It's right in the rule book, Blue . . .

[greymule]

Just finished working the second-largest SP tourney in the U.S. Over the 28 games I did, I heard the following assertions about rules being clearly in the book:

From F4 after he had to throw around a runner in the baseline, 20 feet from 2B: "He has to veer or slide! It's right in the rule book. Veer or slide."

From an entire team after a batter hit a long fly, walked halfway back to his dugout, and then proceeded to 1B after F9 dropped the ball: "Hey, Blue, he's out. He gave himself up! Got a rule book? I'll show you the rule."

After a pitcher placed his glove over his face while delivering the ball: "He can't do that, Blue. That's deception! The book says he cannot deceive."

After I awarded 3B to a runner who was approaching 2B when the throw into DBT left the outfielder's hand: "He gets home, Blue! The throw was from the outfield and he already had 2B made. Aw, come on. It's right in the book."

(Note: the 3B coach then said, "Can't you give him home? He has new shoes.")

After I called a 7-foot pitch a strike: "Come on, Blue. That was deep. Look where that pitch landed. The book says 18 inches behind the plate!"

After a pitcher delivered a legal pitch with a different motion: "He can't do that. That's not his regular motion!"

I was waiting to hear, "The hands are part of the bat," but after all, it was SP.

Strange that I did not hear, in the right-in-the-book category, "Come on, Blue, the book says he's got to hold the ball for three seconds." Guess that play just didn't come up.