Ill Umpire

[jTheUmp]

Four reasons:
1) This ain't spring training. These games actually count for something in the standings (although considering the two teams involved, this point is somewhat debatable)
2) It's only a 15-minute delay... not the end of the world.
3) If you've got one guy falling ill, a second guy calling balls and strikes behind the mound, a third guy changing in the locker room, you've only got one other guy to cover the rest of the field. I'm not sure many players or managers at that level would like to have a 2-umpire crew, even if only temporarily.
4) It gives the Phillies concession stands 15 extra minutes to sell $8 beers and $6 hot dogs.

[jicecone]

Sorry this is an umpire forum. You may have to Google it but somewhere there should be an MLB Owners Forum.

Ask Them.

[dash_riprock]

Originally Posted by jTheUmp

Four reasons:
1) This ain't spring training. These games actually count for something in the standings (although considering the two teams involved, this point is somewhat debatable)
2) It's only a 15-minute delay... not the end of the world.
3) If you've got one guy falling ill, a second guy calling balls and strikes behind the mound, a third guy changing in the locker room, you've only got one other guy to cover the rest of the field. I'm not sure many players or managers at that level would like to have a 2-umpire crew, even if only temporarily.
4) It gives the Phillies concession stands 15 extra minutes to sell $8 beers and $6 hot dogs.

Well put. And one game in the standings can result in a lot of money changing hands.

[tmagan]

Originally Posted by dash_riprock

Well put. And one game in the standings can result in a lot of money changing hands.

You are also trying to keep people watching the game as well in the era of the remote control. I was at a game Retrosheet Boxscore: Tampa Bay Rays 10, New York Mets 6
four years ago that featured an in game Jerry Crawford injury replacement plus a separate rain delay that went 3:55 without the rain delay. It is hard to keep eyeballs on the TV set when you have players standing on the field for 15 minutes looking at the sky.

[jicecone]

Originally Posted by tmagan

It is hard to keep eyeballs on the TV set when you have players standing on the field for 15 minutes looking at the sky.

Switch the channel and get a life.

[bob jenkins]

"... But now the next game between Joe's Dairy Queen and Sam's Lustre Clean Car Wash won't be able to start on time, and they'll run into the curfew when the lights automatically go off at 9:45..."

Wait, never mind.

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by jTheUmp

Four reasons:
1) This ain't spring training.

And I believe it did happen this spring training, with Tim McLelland calling from behind the mound.

Tim McClelland calls balls and strikes from behind mound - ESPN