Covering base with dirt

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by ozzy6900

Why eject anyone for covering the base? Just call everyone safe! They will get the idea sooner or later.

And where does the OP think he is going to find a rule to call obstruction for covering a base? Still trying to make up your own rules, Kleff?

Reminds me of what Jim Evans says about umpires who clean off the bases. Why would you want to do that? If nobody can see the base, they can't really argue with your safe/out calls!

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by mbyron

Reminds me of what Jim Evans says about umpires who clean off the bases. Why would you want to do that? If nobody can see the base, they can't really argue with your safe/out calls!

And that's one of the reasons I think Evans is a pompous a$$!

I sure want the bases to look just like they do in the major leagues; clean and white. You think Evans ever let dirt pile up on the side of the base so a runner sliding in can shoot right over it? They don't let the dirt pile up on the bases in the pros, so why should we in our sandboxes we work in?

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

And that's one of the reasons I think Evans is a pompous a$$!

I sure want the bases to look just like they do in the major leagues; clean and white. You think Evans ever let dirt pile up on the side of the base so a runner sliding in can shoot right over it? They don't let the dirt pile up on the bases in the pros, so why should we in our sandboxes we work in?

I have never seen a pro umpire clean a base.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by MrUmpire

I have never seen a pro umpire clean a base.

That's because they never get covered with dirt. If they did, they would call the grounds crew out to clean it. And the grounds crew changes the bases midway through every game, so they always are fresh and white. Plus, they don't play in sandboxes where the dirt piles up to start with. They play on manicured infield dirt that doesn't gather all over the bases. And I have seen MLB umpires kick dirt from in front of second base after a runner has slid in. Those guys want that edge of the base clean. Nobody wants to see the runner slide into a pile of dirt and not be touching the base.

[RPatrino]

I will kick a base, but I will never carry a brush to clean a base or the rubber. The softball guys tend to love to clean those all the time!!

I will also never work to fix a base or clean out the post, thats the home teams job, not mine.

[bniu]

Originally Posted by RPatrino

I will kick a base, but I will never carry a brush to clean a base or the rubber. The softball guys tend to love to clean those all the time!!

I will also never work to fix a base or clean out the post, thats the home teams job, not mine.

apparently, softball is really stuck up about image, which I don't really care for. I only brush the bases in SB when the supervisor's looking, though my laziness has taught me how to brush the dirt in one good foot swipe as I'm walking by the base. I much prefer baseball, the game is much more relaxed, and you can get away with pretty much any mechanic, though ron luciano stuff may be pushing it...

[Tim C]

WOBW

Personally I do not beleive this is a serious thread.

[Ump153]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

And that's one of the reasons I think Evans is a pompous a$$!

You either don't understand humor or have never met Jim. Pompous? No. Opinionated? Yes. But unlike some who post here who claim to be experts on everything about umpiring, he can back it up. And he does so with humor and good natured self deprecation.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Yeah, well Evans must have forgotten what it's like to umpire on fields with tons of loose dirt that completely obliterates the bases.

Hey, I don't have to like the same people that anyone else does. Something, and I can't put my finger on it precisely, has always irritated me about him.

[Ump153]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

Yeah, well Evans must have forgotten what it's like to umpire on fields with tons of loose dirt that completely obliterates the bases.

Again, the humor just escapes you.

He was JOKING. He wasn't serious. He was playing to his audience.

Wow.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by Ump153

Again, the humor just escapes you.

He was JOKING. He wasn't serious. He was playing to his audience.

Wow.

Then why is there any discussion of whether or not to clean the bases? We should make sure they are visible and clean. Humor does not escape me, it just wasn't that funny. Wow yourself.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

Then why is there any discussion of whether or not to clean the bases? We should make sure they are visible and clean. Humor does not escape me, it just wasn't that funny. Wow yourself.

If the participants want them clean, then they can clean them. I don't (unless I'm using it as an opportunity to talk quietly the the runner and / or nearest fielders). And, that philosophy pre-dates any knowledge of Evans' opinion on this.

[Ump153]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

Then why is there any discussion of whether or not to clean the bases? We should make sure they are visible and clean. Humor does not escape me, it just wasn't that funny. Wow yourself.

You still don't get it.

"Why would you want to do that?" (serious)

"If nobody can see the base, they can't really argue with your safe/out calls!" (joke)

There is a discussion becuase some here apparently think they are responsible for groundskeeping, or they are confused with softball.

Umpires are not groundskeepers. Read Bob's post.