I should know the answer, but . . .

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally posted by greymule
I'd like to pursue this a bit further. AtlUmpSteve and CecilOne have agreed that a failure to call IFR when it should have been called is correctable. In my view, their position is logical and seems fair. Misapplication of rules can and should be corrected.

But even in the case of an obvious non-call, since the rule was designed to protect the offense, if the offense is happy with the result of the play (perhaps everybody was safe, or perhaps the runner from 2B was put out at 3B leaving the same situation, except that a faster runner is now on 2B), do we let the play stand?

(The rule may have been designed to protect the offense, but at all but high levels of play it is usually something the defense likes to have called. Believe me, in 12u girls' softball, the defensive coach is happy to hear IFR called.)

My answer is that our job definition is to attempt to assure the game is played fairly and on an even playing field as guided by the rules. If a rule applies, we should apply it, without regard to who would be happy if we do or don't, and without regard to the original purpose to a rule. Where would this stop, if you don't apply rules because one team likes the result? And, if that was the intent of the rulemakers, we would certainly see an exception noted in the rule (similar to illegal pitch or catcher obstruction, where the offended coach can take the result of the play).