Oh, stop your whining. Nobody is twisting your arm to read any of this. If you don't like it - don't read it! Grow up.

These are the places to "over think" things. If not here - then where?

Discussions between umpires on technical matters are often academic for the purposes of understanding nuances and rare interpretations. That's why one of the STUPIDEST things an umpire can say in an internet discussion of a rule between umpires is "That would never happen in a game" or "I've never seen that happen in my life". That is code for "I really don't understand the details of the rule."

Find something else to concern yourself with other than how much I type or how many pages a thread takes up. What - are you printing them out and wasting ink on your printer? Besides, it's nothing to me since I can type like the wind. Shall I use simpler words for you?

I would say that your posting in this forum FAR exceeds my own - by orders of magnitude - and I could care less. Type away for all I care! That's the beauty of the internet - you can participate or not participate to whatever extent you desire. But to complain about it is the height of immaturity.

In fact, your first contribution to this thread may have been the most pointless post of them all.

Mental masturbation, like the other more common variety, should be done in private.

"Over thinking" is rarely, if ever, a good thing, no matter where it is done.

I can tell you from considerable experience that when these kinds of issues are discussed in actual discussion meetings, it usually drives a lot of people crazy. Not only is the rule rather clear, you are trying to pick nits in order to get some understanding for something that is very unlikely to take place. I think our job as umpires should be to get and call the obvious, not worry about things that may never happen in the depths of our minds. So you can think this is the place to discuss such a nuance, but that does not take away from the fact that it still drives people crazy. You can disagree with that take, but this is true on many levels for many officials/umpires that I have come in contact with over the years. There always seems to be "that guy" that has to discuss or bring up things in a meeting when no one but him is confused about the situation. Or appears to be confused, but really is not confused. Now another thing I also find interesting, most people here that came to your defense, certainly are not here having the conversation with you either. Oh well. ;)

Peace

That's the difference and beauty of the internet - these type of discussions do not have to waste your time if they don't interest you - much unlike an umpire meeting where you have to sit and endure something of no value or interest to you. At a meeting, the audience is held hostage. That is not the case here.

You can't be guilty of wasting people's time here. Because they don't have to be here. They can pick which threads to read and not to read. They can create their own topics. Complaining about wasting people's time in an internet forum is just plain idiotic!

Besides, I disagree with your characterization that this discussion is some esoteric, never-can-happen, not important topic - as evidenced by the conflicting views/interpretations on something that is not all that unusual, in my opinion. Nobody is picking nits here. It's a discussion of "intent" and interpretation of "intent" on a rule that REQUIRES a determination of "intent".

BTW, I don't need nor care for people to come to my defense. The fact that you even have to mention that speaks volumes of the tone of this forum.

You are right; no one has to be here at all. And because it is the internet, no one has to tell you that everything you say on a site like this is not silly or stupid either. It does go both ways.

When you post anything on the internet, you will get comments from time to time that are not to your liking. Now you can either get used to that, or go somewhere else too.

Now I do not feel you are really wasting my time, but I felt your issue was silly and kind of juvenile. Just an opinion, I am sure you are a great guy but not sure why you are splitting hairs over words on what is once again, a rare situation that will not happen to most of us anytime soon.


Again, you are making a mountain out of a molehill. If you really cannot tell what someone does accidentally or intentionally in relation to kicking a baseball then I have to wonder about you as an umpire. In basketball for example it is rather obvious when someone tries to intentionally kick a ball or use their leg to contact the ball which is illegal in all cases. And that is a very common occurrence in that sport. You are talking about something that would be likely very easy to see or to identify, especially at the lower levels. And if you saw it one way and a coach for example saw it another way, that is after all why you get paid the big bucks. But if you want a perfect example or understanding that everyone here or anyone is going to agree with, you are not going to really find one. One thing experience has taught me is to trust my judgment and experience. Maybe that is what you should do and call what you see and stop trying to find a key to follow that the people you work around might not agree with either.

I guess at the end of the day I am just wondering why you do not trust your own judgment and call it how you see it.

Peace

... because I'm wondering if there is some interpretation that trumps one's opinion of intent.

If you're not aware of such an interpretation that gives the umpire guidance in this area - then just say so - and the discussion would be over.

If your answer is: "I just call it the way I see it." Fine.

The reason they have interpretations (and they do exist) is to provide guidance and consistency to rulings that are not always obvious.

People have told you what the rule was and did not give you one. You would think that alone would make you see the light bulb above your head.

My answer is, the rule was shown to you in black and white. Since we are telling each other what we should have done, you should have said, "OK" back on the second response and let it die. Hardly anyone would have said anything to you at that point.

Peace

If it's all in black-and-white, then I wonder why a mountain of interpretations and official rulings exist.

I'll mail you an English-Portuguese dictionary. I'll expect you to be able to speak Portuguese fluently. After all, it's all in black-and-white. :)

This particular rule is very clear. I did not say all rules and all wording was perfect or did not need further interpretation or further explanation. But there is nothing about this rule is confusing unless you do not understand what intentional and accidental means. If you were asking about another rule and another situation, then OK. But you asked about one of the most clear and concise rules and seem to have trouble with the wording and asking for something that does not need much interpretation or casebook understanding.

Peace

Every time you post, the rule is shown to you, you argue it, you try to dissect it to suit your needs and you carry on and on. As one said earlier, this is akin to masturbation which should be carried out in a private place. I shall not respond to you blathering posts any longer.

Pax

I had this situation last night at a LL match:

A batter's swing hits the ball up and towards first base. It bounces two feet inside fair territory about 30 feet down first base line. The spin carries it sharply towards foul territory, where it deflected off the batter-runner's right shin, which was about even with the running lane line (at least two feet in foul territory).
I immediately call foul ball. Defense's coach wants me to call the batter out. I refuse stating contact was made in foul territory. I reset, and continue play with the foul ball call. My partner, who has played since his childhood, called for decades and is old as the mountains, showed no reservations about my call.
Do the other members here feel that the case described above is a foul ball, an out, or something else?

Hmmm... wondering if that'll work... I doubt it, but I'll try... here goes:I'm not aware of such an interpretation that gives the umpire guidance in this area.

jchamp, If the batted ball was over foul territory when touched, then your call was correct.

jchamp,
From the LL 2008 RIM:
6.05 -- A batter is out when -
(h) after hitting or bunting a foul ball, that runner intentionally deflects the course of the ball in any manner while running to first base. The ball is dead and no runners may advance;
INSTRUCTOR COMMENTS:
⇒ Notice that intent only applies to a batted ball in foul territory. If the batter unintentionally deflects a foul ball, he/she is not out, but the ball is dead (foul ball).


Presumably you judged that the contact was not intentional. Clearly it is a foul ball.

Intentionally or accidentally?