Why 15? why 8? (mercy rule)

[NDblue]

SRW,

I'm going to let you believe what you want and not argue with you. I know I'm a good umpire and that I'm fair and CONSISTENT with my calls. My state UIC knows that I'm a good umpire and that I'm fair and CONSISTENT with my calls. Every team that plays in games that I ump know that I'm a good umpire and that I'm fair and CONSISTENT with my calls. That's all that matters, I guess. In the game that I was talking about, I was being as fair and CONSISTENT as possible but you know what, there are times that you need to bend or tweak a rule to get the job done. If widening the strike zone a balls width each side of the plate helps eleviate some embarrassment to a losing team, I'll do it. If it helps speed up a game that is taking WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY too long, I'll do it. I'm not violating any rules nor am I being inconsistent. If one pitcher get my modified strike zone, so does the other. There were no complaints about how I called this game and I'm sure both teams were happy to get it over with. You weren't there so please get over yourself and your superiority complex. I didn't make a fool out of myself and I didn't make a mockery of the game.

As far as talking to both team captains about ending the game early, I personally would not feel comfortable doing it. I would get ticked at an ump that asked me to forfiet any part of a game because we were at that time getting beat up. I've played in games where the team that was getting trounced made a comback and won. I've been on both sides. I don't feel that could have happened in this game.

[Edited by NDblue on Aug 1st, 2005 at 01:04 PM]