Rookie League question

[jwwashburn]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

No one's disagreeing here (although I do have to wonder how something could be "very uncommon") -- that's why the question was asked.

What we (some of us) are saying is that the way it's handled in the pros is (often) different from how it's handled in the games any of us work.

I tend to think you may be right, Bob. Although, since it is rarely handled, I am not sure a blanket statement should be made as to how it would be handled.

Would Greg Gibson handle this differently than Lance Barksdale? Probably. I do not think I have ever seen it in MLB. The closest thing I can remember is a game within the last couple of years(discussed here?) where a runner slid into a catcher trying to complete a 6-1-3 double play and they called interference...and he touched the plate!

Just because some Rookie league, A or AA umpires might allow this does not mean it should be allowed or even that it always IS allowed.

I know that it shouldn't and I am not so sure that it IS allowed across the board because I do not think there is a rash of guys assaulting catchers not involved in plays.

PS Something can be very uncommon but, it cannot be very unique.

[ozzy6900]

One of the problems with this thread is that some people are trying to look at professional level ball through amateur eyes. In pro ball, there are incidents that happen. Have I seen pro runners go out of their way to take out a pro F2 at the plate? You bet - I've seen it plenty of times. Do the pro players take care of the situation themselves afterwords? Again, you bet! But there are certain rules that must be obeyed and not throwing at a batter's head is one of them. Throw at the batter to send a message if you must but never at the head. Knock him down and send a message, absolutely but stay away from the head. This is where the professional umpire must and will make a decision whether to dump the offending F1.

Now the above is all professional ball - the players are being paid to play. If the players are not being paid to play, it is amateur ball. Yes, even the "want-to-be-but-never-were" men's leagues that want to play MLB rules. If you have to go to a regular job in the morning, you are an amateur and none of the above should be allowed.

This is where we amateur umpires have to stand firm. If the runner goes out of his way to take out F2, dump him. If F1 throws at a batter (in your opinion), dump him! Dump the manager too, if you want. None of this crap belongs in amateur ball under any circumstances.

[jwwashburn]

Originally Posted by ozzy6900

One of the problems with this thread is that some people are trying to look at professional level ball through amateur eyes. In pro ball, there are incidents that happen. Have I seen pro runners go out of their way to take out a pro F2 at the plate? You bet - I've seen it plenty of times. Do the pro players take care of the situation themselves afterwords? Again, you bet! But there are certain rules that must be obeyed and not throwing at a batter's head is one of them. Throw at the batter to send a message if you must but never at the head. Knock him down and send a message, absolutely but stay away from the head. This is where the professional umpire must and will make a decision whether to dump the offending F1.

Now the above is all professional ball - the players are being paid to play. If the players are not being paid to play, it is amateur ball. Yes, even the "want-to-be-but-never-were" men's leagues that want to play MLB rules. If you have to go to a regular job in the morning, you are an amateur and none of the above should be allowed.

This is where we amateur umpires have to stand firm. If the runner goes out of his way to take out F2, dump him. If F1 throws at a batter (in your opinion), dump him! Dump the manager too, if you want. None of this crap belongs in amateur ball under any circumstances.

Agreed. In the OP, the pitcher should have been dumped after one throw to the head.

But, the crap that the runner pulled should never be allowed by anybody. It is not baseball, it is pure crap. just because Some(or most or all) Pro umps allow it does mean that they should. Since this thread started, I have communicated with two Pro umps(one former and one current) The former said he would not have dumped the runner, the current said he would dump him in a heartbeat.