Home plate appeal costs HS Conn team Championship.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by MikeStrybel

He said that it isn't my job to be the jewelry police and by warning them prior to the game I had prevented them from breaking a rule later. He told me to call what I see and not attempt to do what the coach is supposed to do, namely ensure that all players are properly equipped and within the rules of our administration. He was right. I'm simply doing what he did for me - help others understand that old school and innocent communication can be perceived as a violation of our code of responsibility.

Well good for you and him. I am telling kids in all my sports to remove jewelry when I see it. I guess that makes me a bad umpire or doing things outside of my job.

Peace

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by MikeStrybel

It was innocent enough and what many of you consider preventive umpiring. After the game, a number of fellow umpires asked about what had transpired during the series. I relayed the details and had an umpire I truly respect tell me that I crossed the line. He said that it isn't my job to be the jewelry police and by warning them prior to the game I had prevented them from breaking a rule later. He told me to call what I see and not attempt to do what the coach is supposed to do, namely ensure that all players are properly equipped and within the rules of our administration. He was right.

No. He wasn't. Therein lies the crux of your problem. This ONE guy, who you happen to respect, gave you bad advice. 20 people here are giving you good advice (the opposite of your bad advice). You're sticking to the bad advice. Perhaps you need a 3rd opinion... but the exact scenario you describe above is EXACTLY what you're supposed to do.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Well good for you and him. I am telling kids in all my sports to remove jewelry when I see it. I guess that makes me a bad umpire or doing things outside of my job.

Peace

It makes you an ethically challenged cheater

or sumpm

[Adam]

Originally Posted by mbyron

I see you brought your "when in Rome" philosophy to the baseball forum.

Blame my friend Monty.

I do.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

It makes you an ethically challenged cheater

or sumpm

I guess I am just going to have to stay that way.

Peace

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I guess I am just going to have to stay that way.

Peace

Maybe cheating the children will get you another State Championship game.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I guess I am just going to have to stay that way.

Peace

Dance with the one that brung ya....

[MikeStrybel]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

I thought you were able to disagree without demeaning others?

Since you chose to engage in that behavior, I saw no need to continue to take the high road.

When I first posted here, others took my desire to be nice as a sign of weakness or inexperience. Since then, I choose to state my opinion, support it with rule or manual corroboration or offer personal experience. I don't claim to be better than anyone here nor do I delight in ridiculing those who admit mistakes in umpiring. Some on this forum write as if they have never missed a call. I happily admit that I am still learning and make mistakes, some crucial, while officiating. As for my repsonse, I will give what I get. Being nice seems to not work on this forum.

[MikeStrybel]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

No. He wasn't. Therein lies the crux of your problem. This ONE guy, who you happen to respect, gave you bad advice. 20 people here are giving you good advice (the opposite of your bad advice). You're sticking to the bad advice. Perhaps you need a 3rd opinion... but the exact scenario you describe above is EXACTLY what you're supposed to do.

LOL! The few here who think that it is okay to tell a catcher to correct the mistakes his pitcher is doing or you will be forced to umpire are not close to matching his resume.

[asdf]

Originally Posted by MikeStrybel

I happily admit that I am still learning and make mistakes, some crucial, while officiating.

Good, then you'll learn from this mistake.

[MikeStrybel]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Well good for you and him. I am telling kids in all my sports to remove jewelry when I see it. I guess that makes me a bad umpire or doing things outside of my job.

Peace

You are within your rights as an umpire to ask athletes participating in the game to do it. Be careful telling (your word, I 'ask') others to do it. You would be wrong. The rules allow those on the bench to wear jewelry without incident. (3-3-1d)

Do you tell them to remove jewelry and then consider that a warning? If not, why do it?

[MikeStrybel]

Originally Posted by asdf

Good, then you'll learn from this mistake.

