I know that in most sports there is a rule that prevents players from playing with blood on their uniform. Is this true in Major League Baseball? I could have seen LaRussa bringing this up in an effort to try to throw off Schilling's concentration. I am sure that it wouldn't have worked, but it might have been worth a try.

There is no "Blood Rule" under OBR. There is mention of blood on uniforms in the PBUC which is similar to the COMMUNICATABLE DISEASE PROCEDURES as in FED.

I did a search on "blood" in the MLBUM and came up empty.

From PBUC: effective "March 17, 1993, all Minor League Baseball umpires shall abide by the M.L.B. policy regarding incidents in which a player begins bleeding during a game. As the policy states, "It is important for umpires to know that some precautions will be taken that may cause brief delays in a game. For example, if a garment(s) is penetrated by blood or other potentially infectious materials, the garment(s) shall be removed immediately or as soon as feasible." Umpires are instructed to use good common sense in applying this directive."

The umpires apparently used good common sense to recognize a situation where a minor amount of bleeding was not detrimental to a major league game. And LaRussa apparently figured the same thing, and that the umpires would not tolerate excessive complaining about it.

For whatever reason, the MLBUM doesn't include that.

It should be noted that it is highly possible that the blood on his sock was only visible to the FOX cameras. Unless you're looking for it, as an umpire, I probably wouldn't see it, being that most of it was covered by his stirrup.

Peruvian - I love the quote, but what happens when...

Catcher - (turning to look at the plate ump) [loudly] "Where was that pitch at?"

Plate Ump - (while sweeping the plate) "Didn't your English teacher ever teach you not to end a sentence with a preposition?"

Catcher - "No, my coach instructs English, but he was too busy teaching us that any ball that passes through the zone is a strike."

:)

The ending I've always heard is:

Catcher - "OK, where was that pitch at, A$$HOLE!?!"

There is something in the FED rules about blood on the uniform.