Israeli Baseball League
 

Anybody know where the umps were recruited from? The all look to be Americans -one guy has a US flag on the back of his uniform shirt....

The American guys are from SC, NC and FL. There are a few Israelis rotating in as part of the crews as well.

The American flag no the back of all the shirts is the result of the American guys providing the uniforms for all the league officials. Though it isn't a critical matter, the American flags may be changed to Israeli flags, at least for the Israeli umpires.

Why is it that umpires must make political statements by wearing the flag of any country?

The same reason you make inane posts in almost every thread you stumble upon. Because they can.

Ignore list has worked great for me.

Good question.

Personally, I think if the imported Yanks have an American flag on their backs, us locals should have the Israeli flag.

While we are on the subject, consider these interesting points:

• We (IBL umpires) have been instructed to *tighten* the strike zone so that the upper point is just above the belly button. What do you think?
  
• Obstruction is signaled using a "delayed dead ball" sign. Left hand straight out in a fist, and say "obstruction". Have any of you used this signal? (I thought it was only a softball signal)
  
• The IBL plays 7 innings (I like this rule, as it keeps the games to about 2 hours or so).
  
• A tie game is to be decided by a home-run derby (no extra innings).

Shmuel

Soccer fans?
 

Please explain how a home run derby would fairly adjudicate individual or team performance?

same here, and fitump56 just made the roster.

The delayed dead ball signal is what we use here for HS (FED) baseball.

I kind of like the home run derby concept, sounds like fun. Oh wait, are we allowed to have fun?

Because some take pride in their country.


Tim.

Home run derby
 

If you're not a Home Run hitter, it sounds like ... a relay race around the bases. :)
If you're a Home Run hitter, it sounds like ... softball! :D

Originally Posted by fitump56
Why is it that umpires must make political statements by wearing the flag of any country?

Pride can be displayed without wearing a flag; this came into popularity after 9/11

The question is where does non uniform badges, ribbons and paraphenelia end? I say it stops with zero, then there are no arguments.

Do you support AIDS prevention, do you wear a ribbon demonstrating so? Are you for gay rights, got a pinkie for that one? Breast cancer, people with dual citizenships, how about a Iranian flag for Shamir? He's proud of his country.

We have many ways to express our interests.....off the ballfield, thank you.

If one, why not the other. Your logic is sound.

I havent' seen the home run derby in action yet, so I can't give you my personal take on it, BUT

The general idea is to avoid dragging out the games to umpteen extra innings - just finish it and go home. Israelis don't have a lot of patience with anything, much less baseball - they complain the game is boring and they don't understand it. To just go on and on and on and on on top of all that would be a killer. So, do a derby (remember it's team vs. team, so there's got to be a few sluggers there), and finish it.

Also, it's kind of exciting to see a home run, especially in the fields here. We don't have big stands, in fact, watching a game is akin to watching a minor league game or even a High School game, you are that close to the field (the Dodgers, for instance, would charge $100+ for similar seats).

Personally, I piped up for the softball rule of putting the player who made the last out on second base, but this was not a popular suggestion.

I'll keep you posted.


Shmuel

Falls inline with the soccer (futbol) shootout, I can see the cultural advantage.

Originally Posted by fitump56
Why is it that umpires must make political statements by wearing the flag of any country?

Need help with "Ignore", PM me. If not, back to Kansas, Dorothy.

Ok, here's a perfect example of one of your weirdo posts.

First, pink is for breast cancer awareness, and I proudly display a pink "support the cure" magnet on the back of my car.

Second, I for one American did not all of a sudden become patriotic after 9/11. I proudly served in my country's military, back when it was far more unpopular to do so. I have been waving that Grand Old Flag all my life, and I'm damn proud to be an American where I have the right to do it! There are a whole lot of places where you can't freely express yourself.

Third, what makes you think it's any of your damn business what anyone wears, especially when it comes to supporting our national patriotism? Or breast cancer research? Or Father's Day? The pros wear the pink and blue ribbons when these days roll around. What's wrong with that.

Fourth, who is Shamir, and why is he umpiring baseball in Iran? If you are talking about Shmuelg, he lives in Israel, where they actually play baseball, and you are very insulting.

At least you're unoriginal as well as misinformed. Pull up my profile and click on "Add to ignore list." And I'll take that as a check mate for me.

Originally Posted by fitump56
Originally Posted by fitump56
Why is it that umpires must make political statements by wearing the flag of any country?


Pride can be displayed without wearing a flag; this came into popularity after 9/11 where our patriotic tendencies got so many of us duped by El Busho and the slaughter of American kids in Iraq.

The question is where does non uniform badges, ribbons and paraphenelia end? I say it stops with zero, then there are no arguments.

Do you support AIDS prevention, do you wear a ribbon demonstrating so? Are you for gay rights, got a pinkie for that one? Breast cancer, people with dual citizenships, how about a Iranian flag for Shamir? He's proud of his country.

We have many ways to express our interests.....off the ballfield, thank you.
Excellent. Proper place for it. Off the ballfield.

We agree, and you do so off the ballfield.

Asked and answered.

I have no idea, perhaps you missed the point that Shamir in my post was not a real individual :eek: and as to why not in Iran, why not? Is Iran off limits to baseball?

I insulted no one matter of fact, if you had read my posts rather than going off on some tangent, you would have seen I fully supported Shmuelg use of the Israeli flag under the so-called patriotic right to support your home country.

Will you guys please stop the bickering?

On the flag subject, I was thinking: They teach us that an ump should be "invisible", so should it not behoove us to remove such symbols from our uniform (American or Israeli or Iranian or Bosnian or Upper Voltan flags)?

ShmuelG

Sometimes it's required by the association. (Yes, I recognize that an umpire could choose to not follow the directive or to not work for the association.)

Keep the rest of the political crap out fo this forum.

One good reason, yes, it draws attention (this invisibility stuff is BS btw); it's flat inappropriate.

Our association requires us to wear a Flag patch on the left sleeve. It does say in our constitution that it is not required, and that there is no penatly for not having it, but most consider it a part of the unifrom.

I believe the basketball association in our area requires the patch on the back of their neck as well.

Do most associations not mandate this?

Hit and miss, if they require it, a huge mistake IMNSHO, then it is what it is.

I guess it's become apparent that there are some that believe wearing a patch of the flag of your country is the wrong thing to do. Personally I think it's a BS position to take. Since we all know you can't please everyone, I'd say you should do what you think is right, detractors be damned.


Tim.