my businesses or a source related to me is too easy.

If you choose to hide your physical address from prying eyes, then you are living in a glass house. You don't want to make it easy for those who despise you to wield the hammer of revenge, but you want me to take the mask off. Nice try, but you're not that clever. The offer was made and it still stands.

You remind me of the guy who never made it as a cop, but has a scanner in each room and read all of the law enforcement rags. You never made it, so you want to have the same knowledge as those that did. It has become painfully obvious that it will never happen.

I though this was fitting for you:

(It’s one thing to be certain. It’s another to be certain and wrong.)
~ John Kerry from the 9/30/04 Presidential debate

Maybe this will help stem the flow:

Owego Little League
Rich Ives
Hyde Park
PO Box 2
Owego, New York
13827

well, there ya go....time to put up or......nah, won't happen in a million years *grin*

Now he's probably worried about leaving his DNA on the envelope and having his identity revealed.

It's going in the mail on Monday.

Garth,
If you want in on this battle...let me know. Otherwise, I suggest that you stand back.

As an ex-law enforcement officer, I would think you would think better than doing a hit and run. Those guys are cowards, aren't they?

[QUOTE]Originally posted by WindyCityBlue
It's going in the mail on Monday.

Garth,
If you want in on this battle...let me know. Otherwise, I suggest that you stand back.


This is a battle? It looks more like a pillow fight. I was about to suggest you all just straighten out your skirts and go home.

As an ex-law enforcement officer, I would think you would think better than doing a hit and run. Those guys are cowards, aren't they?

Somebody ran?

[Edited by GarthB on Oct 1st, 2004 at 04:46 PM]

piling on---15 yard penalty.
WCB- you take frontal hits with frontal attacks, but some people do drive by shootings.

See WCB - it's really easy. Just took a tiny bit of brain power. BTW, you can leave out the "Hyde Park" part of the address. It may take awhile to get to me as I'm not the one who checks the league mail.

If you go poking around officiating.com a bit more, you'll find a bio on me too.

As I said, the gutless one is the one who refuses to identify himself.


p.s. (the edit) Don't forget that I never said it didn't exist, only that I'd never heard of it or seen it. While you're at it, copy a couple of pages of the red and green books illustrating where the rules are different. Thanks.

BTW, didn't the Supremes just rule that a person who refuses to identify himself can be attested for it (interfering with governmental administration or some such)?

[Edited by Rich Ives on Oct 1st, 2004 at 05:03 PM]

While I won't pretend to know what you're talking about, here is an easy way to resolve this:

Rich: Write to WUA and ask them for a description of these alleged "rule" books. Windy seems to be tap dancing afer his initial post. Most likely they were League books that contained the ML rules and different League interpretations. The rules were most assuredly the same. The interps and instructions to umpires no doubt had differences. It's quite possible that with the end of "league" umpires, they are no longer published.

I'm sure the WUA will give you a straight and accurate answer.

Wow, a logical response! More than a few of us have said this all along.

Mr. Ives,
You implied that you were in "The Show Me State" - the last time I checked that was Missouri. That was misleading - a lie, as it were, since you did nothing to clear up that misclonception. Someone else had to provide an address for you - a P.O. Box for an association, you pansy! You will get exactly what I offered all along. Learn to read.

From your fingertips -
BTW, didn't the Supremes just rule that a person who refuses to identify himself can be attested for it (interfering with governmental administration or some such)?

The word is "ARRESTED" and that is if they don't identify themselves to a sworn law enforcement official when requested. It must be done in person and with cause. Since you don't meet eithe of those requirements, you are invited to G.F.Y.

From your fingertips also:
- "miscloneception"?- Did you try to clone yourself, Windy, and you missed?
- "eithe"?- The eithe of Missouri are upon you? Nice lisp (or lipth) you got there!

http://www.stopstart.btinternet.co.uk/nc/Crayon.gif

-plus one of those mandatory edits!

[Edited by Jurassic Referee on Oct 1st, 2004 at 06:38 PM]

Ooooooooo, Garth, you should be very scared. The number one WindBag on the internet has you in his sites.

Hey, WindBag, contrary to your assertions, you've yet to provide any evidence that red and green books have any relevance to the games that umpires on this forum work. Those books only apply to the big leagues. They don't apply to the minor leagues. Are you adding Major League Baseball umpiring to your resume?

If not, then these books are only a wannabee's souvenirs. Congratulations, WindBag, you own the souvenirs and we don't. Without a big league appointment, you own the equivalent of a freezer in Antarctica. We're very impressed.

Garth, let us bow down before the greatness that is WindBag.

