Distracting Socks?

[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"...

[UmpJM]

...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"...

OOO sighting.

JM

[SanDiegoSteve]

A style popularized by L. L. Cool J.

[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.

[jicecone]

Originally Posted by Marinblue

2. Why do some of us feel compelled to control the most trivial aspects of the game?

Because some officials actually believe that everyone came to watch THEM.

[waltjp]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

A style popularized by L. L. Cool J.

Who'd he pitch for?

[JJ]

So it wouldn't be appropriate to saunter out to the mound, slowly eye that pitcher top to bottom, and casually ask, "Does it get girls?".

So it wouldn't be appropriate to saunter out to the mound, slowly eye that pitcher top to bottom, and casually say, "That just flat looks ridiculous."



So it wouldn't be appropriate to saunter out to the mound, slowly eye that pitcher top to bottom, and casually ask, "Who dressed you, your coach?"

So it wouldn't be appropriate to saunter out to the mound, slowly eye that pitcher top to bottom, and casually ask, "Lose a bet?"

etc, etc, etc....

JJ

[Ump Rube]

"Oh, these are the worst-looking sock I've ever seen. What, when you wear socks like this I bet you get a free bowl of soup, huh?"

Pitcher looks dumbfounded, and doesn't understand.

"Oh, it looks good on you though." :eye roll:

[UmpJM]

Originally Posted by JJ

So it wouldn't be appropriate to saunter out to the mound, slowly eye that pitcher top to bottom, and casually ask, "Does it get girls?".

So it wouldn't be appropriate to saunter out to the mound, slowly eye that pitcher top to bottom, and casually say, "That just flat looks ridiculous."



So it wouldn't be appropriate to saunter out to the mound, slowly eye that pitcher top to bottom, and casually ask, "Who dressed you, your coach?"

So it wouldn't be appropriate to saunter out to the mound, slowly eye that pitcher top to bottom, and casually ask, "Lose a bet?"

etc, etc, etc....

JJ

JJ,

No, any of those sounds appropriate to me. I mean, if you can't have a little fun out there, what's the point?

I would probably substitute "your Mom" or "your girlfriend" for "your Coach" on the "Who dressed you" question, but that's really a matter of personal preference.

I think I liked "Lose a bet?" the best.

JM

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by UmpJM (nee CoachJM)

I think I liked "Lose a bet?" the best.

Me too, perhaps because it's the most likely to elicit a confounded stare.

[umpjong]

Originally Posted by JJ

So it wouldn't be appropriate to saunter out to the mound, slowly eye that pitcher top to bottom, and casually ask, "Does it get girls?".

So it wouldn't be appropriate to saunter out to the mound, slowly eye that pitcher top to bottom, and casually say, "That just flat looks ridiculous."



So it wouldn't be appropriate to saunter out to the mound, slowly eye that pitcher top to bottom, and casually ask, "Who dressed you, your coach?"

So it wouldn't be appropriate to saunter out to the mound, slowly eye that pitcher top to bottom, and casually ask, "Lose a bet?"

etc, etc, etc....

JJ

Who are you kidding JJ? You wouldnt saunter anywhere, you would yell it from the plate so all could here, and enjoy, it.......

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by UmpJM (nee CoachJM)

I think I liked "Lose a bet?" the best.

I have used that line before -- I think when commenting on some haircut.

I make sure to say it loud enough for teammates to hear. It always gets a laugh from them.

I have also used something like, "We usually only see that kind of thing in Girls' softball."