Ariz-Wash out of box

[IRISHMAFIA]

Is it more likely an umpire will evolve into a player or a player evolve into an umpire?

The key word is evolve. Players only know the game THEY play and barely the rules that apply to them let alone the rest of the game.

I once watching a Mets-Reds game. The Mets pulled Jesse Orosco from the mound and placed him in right field for one batter and then returned him to the pitching position for the remainder of the game. Now, what umpire in this world doesn't know that is a legal move? I certainly hope no one raised their hand as this is softball/baseball 101.

Yet, here is a TV camera focused on the coaching staff in the Reds dugout tearing through a rule book (not the pocket sized, but the big one), trying to gain evidence to support Rose who is arguing with the umpire that it cannot be done.

Okay, here are people getting paid an obscene amount of money to know this stuff and among the entire staff of game veterans, not a one knew what was going on.

These announcers may know the players and what they are supposed to do, but haven't a clue on the rules of the game.

[greymule]

Among the entire staff of game veterans, not a one knew what was going on.

I'll say it again: the former MLB guys I know are about as familiar with the rules as the average fan, and we know what level that is. I suspect we'd find that many even believe in some of the "myths" we list from time to time.

If you asked them technicalities about interference/obstruction or whether a certain missed base would be considered a force out on appeal or even where to place runners on some of the plays we discuss on this board, they'd have no clue. Of course, many of them haven't even given such things a thought. They concentrated on what they had to learn to play the game, and they know the obvious safe/out, fair/foul, ball/strike and very little else.

I know a former relief pitcher who knows almost nothing about the rules (and freely admits it). Why would he know how to rule on deliberate interference to prevent a double play? His job was to get a couple of batters out late in the game.

[jimpiano]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Is it more likely an umpire will evolve into a player or a player evolve into an umpire?

The key word is evolve. Players only know the game THEY play and barely the rules that apply to them let alone the rest of the game.

I once watching a Mets-Reds game. The Mets pulled Jesse Orosco from the mound and placed him in right field for one batter and then returned him to the pitching position for the remainder of the game. Now, what umpire in this world doesn't know that is a legal move? I certainly hope no one raised their hand as this is softball/baseball 101.

Yet, here is a TV camera focused on the coaching staff in the Reds dugout tearing through a rule book (not the pocket sized, but the big one), trying to gain evidence to support Rose who is arguing with the umpire that it cannot be done.

Okay, here are people getting paid an obscene amount of money to know this stuff and among the entire staff of game veterans, not a one knew what was going on.

These announcers may know the players and what they are supposed to do, but haven't a clue on the rules of the game.

So?

We are paid to know the rules and interpret them.

In our legal system Judges have the same challenge.

News reporters hardly ever know the law like judges do and it never stops reporters from writing stories full of errors about the law.

And those errors are far more dangerous than sportswriters not knowing the rules of a game.