One more thing, WindBag. I never heard anyone deny the existence of books of interpretations in MLB. What we have denied, is that these interpetations are a separate rulebook. The falsehood of a separate rulebook that only the great WindBag has seen is one that you continue to perpetuate.

WCB: <i>"You implied that you were in "The Show Me State" - the last time I checked that was Missouri. That was misleading - a lie, as it were, since you did nothing to clear up that misclonception."</i>

What I said was "We're all from Missoui - show us" - a common American usage that means "I don't believe it until I see it." If you were conversant in American slang you'd know that. You'd also recognize that, as I used 'we" and 'us' it was referring to the group, not me. Besides, my bio on the site has where I'm from and I have my e-mail in my profile.

WCB: <i>"If you choose to hide your physical address from prying eyes, then you are living in a glass house."</i>

It's not hidden. It's in the phone book. The LL address is an alternate that is slightly more accessable.



arrested/attested - hey, the t is next to r. So I can't type - big deal.

BTW, what's a "misclonception"

Hey Garth, this is just PG. McGriff runs R most of the time ;-)

BTW, do you think WCB would go nuts if we told him my baseball involvement?

[Edited by Rich Ives on Oct 1st, 2004 at 10:28 PM]

No.

If you were anyone important, I would have heard of you by now. Remember, I travel ALL OVER THE COUNTRY for baseball. I've never heard anyone say, "Hey, I get to work with Ives next week."

On the other hand, you have no idea who I am or what my involvement is at any level. In chess, they call that "Check mate".

On the Internet, we call that "trolling."

We've never heard of WindBag, either. As far as we know, you're a total fake. It's highly unlikely that someone who had achieved everything you say would act like you. Anybody can come here and pretend to be anything they want. For all we know, you're a T-ball umpire.

Morganna, the kissing broad, travels ALL OVER THE COUNTRY for baseball. So do sportscasters and groupies. You act more like a groupie than an umpire.

By the way, in chess it's called cheating when you hide your pieces, not "checkmate". You don't know the rules to chess anymore than you do for baseball.

You just couldn't help yourself, could you?

Until you can successfully establish my identity, you are p*ssing in the wind. Your accomplishments on the field pale in comparison to mine. They always have and always will.

As for your weak chess/hidden identity analogy, you should really educate yourself a little more. Chess masters rove online and play any comer. It's pretty easy to "hide your identity" behind a psedonym and engage in the match. You should really try it sometime. From your mastery of this Board, I can't imagine our match would last very long. Again, you would be left sobbing and wondering..."What happened? I thought I was good."

I used to work with guys like you - people who thought they deserved the big games and were better than the guys that actually paid their dues and got there on their skill. My back started to hurt from carrying them all of the time. I'm afraid that don't grasp that, yet.

This lame B.S. is getting old. "Blah,blah,blah,you've
never done what I SAY I've done.You're just jealous. Take
my word for it, I'm important."
These are the things I continue to hear in your posts.
Why don't we all be happy in whatever level baseball we
call, and not worry about what level someone else works,
and not constantly talk about how nobody knows you and
how wonderfully important you are?


P.S.

This post is not aimed at any one person in particular,
but if it resembles you........

Away for the weekend.

I didn't say I was important. I just asked if we should let you know what my involvement in baseball is. Of course you could find out if you did just a smidgen of research.

Why would I do that?


My life is not that empty. I do not need to know anything more about you. You've already told us all I need to know.

WindyCityBlue,
No winner?
That would be called a "<U>Stale mate</U>", methinks. ;)
mick

Yes, presume you know instead of knowing. That's a really good approach to life.

It is sure getting stale.

Peace

C'mon Rut, admit the truth for once. You're ecstatic that WindBag has replaced you as the number one punching bag in internet officiating. It's not stale to you at all. You're lovin it. :D

It's not the topic that's stale, Bob.
Rut is still eatin' that old popcorn.
mick

I let my work on the field do the talking.
 

Bob,

I am not you. I do not put much credibility in what someone says on the internet. So if you guys do not like the words that Windy might say, that is your problem. I have had my battles with the man and I found them funny. He lives in my backyard and he has never rattled me once. As a matter of fact I have accomplished more sense he and others starting ripping me. If I was afraid of what people thought, I would not use my real name or tell people where I live.

Keep throwing your arrows at me, they only make me laugh.
;)

Peace

If you consider those your best punches, I can see why you've never been accused of steroid abuse.

You need to workout a little more before I'll feel them.
You might want to try brushing up on your use of our native tongue. Try multi-syllable words, as well. Finally, your thoughts might be clearer if you didn't use your forehead to type. Opposable thumbs are a good thing, I suggest you remove your from your ***.

Is there a baseball question that we can answer for you?
You seem awfully obsessed lately. :)

Where is a moderator when we need one?