Mechanics/Ruling Question

[Simply The Best]

Originally Posted by Suudy

My point only is that it seems the penalty for being a jerk in baseball is far greater than in football. Nailing a head coach for 15 yards usually wakes him up (or at least his assistants). But in baseball, you don't have that kind of option. You can't tell the manager "Keep it up, and I'll call your batter out." or "We are done. Keep arguing and I'll award bases." The only penalty is ejection, and that seems (at least from a football perspective) extreme.

There is the possibility of putting the coach in the dugout for the game but I have always felt that this is like moving the fire instead of putting it out. YMMV and, of course, it helps if you actually have a dug-in-the-ground dugout rather than a cage 15' off home plate

For example, ejection in the football world (at least here in WA) results in lots of paperwork, and the ejection stands the rest of the game and the next game too. Is that true with baseball?

Varies with your association, the baseball organization, etc.

One of the things that piqued my interest was the "Rule Corner" in my Baseball Digest. I've been a huge fan of baseball my entire life, but never played. The nuances in baseball (timing plays seem the most complex) is what is so fascinating--and daunting.

They can be with experience it comes together quite nicely though.

Interesting that you brought up that you did not play. This has its pluses and minuses and makes your nervousness more understandable. Reminds me of my first soccer game.

[Suudy]

Originally Posted by Simply The Best

Interesting that you brought up that you did not play. This has its pluses and minuses and makes your nervousness more understandable. Reminds me of my first soccer game.

We didn't have much of a choice. I played football all 4 years in high school, and our coach required spring ball if we wanted to play varsity.

Well, that is unless you are a star pitcher....but that is another story.

But yeah, I know what you mean. I've officiated football with guys who never played football, and they don't quite "get" it. I fear I'll be one of those baseball guys that doesn't "get" it when I'm out there.

[Simply The Best]

Originally Posted by Simply The Best
Interesting that you brought up that you did not play. This has its pluses and minuses and makes your nervousness more understandable. Reminds me of my first soccer game.

Originally Posted by Suudy

We didn't have much of a choice. I played football all 4 years in high school, and our coach required spring ball if we wanted to play varsity.

Umpires who have played v.s those who have not is always interesting discussion. In youth ball where they might throw it anywhere at anytime for any reason, not playing is very helpful. You don't find yourself going with the logical flow of the play which you might be more inclined to do if you played.

IME, those who did not play have a more structured approach. They have the tendency to call B/S always by the plate and zone without influence as to the count or age group. They stand the same place for "A" and "B", move out from "A" on more fly balls to RF/CF and a whole list of other things.

In the end-all, with experience, I don't know if it makes much difference.