batter accidentally kicks foul ball

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by David Emerling

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."

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