Not a chance. I quoted the two members who opined that they would quietly warn a pitcher that he was balking rather than calling it. There is no mistaking that this is wrong. Maybe in your locale it acceptable but as you move up you won't see it being done. There is no justification for an umpire knowingly ignoring a rule that jeopardizes one of the teams. None.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by MikeStrybel

You are within your rights as an umpire to ask athletes participating in the game to do it. Be careful telling (your word, I 'ask') others to do it. You would be wrong. The rules allow those on the bench to wear jewelry without incident. (3-3-1d)

Do you tell them to remove jewelry and then consider that a warning? If not, why do it?

Mike, I would never comment on a bench player and what they are wearing. That is silly on so many levels and you know this. This is one of your false equivalence arguments.

And again, I am OK with your position, but what I do works for me. Never been told not to do it or tell a player about an administrative issue which this is. Again, it is clear what makes you tick as an umpire is not what I get all worried about. I will continue to tell players I see that are in the game about jewelry. And yes I do tell them to remove it. That is part of our job and always has been.

Peace

[Adam]

Originally Posted by MikeStrybel

Since you chose to engage in that behavior, I saw no need to continue to take the high road.

Really? Sir, you jumped off the high road long ago and landed on the high horse. I've got no problem with it, hell, I live on a high horse. Just don't try lecturing me about the high road, you aren't qualified.

Originally Posted by MikeStrybel

At the risk of seeing another ramble and going against multiple PMs asking me not to engage you in logical debate, here goes nothing.

Originally Posted by MikeStrybel

Jeff, this is my last post to you regarding thsi topic. You will undoubtedly take the last word.

Originally Posted by MikeStrybel

Communicating with contestants is far different than giving one an advantage over another. I would rather emulate the best than accept the actions of those who violate ethics and rules.

Originally Posted by MikeStrybel

I do. This was a HS game. Read the NFHS Code of Ethics in the current rule book - umpires who give one team an advantage over another have violated that covenant and displayed poor integrity and ethics. Again, I offer the play involving an umpire telling a defensive player to warn the pitcher that he will be called for a balk unless he changes his delivery. That play has been mentioned numerous times as acceptable.

Again, this is not what was offered. Everyone I read on this has stated, if the pitcher balks, they'll call it. What was said is, as the pitcher's movements get closer to a balk, but before they cross the line, they've been known to give a quiet warning. Now I'm back to questioning whether you're even reading the posts you're so fired up about.

As for your insistence that other sports aren't relevant; the NFHS doesn't do just baseball. Are you saying that I'm cheating when I remind a player to get out of the lane, or tell a coach that his assistant coach is about to earn a technical foul? Isn't the code of ethics the same for basketball and baseball?

[LilLeaguer]

Originally Posted by MikeStrybel

Your need to insult is sad. I can have an opinion without needing to demean the other. I read the posts just fine.

Tim and RichMSN both spoke about warning a pitcher after seeing him do something that you know isn't right. (Otherwise, you are simply an OOO.) As I and many others here have stated before, it ether is a balk or it isn't. If it isn't and you feel the need to tell a player to do something to avoid balking then you are coaching. If you don't have the fortitude to call the balk then hang up the gear. Yes, we all miss balks and then stew over the reality of it. Warning a guy after that is just as awful. Call what you see. Let the coaches do their job.

I find it particularly funny that a number of threads involve members who insist that they aren't paid to coach and bemoan leagues that require explanations for balks, INT, OBS, etc. Now, they are silent. Hmmmm.

Yes Bob, we all have tolerances for what is ethical and not. As with many things in umpiring, acceptable behavior is evolving. At one time, you could argue just as vehemently as the antagonist. At one time, you could simply make your call and ignore the call for getting assistance. Old school, unwritten rules are slowly falling away from upper level baseball. You won't see a CWS umpire pick and choose which rules are worthy of enforcement. Those are the guys I emulate.

I'll agree that Tim's response may have been ambiguous. But RichMSN pretty clearly is saying (I've put it in italics) that he'll warn a pitcher only when he is pitching legally. Are you going to continue to characterize this as warning pitchers instead of calling balks?