Is it a balk?

[Don Mueller]

Originally Posted by UmpLarryJohnson

then WHY didnt' the rat protest the game? Isnt' that his JOB (among other things)?

I don't know that he didn't, do you?

Besides, I don't particularly care one way or another, I was speaking generally to the sentiment on this thread that an umpire has no effect on the outcome.
I don't minimize the role of the ump so much to say that his calls aren't crucial to outcomes. They most certainly are.
They are so crucial that we spend much time and effort to learn proper mechanics and positioning so that we have the best opportunity to make the correct call. If the calls were not important who cares if we don't hustle to get in good position or if we have a good angle or not, heck if it's not important and crucial then I'll just stay in A and minimize my risk of injury.
A blown rules interp can impact a game, nothing wrong with admitting it, it's the truth.
In the rare instance that a coach knows you blew the rule then mark one up for the rats the score is already so lopsided they can never catch up.