Why would an umpire care what the score is?

I was just curious to see if Canada was different that we were in the US - since they are about scoring the homer.

I wanted to say that the first day this post started but did not want to be the one to be the smarta$$. But thanks Mike!:D

Because in most of the plebeian tournaments we humble umpires work, we are required to turn in a score card signed by the umpires! ;)

I know what you mean, Tom, even with the wink; but excuse me for a serious reply.
I and many believe, knowing the score and other game situations can affect the perception, and sub-consciously judgement. I pay no attention to the score, often not to the inning; just to avoid any implication that my calls are affected by "getting it over with", letting a call slide or other negatives.

I'm impressed with the use of the word "plebeian"! :eek:

So....8 runs American equel 6 runs Canadian...sounds about right.:D

The ASA rulebook, for one, gives explicit directions in this case. The problem is that it is in a place most umpires ignore.

The question for the OP is whether the Canadian rules have a counterpart to ASA Rule 11.4.G: "When the batter ends a game with a home run hit out of the playing field, any runners on base are entitled to score."

Not to be nitpicky... but I don't see that phrase in either of my books.

Since the game was in Canada, that makes the final score:

eh-eight to five-eh...

A rule book approved by Major League Baseball says this about walkoff home runs.

Rule 4.11 (c): "If the home team scores the winning run in its half of the ninth inning (or its half of an extra innng after a tie), the game ends immediately when the winning run is scored. EXCEPTION: If the last batter in the game hits a home run out of the playing field, the batter-runner and all runners on base are permitted to score, in accordance with the base-running rules, and the game ends when the batter-runner touches home plate."

Why can't softball rules be as crystal clear as this?

Who says it isn't? A home run is a home run. It entitles all runners, including the batter runner to score without liability to be put out save a valid, properly presented appeal. It doesn't make any difference if it's the first play of the game or the last, the same rules apply.

I think you are looking for something that has no need to exist.

BTW, softball board. MLB has no standing here.

But even in this instance I would defer to the official scorekeeper. When anyone ever asks me the score I tell them how many balls, strikes and outs I have and say that is all I keep up with and If you have any question about scoring issues then your scorekeeper needs to go work it out with the official book. That seems to work best for me.

I realize this is a softball message board, but mcrowder said he couldn't find any reference to how a walkoff homer is scored in a baseball rule book. I just wanted to point out that I found one.

(History lesson: Up until 1919 in MLB the home team could only win by one run if it batted in the bottom fo the ninth or in extra innings--no matter how many runs scored on a walkoff homer.)

As for deferring to the wisdom of a scorekeeper, that would be great if all scorekeepers were well-schooled experts. Usually that's not the case in the games I work. Some are quite good, but often the scorekeeper asks me, "Does that run count?" when the third out occurs on a force play. Call me pedantic, but I just like to have the answer ready when the question comes.

I think you misunderstand the full meaning of the word "plebeian". There is no "official" scorekeeper, only some Mom or Dad who does the duty for each team and who is making sure her/his little DD is the top hitter on the team.