Confront a spectator? That's worse than being a rat.

What a smitty. I wouldnt let him Umpire T-Ball.

On second thought.........
:mad:

btw...Thanks rei: one more to ignore...:cool:

I did it once -- waited until the perfect time to bait him into an ejection that eventually led to a three-day suspension. I loved every minute of it and I'd do it again under the same circumstances.

This thread has been high entertainment.

I once coached. I gave umpires all the heck I could but never got tossed. I knew where the line was. Then I started umpiring and also coached. I gave umpires less heck, knew more about the line. Then I stopped coaching and only umpire. Now I NEVER holler at an umpire in a game I am watching regardless of the situation. I MIGHT lean over to someone I am with and comment on a ruling that is in the process of being blown, but that's about it.

I think BIGUMP's hollering at the umpire was poor conduct of an umpire, especially mentioning Money and even an amount. Many fans would consider the amount a lot, who don't know anything about association fees, travel expenses, equipment purchases, insurance, etc., not to mention games that go 3.5 hours on the back side of a double header, bruises and broken bones due to little darling catchers who can't catch, getting off work early to work a double header and getting home late, the list goes on and on...

The point is BIGUMP lost his mind for a moment, forgot who he was, what he does for a hobby. He should keep his mouth shut at future events and then he will not have to complain about some bigger jerk umpire who remembers, 2 years later.

My brother has a saying "What do you think I'm going to be doing while you are whipping my as$?"

The rules say if a player is tagged before reaching the base, he is out. If an umpire calls him safe, he has not misinterpreted the rule, he has blown a judgment call.

Tee agreed

Also since you like turtles

Are you a fan of the movie series Rocky?

Cuff and Link come to mind

Pete Booth

For that to happen, Tim, we'd need "more reasonable minds" on this forum -- and that's something that seems to be in short supply these days. I blame it on the late season burn out and the crappy summer ball.

My take on the above:

1) Don't hold a "grudge" (which I interpret as "look to get even"), but recognize that the previous encounter provides a suggestion as to how future encounters might go. Thus, you might be less lenient / quicker to eject, etc.

2) In your specific instance (as described by you), no. But, I suppose it's possible for this to occassionally fall under "preventive officiating."

The rules say that if the pitcher steps off the rubber with the wrong foot it's a balk, and that is the rule interpretation that this umpire misinterpreted. The safe or out was irrelevant, as the play should never have happened. Tim was not objecting to the out call, just the non-balk call.

That may be true, but there's nothing in the OP that clarifies it (when asked (or if asked) did the umpire say, "I saw him step back with the free foot, but that's not a balk" or did he say "I didn't see him step back with the free foot". The first is a rules issue, the second is a judgment issue.)

In any event, it has nothing to do with Tim's (calrified) point and I think it's time we moved on.