Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Warren is misinformed
 

No, that's not what I meant. I was just trying to get across the idea that I would no longer just let my defenses down like I had in the past. I'm always going to be wary of posters and what they have to say to me and about me.

At one time, I was far too free about giving details of my personal life to people on these boards that I trusted. I was diagnosed with cancer, made the mistake of telling umpires online, and it was used against me time and again - it still is. I've had misery and death wished upon me publicly, and financial ruin upon my family. I've had people post outright lies, saying that they talked to people who know me personally, and I lied about having cancer. I continue to have posters like Osborne question and make light of my sanity, which is just tasteless considering I had a brain tumor. I mean, what if I really was having mental problems stemming from a brain tumor? How appropriate are Osborne's remarks?

I'm sure you see the delicate nature of the situation, and now have a taste of the history involved. I hope you better understood what I meant now.

I admit to blowing of steam from time to time. I admit to being strong-headed and opinionated about baseball rules and umpiring. I do not, and never will, admit that I ever deserved the level of bashing and insult that I've endured from people like Osborne.

I personally never refuse such a request either. I also teach new umpires to never refuse such a request. Not appealing a check swing is not something worth having to eject someone over. I've seen it happen in a high school game. It wasn't pretty.

Rich

Little League is the same as OBR in this instance. The plate umpire is required to ask for help if a checked-swing called a ball is appealed by the catcher or manager. I'll have to dig up my copy of Little League's casebook. I have one somewhere, and I do not believe anyone at any region is teaching that a checked-swing appeal is optional. I haven't worked a Little League game all year, so I'm a bit out of the loop, though.

for the District i work for in LL I have been told that when asked to appeal the pitch, you do not have to unless you feel that you need to. its just something we have done locally, not sure if its the right thing. this may or may not be the case in the rule book, but thats what I have been told and thats what I have done in LL games. If I was to get to the sectional or regional level, that might change but as far as district tournament play its been at the umpires discretion whether or not he will grant an appeal.

when doing non-LL, i'd give an appeal if they ask for one.

<b>when doing non-LL, i'd give an appeal if they ask for one</b>

One presumes from this then you would or might refuse an appeal at LL. Why? It has to be more than "because the rules say I can." Why risk a sh^t house when you can avoid it with three little words...did he go?

This I have from a very credible source in Texas:

First, the LL rulebook omits the OBR casebook comment that says the umpire must check when asked.Â* So, the omission of the comment lends some support to the interpretation that LL does not follow the OBR model. However, that's not fullproof because there are many other instances of LL omitting OBR comments that are, in fact, applicable to LL rules.

The second, and somewhat more definitive citation, is this statement in the LL Rules Instruction Manual, which is the manual given to LL trainers and instructors:

"It is customary for the plate umpire to check on a half-swing called a "ball" if he/she has doubt."

There is no comment in The Right Call that supports the "must appeal" theory.
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I'm sorry you haven't worked any LL this year. I've jumped into LL with both feet this season in Wisconsin and just got finished working the Majors and Minors districts and tonight worked the State Championship game in the Junior division as part of a 6-umpire crew. Most of the tournament officials here in Wisconsin are also pretty good college umpires, so the games go quite well. After two weeks of tournament play here there were no incidents to report of, no protests, and no problems at all.

Rich

I've spoken with Andy Konyar regarding the many omissions and differences between the Little League rulebook and the Official Baseball Rules. Basically, his explanation was that the Little League rulebook is based on a very old version of the Official Baseball Rules. He said he's been slowly fixing things, and if you see something that needs fixing to give him an e-mail about it.

Of course, I would be remiss if I didn't point out the various intentional differences and omissions that make the rules appropriate for youth league. Obviously, I'm not talking about those differences.


Oh, don't be. After 20 years of working Little League, I needed a year off.


[Edited by Jim Porter on Jul 29th, 2003 at 01:07 AM]

Jim,

I didn't write the third paragraph in the quoted part attributed to me in the message directly above this. Where did it come from? If it is from something I posted earlier, I simply don't remember writing it.

Rich

[Edited by Rich Fronheiser on Jul 28th, 2003 at 11:51 PM]

My mistake. I wrote it. I just accidentally put it inside your quote tags. Sorry about that. I fixed it now.