Originally Posted by mbyron (Post 668197)

Legal. Ill-advised, since if they throw it out of play everyone moves up two bases, but legal.

I would not grant a request for time in order for the defense to safely throw it around.

Originally Posted by Skarecrow (Post 668196)

With runners on any base, can the defense send the ball around the horn after a strikeout? Is it prohibited? Or can they can do so at their peril?

Had this in a BV, and I warned them....Coach who had attended either Evans' or Wendelstedt's school said they could do what they wanted with the ball, as long as they didn't delay, and around the horn is normal after a strikeout.

I didn't feel that right, but I had no specific knowledge at the time, so I let it pass.

Originally Posted by Rich Ives (Post 668200)

Curious - why would you think it might be illegal?

Originally Posted by Skarecrow (Post 668196)

With runners on any base, can the defense send the ball around the horn after a strikeout? Is it prohibited? Or can they can do so at their peril?

Had this in a BV, and I warned them....Coach who had attended either Evans' or Wendelstedt's school said they could do what they wanted with the ball, as long as they didn't delay, and around the horn is normal after a strikeout.

I didn't feel that right, but I had no specific knowledge at the time, so I let it pass.

Originally Posted by Skarecrow (Post 668202)

I had never seen it before, and it seemed like a "delay of game," which is obviously basketball, but it didn't seem right......that's why I asked....

Originally Posted by Skarecrow (Post 668202)

I had never seen it before, and it seemed like a "delay of game," which is obviously basketball, but it didn't seem right......that's why I asked....

Originally Posted by ozzy6900 (Post 668208)

You didn't feel it was right but had no specific knowledge at the time. So why did you warn them? What basis did you use?

This is not ridicule but here is another example of umpires making up rules. This is what gets us into trouble, all the time. We are there to officiate by the rules as written in the rule book. We do not officiate by our feelings.

Originally Posted by Skarecrow (Post 668218)

Ozzy: Thanks for the critique...but I wasn't making up the rules....I quickly responded to my gut reaction (which was wrong) and told them to bring the ball in...Now I've learned, so shoot me in the head....baseball plays have lots of situations filled with nuances....our judgement differs. You can't tell me you've never had a gray-area play where the nuance had you puzzled, and yet you had to make a decision immediately, only to find out later, you got it wrong--even if only barely. That's what I did...I got it wrong, after rethinking all the rules I felt applied here...I didn't make up a rule....

Originally Posted by ozzy6900 (Post 668228)

The correct response here, my friend, is:
I learned my lesson, I was in correct, I will not make up rules again.

Please be aware, when as an umpire, you try to apply a penalty that is not based in a rule, you are "making it up as you go". This is something that hounds all of us because when we get the next game with this team, they want to know why you did what you did. Why aren't we applying the same rule when the other team does it to them? When you "make it up", you are really screwing your brother and sister officials who work by the book. Making a mistake is something we all learn by but don't try to BS your way out. You screwed the pooch - we all did at one time or another. Be a man and admit it, then move on.

Finis