Babe Ruth Umpires

[mbyron]

This is an unusual (i.e. not in all codes) rule, and so the coaches probably think you're making it up. If it is widely enforced in your area, they have no excuse. If you're the only one enforcing it, you might consider discussing it with your association before you press to hard.

You're clearly interpreting the rule correctly, but I doubt that's the real issue.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Babe Ruth is probably spinning in his grave to think that a league named after him would make a rule prohibiting adult coaches from warming up a pitcher without a mask. Talk about lame, not even the FED goes that far!

[DG]

This rule is routinely ignored at the local level in my area, and at District Tournament level. If you make it to the State tournament and beyond it will be enforced.

I got black balled by a league last year by insisting that a non-adult "coach" wear a mask to warmup a pitcher, in two separate games. They claimed he was a coach and the league commissioner approved, but he was 16 and I refused to let him warmup without a mask. The league agreed to enforce the rule with all their coaches, for non-adults, but I was gone.

It happened a week before Legion ball started so it didn't break my heart.

[BigUmp56]

At what point does this become a liability issue for us, DG? It's written in black and white that it's a requirement, so if we ignore it are we putting ourselves at risk of litigation would be my main concern.



Tim.

[BlueLawyer]

Originally Posted by BigUmp56

At what point does this become a liability issue for us, DG? It's written in black and white that it's a requirement, so if we ignore it are we putting ourselves at risk of litigation would be my main concern.
Tim.

Tim:
I think the rule is the rule is the rule. The book says it, so we should enforce it.

Can a case be made that you were negligent if you let a coach climb back there without a mask and he gets hit? Maybe. The question would be what would a reasonable umpire do under the circumstances?

Do all reasonable umpires enforce all rules to the letter?

How many of us make the base coaches stand in their respective boxes? How many fields don't even have them drawn? Or, as the OBR comment says "It has been common practice for many years for some coaches to put one foot outside the coach’s box or stand astride or otherwise be slightly outside the coaching box lines. The coach shall not be considered out of the box unless the opposing manager complains . . ." What if the 3B coach gets nailed in the nose with a foul ball when he's standing 20 feet from the box? Do I get sued for not making him stand there?

Here's my point: yeah, maybe, MAYBE you can get sued. But more important is to enforce the rule because it's the rule.

Strikes and outs!

[IceGator8]

We don't enforce it until district and state tournements.

Most of the state Babe Ruth board members are in my assoc. and they have never mentioned it being a safety issue. In fact it's been explained to me that the rule was made so that coaches would find it incovenient to warm up the pitcher. This would open it up for bench players to warm up the pitcher and help them keep their heads in the game.

I could be wrong but that's one take on it.

Eric

[nickrego]

Player's...Yes (keep an eye on the bullpen).

Adults...No (play at your own risk).

[FitUmp]

Originally Posted by BigUmp56

At what point does this become a liability issue for us, DG? It's written in black and white that it's a requirement, so if we ignore it are we putting ourselves at risk of litigation would be my main concern.



Tim.

Successful litigation is worthless without successful collections of the monetary awards. If you have no assets, other than your ump fees, then what's the issue?

[BigUmp56]

Originally Posted by FitUmp

Successful litigation is worthless without successful collections of the monetary awards. If you have no assets, other than your ump fees, then what's the issue?

I'm not sure I understand your point. That is unless this was a veiled insult implying that I have no attatchable assets.


Tim.

[FitUmp]

Originally Posted by BigUmp56

I'm not sure I understand your point. That is unless this was a veiled insult implying that I have no attatchable assets.


Tim.

It's insulting to be poor?

[FitUmp]

Originally Posted by BigUmp56

I'm not sure I understand your point. That is unless this was a veiled insult implying that I have no attatchable assets.

Tim.

Litigation cost money. If you litigate a turnip for blood, you're a fool. If you are a turnip, then you have no problems with being litigated. If you're smart and have exposed assets, then you know how to remove them from being attached. If you have assets and you expose them to atachment via litigation, then you get what you deserve. Any more than this and I will have to charge you. If you don't pay, I will litigate you. If you are exposed, which I bet you are.

[FitUmp]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

Babe Ruth is probably spinning in his grave to think that a league named after him would make a rule prohibiting adult coaches from warming up a pitcher without a mask. Talk about lame, not even the FED goes that far!

Only three types of people would w/up P with no mask, the retarded, the moronic and the imbecilic. And the idiotic, sorry, that makes four.