Top Baseball/Softball Rules Myths, 2012 Edition

[kylejt]

#36 The home plate umpire can overrule the other umpires at anytime. FALSE. No umpire (including the home plate umpire or umpire-in-chief) has the authority to set aside or question decisions made by another umpire within the limits of the respective duties as outlined in the rules. An umpire may request help from another umpire in a decision, but ultimately it is the requesting umpire who will make the final decision.

Unless the home plate umpire is the UIC for the game, a protest is lodged, and the crew can not agree on a ruling. THEN the UIC can make the ruling, and in effect, overrule the others.

[TwoBits]

Originally Posted by kylejt

#36 The home plate umpire can overrule the other umpires at anytime. FALSE. No umpire (including the home plate umpire or umpire-in-chief) has the authority to set aside or question decisions made by another umpire within the limits of the respective duties as outlined in the rules. An umpire may request help from another umpire in a decision, but ultimately it is the requesting umpire who will make the final decision.

Unless the home plate umpire is the UIC for the game, a protest is lodged, and the crew can not agree on a ruling. THEN the UIC can make the ruling, and in effect, overrule the others.

Your are likely correct with games at the pro level or maybe in other states. Around here at the amateur level, the only protests allowed are rule violations. Myth #36 is meant to correct those who believe the plate umpire has final decision on all calls and can overrule a field umpire without being asked for his opinion on the play. I think this part:

"...as outlined by the rules..."

...has me covered on this one.

[TwoBits]

Originally Posted by kylejt

#36 The home plate umpire can overrule the other umpires at anytime. FALSE. No umpire (including the home plate umpire or umpire-in-chief) has the authority to set aside or question decisions made by another umpire within the limits of the respective duties as outlined in the rules. An umpire may request help from another umpire in a decision, but ultimately it is the requesting umpire who will make the final decision.

Unless the home plate umpire is the UIC for the game, a protest is lodged, and the crew can not agree on a ruling. THEN the UIC can make the ruling, and in effect, overrule the others.

Your are likely correct with games at the pro level or maybe in other states. Around here at the amateur level, the only protests allowed are rule violations. Myth #36 is meant to correct those who believe the plate umpire has final decision on all calls and can overrule a field umpire without being asked for his opinion on the play.

[teccan9nja]

I would like to clarify: the "1+1" rule isn't a MYTH its a way to describe the rule to people in an easy way. Because for most to all of the times the ball goes out of play, you are giving them the base they're going to and the next one (1+1).

Its more a "description of thumb" than a myth.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by teccan9nja

I would like to clarify: the "1+1" rule isn't a MYTH its a way to describe the rule to people in an easy way. Because for most to all of the times the ball goes out of play, you are giving them the base they're going to and the next one (1+1).

Its more a "description of thumb" than a myth.

It's a myth which brings coaches out of the dugout on plays like this:

PLAY: R1, 1 out. Line drive to F6. R1 is trying to return to first to avoid being doubled up, F6's throw ends up over the fence. Place the runner.

An umpire using 1+1 either doesn't understand the rules or is perpetuating the notion of 1+1 with coaches, neither of which is good.

[teccan9nja]

Originally Posted by GROUPthink

It's a myth which brings coaches out of the dugout on plays like this:

PLAY: R1, 1 out. Line drive to F6. R1 is trying to return to first to avoid being doubled up, F6's throw ends up over the fence. Place the runner.

An umpire using 1+1 either doesn't understand the rules or is perpetuating the notion of 1+1 with coaches, neither of which is good.

Yes. But it still does tell people what the rule does pretty well.

[cbfoulds]

Originally Posted by teccan9nja

Yes. But it still does tell people what the rule does pretty well.

You are either incredibly hard-headed, or really dumb.

THE RULE [which the "1+1" MYTH mythologizes] awards 2 bases EVERY time.
"1+1" is only true SOME of the time. There are NO situations where "1+1" is a better or clearer explanation than "2 from the [place where the award begins".

Since there are occasions [not infrequent at all] where "1+1" does not equal "2", the only thing "1+1" "does pretty well" is confuse people who are too dumb or too lazy to learn the actual Rule.

LEARN THE ACTUAL RULE - EXPLAIN THE AWARD CORRECTLY.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by teccan9nja

Yes. But it still does tell people what the rule does pretty well.

True, it DOES tell people what the rule does "pretty well." But sometimes it's wrong.

Umpires need to know the rule, not the rule of thumb, and their explanations should cite the rule, not the rule of thumb.

[jwwashburn]

The Rule Of Thumb

[teccan9nja]

Originally Posted by mbyron

True, it DOES tell people what the rule does "pretty well." But sometimes it's wrong.

Umpires need to know the rule, not the rule of thumb, and their explanations should cite the rule, not the rule of thumb.

I guess that would be a fair reason to put it on here. I do know the rule, but i find explaining it that way creates less confusion. I tend to word it this way "2 bases from the time of the throw (the actual rule), so the one he was going to (1) and the next one (+1)" saying the rule and giving a different way to look at it has worked for me so far.

We always need to make sure we know the rule how it is, before we can start to try and explain it differently.

Originally Posted by cbfoulds

You are either incredibly hard-headed, or really dumb.

I dont think i need to be flamed on here sir.