Sending a "message"

[PeteBooth]

And if I actually carried out a F$#@ Y#$ Call to a player, coach, manager, bench or bleacher section, I'd hope I'd have the decency to end my career as an umpire, for I have surely failed at any sort of game management or honor to the game.

[/QUOTE]

Kyle not sure where you are going with this.

It's one thing to say you have Not or will not use an FYC it's quite another to say
I have surely failed at any sort of game management or honor to the game

The FYC has been around for years and is not something new. IMO, it was more prevelant when I played because we played baseball every-day and had more baseball savy than the young players of today. As another posted mentioned we knew what "IT" was.

It was pretty much a "given' when I played that if you "pissed off" Blue you better swing at the next pitch no matter where it was.

here's another example:

Mens league game - 9 innings - mercy rule in effect after 6.5 or 7 (If HT is trailing)

95 degree day and we are approaching the 2.5 hour mark

Bottom 7 HT ahead by 9. B1 doubles. The next batter hits a rope in the gap between F8/F9.

My grandmother could have walked home from second base. R2 simply trotted into third base and stayed there.

The next 2 batters purposely got out.

My partner and I had enough. Both of us almost simulataneously said "Balk" awarded R3 home = game over.

It's one thing if the particpants are actually PLAYING the game of baseball it's quite another when they want to pro-long the game because they do not want to go home early and do chores (like mowing the lawn) for the wife.

IMO, it's not a technique used EVERYDAY but depending upon the situation it can be effective. It's not "cheating" the game or jeopardizing one's integrity as an official.

If you are uncomfortabel using it that's fine but do not say that any official who uses this technique is dis-honoring the game.

Pete Booth