Would you ignore Local Rule?

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by tibear

Umpiring a game last night where teams were starting to get annoyed with other and one team complained that the opposing pitcher was wearing sunglasses.

The local association has made a rule that batters and pitchers cannot wear sunglasses. (Not sure why because it's nowhere in the rulebook.)

The orientation of the field is such that the pitcher was going to basically look right into the sun to pitch. Would you enforce the local rule even if you felt that it was a safety issue?

This is a STUPID RULE made by STUPID PEOPLE who are not medical doctors. Ophthalmologists have been telling us for years and years that sunglasses with Polaroid lenses should be worn to protect our eyes. Now we have stupid people who are not medical professionals telling parents that they are to ignore medical professionals with respect to proper eye protection.

What if the batter or pitcher is wearing prescription sport (read safety) glasses and have Polaroid lenses? Are you going to tell the player's parents that their child cannot wear his glasses?

I am 60 years old and started playing golf when I was 9. When I first started playing I was having trouble with my eyes (not vision problems, everybody who knows that I officiate basketball and umpire baseball and softball know that I have always been blind in one eye and can't see out of the other), and our family ophthalmologist recommended that I wear sunglasses when I played golf. My eye problem was solved.

Furthermore, a local rule that cannot be supported by the rules of the game, cannot and should not be enforced.

MTD, Sr.