Balk or not?

[Daryl H. Long]

Originally posted by Tim C
AGAIN Rich we differ,

We do not allow a pitcher to wipe off signs illegally.

We call that a balk. We call it at all levels and every time.

TimC,

When I umpire under NF rules I call the game how they want it called. IF NCAA, then according to their rules.

For the balks we have discussed, if FED says call them then I call them. For many situation I totally disagree with FED but I do not apply my own philosphy to the game.

As far as my own philosophy is concerned I always give rules support (verbatim from NF Rule book, not something I made up)for every ruling I post. Sometimes it shows I disagree with interpretations given by NF Rules committee. I do not accept their interps blindly just because they are the rules makers and I am not. That does not make me any less knowledgable than they are nor does it mean they can never make a mistake. And if anyone is offended that I question the rules committee, either those on the rules committee or anyone reading this forum, in my opinion they are either arrogant or ignorant.

You said in earlier post I was the one who makes up my own rules. It does not bother me what you think and I really do enjoy discussing our differences in a scholarly way. At least you try to explain yourself with rules citations.

But, I do have a final question for you. Who is it who really makes up their own rules? Me, who calls the game according to FED interps even though I believe them to be wrong...or...Rich and others who have admitted they ignore certain interps and call the game their way? Just think about it, that is all I ask.



[Edited by Daryl H. Long on Apr 14th, 2005 at 08:25 PM]