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Doug,

:D Make that 2 votes.:D

Quote:

Originally Posted by GarthB

Sure we can. And we do.

Do you enforce the coach's box literally and 100% of the time? Do you stop play and get F3's foot in bounds every time you see it in foul territory prior to a pitch?

We all pick and choose to a degree. The issue is: "to what degree?"

Upon further consideration, Garth, I must agree with your assessment. "To
what degree", indeed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by aceholleran

This is more of a philosophical thread than a rules-oriented one.

I had a game last night where I called two violations on a pitcher, a few innings apart, same chucker.

I also had to warn coaches from both teams about leaving the dugout, a LL rule I insist upon. FYI, they were jumping out from behind dugout fence to talk to/position players.

As I said, I have no doubt about these calls/instances. But, the age-old dilemma erupts: When do we "leave things be" -- and when do we insert ourselves into the game, especially when a pard is a newer ump or seems lax on rules.

I don't wanna be Torquemada

You ARE Torguemada if you enforce every rule, all the time. Controversy follows you because you are an OOO. Lighten up.

A coach steps out of the dugout to holler instructions to his players. Yawn...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carbide Keyman

Ace,

JMHO, but it might not be the message, but the way in which it was delivered ?

Might it be that you are more "officius" than the majority of your brethren ?

Might it be that you are extremely accomplished at your craft, and you enjoy letting everyone know just how accomplished you are ?

Might it be you just enjoy a good scuffle ?

Or, might it be that I'm full of sh!t and don't know what the fu(k I'm talking about.

BTW, my wife votes for the last one.:D

Doug

These are all valid criticisms, and I'm sure I've been guilty of all of them.

I do believe that I exited my "offcius" in the mid 80s.

I am like the senior guy around here in LL; I get tons of respect from umps, players and coaches. I try not to puff my chest out about this.

I don't mind a good scuffle. OTOH, I have had exactly 2 EJs in 29 years of post-season, youth-league baseball. In 15 or so years of HS and a summer college league, I had one EJ.

However, I think every umpire who really takes the craft seriously should peer into the looking glass and ask him/herself the same questions you asked me!

Ace

I think there are a vast set of rules that directly affect the play of the game - and these should be enforced 100%.

Then there are those rules that don't affect the play of the game as much as they affect the flow or administration of the game. These are the rules for which we can be strict only when necessary, and lax when it calls for it. Coaches out of the box, batters taking signs from out of the box (in suck rulesets where this is applicable), coaches wearing gear to warm up pitchers (I would enforce this 99% of the time, but when Johnny lob-ball is coming in to just get through a game, I think it may be acceptable to let this slide), stuff like that. Enforce if it's causing you a problem, or if the coach is a jaggass. Let it go when it truly doesn't matter.

Quote:

Originally Posted by aceholleran

I agree 100% with you.

I ask and answer those questions after every game where I have a "charged" situation.

I try to be brutally honest.

I think it has made me a better umpire. But, lookin' in that mirror and bein' truthful is very difficult and not necessarily pleasant.

Doug

Quote:

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

Doug,

:D Make that 2 votes.:D

I love ya, man !!!!:D

Doug