Distracting Socks?

[DG]

Originally Posted by Marinblue

15 year-old tournament time. Met my partner for the first time in the parking lot tonight - he has the dish... As we're entering the playing field, the home manager calls my new buddy over and engages in a little pregame "butter". We do a quick but thorough pregame and off we go.

In the middle of the first, the visitors' F1 is warming up when my partner walks out to the mound and instructs him to "adjust your socks"... F1 is wearing one "high sock" (pants pushed up to his knee) and one "low sock" (pants cuff at his ankle). Pitcher asks why, partner replies,"It's distracting"... Here comes the visiting manager, ready to rumble.

Two Questions:
1. When did we become arbiters of style?
2. Why do some of us feel compelled to control the most trivial aspects of the game?

Scoured the OBR - could find a single mention of socks, fashion or even "pants"...

The only reason I can think of for F1 to be so attired, is to distract. There is a rule about sleeve lengths being equal, so as not to distract, and pants/sock length would be an issue not covered, so 9.01C would seem appropriate to rule on issue not covered. I don't think I have ever seen this, for good reason.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by DG

The only reason I can think of for F1 to be so attired, is to distract.

I can think of at least one other reason--he's representing to the right or to the left (even though I don't know how likely this is.)

[kylejt]

Originally Posted by DG

, so 9.01C would seem appropriate to rule on issue not covered.

No

[mbyron]

Uniforms are covered by rule 1.11, so it would be inappropriate to invoke 9.01(c).

1.11(a)3 states: "No player whose uniform does not conform to that of his teammates shall be permitted to participate in a game." This is the provision that prevents wearing caps sideways, etc. If there is rules support for this ump's move, that would be it. :shrug:

In pro ball, however, some guys wear long pants and some use the stirrup socks. So obviously "conformity" under 1.11 does not entail wearing the same pants and socks at that level.

I would not pick that particular booger.

[DG]

Originally Posted by mbyron

Uniforms are covered by rule 1.11, so it would be inappropriate to invoke 9.01(c).

1.11(a)3 states: "No player whose uniform does not conform to that of his teammates shall be permitted to participate in a game." This is the provision that prevents wearing caps sideways, etc. If there is rules support for this ump's move, that would be it. :shrug:

In pro ball, however, some guys wear long pants and some use the stirrup socks. So obviously "conformity" under 1.11 does not entail wearing the same pants and socks at that level.

I would not pick that particular booger.

And nobody else on the team wears one pant leg high and one low. If F8 wants to do it fine, the only reason for F1 to do it is to distract.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by DG

And nobody else on the team wears one pant leg high and one low. If F8 wants to do it fine, the only reason for F1 to do it is to distract.

If a batter is getting distracted by F1's socks, he's got bigger issues than you can fix.

[DG]

Originally Posted by Matt

If a batter is getting distracted by F1's socks, he's got bigger issues than you can fix.

F1 can't wear white shirt that shows, can't wear one one long sleeve and one short, can't wear distracting sunglasses, can't wear multi-colored distracting glove, can't use glove with long strings on it, can't wear a batting glove. All of these are to prevent pitcher from distracting batter by his appearance. Why do some of us want to allow one pant leg up and one down?

[UmpJM]

Originally Posted by DG

... Why do some of us want to allow one pant leg up and one down?

DG,

Uhhh.....

Because it's not "distracting"?

Playing "fashion police" doesn't much interest me.

JM

[Matt]

Originally Posted by DG

F1 can't wear white shirt that shows, can't wear one one long sleeve and one short, can't wear distracting sunglasses, can't wear multi-colored distracting glove, can't use glove with long strings on it, can't wear a batting glove. All of these are to prevent pitcher from distracting batter by his appearance. Why do some of us want to allow one pant leg up and one down?

Because the ball never comes near the calves.

[cbfoulds]

Originally Posted by DG

F1 can't wear white shirt that shows, can't wear one one long sleeve and one short, can't wear distracting sunglasses, can't wear multi-colored distracting glove, can't use glove with long strings on it, can't wear a batting glove. All of these are to prevent pitcher from distracting batter by his appearance. Why do some of us want to allow one pant leg up and one down?

What JM said .... I'll start worrying about F1's pants when he starts throwing the ball with his feet. And I've NEVER seen sunglasses I found "distracting" on a pitcher... EVER.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Originally Posted by DG

F1 can't wear white shirt that shows, can't wear one one long sleeve and one short, can't wear distracting sunglasses, can't wear multi-colored distracting glove, can't use glove with long strings on it, can't wear a batting glove. All of these are to prevent pitcher from distracting batter by his appearance. Why do some of us want to allow one pant leg up and one down?

I have a new one: College boy playing summer 18-U wood bat. He goes out to pitch with that foil New Balance sticker on the bill of his cap. Mid-day sun reflecting off of foil equals distraction.

[Blue37]

Originally Posted by DG

F1 ..... can't wear a batting glove.

For clarification, he can't wear one at all, or he can't wear one if it is distracting?