Poor OC

[vcblue]

Originally Posted by SRW

In this situation, what was called in the OP was a case of "rulebook right, ballfield wrong," IMHO.

Last year at The So-cal 18gold regional the UIC said something to me that makes since. "You can never be wrong for making a call supported by the book".

In no way did I make a quick call on this. I never do, but at some point you have to make the call and then be ready to explain your ruling.

IMHO it would have been easy to turn a blind eye to this play, but then I may have been the cause of one team winning over the other. Instead it was the coach.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by vcblue

..."You can never be wrong for making a call supported by the book"....

hmmmm.... whatchasayboutdis, wade?

[wadeintothem]

Originally Posted by Dakota

hmmmm.... whatchasayboutdis, wade?

Ha!

The WORST calls are sometimes supported by the rule book

[vcblue]

The bottom line here is I need to get fired from my 8 to 5 job so I can collect unemployment and start my own business. Then I can stop only working rec. and travel, and start working higher level ball.

Mickey Mouse and I are not friends.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Okay, that's more like it.

Yes, I do believe the LBR is no longer a necessity. Instead of providing control of the runners to keep the game moving (OMG, a speed up rule!), it has become a tool for a defensive strategy. The rule and it's application has gotten out of control.

I agree with Tom that there should be a more definitive demarcation of when a player is a pitcher or fielder.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Yes, I do believe the LBR is no longer a necessity.

Well, I don't know you could make the case it was ever a necessity, but it is very helpful at younger ages, because otherwise the same silly stuff that now goes on between catchers and runners would just move to between pitchers and runners. OC's would dare pitchers to try to pick off the runner, betting that the runners will be able to advance many more times than they are tagged out.

I do think that at the upper levels, the rule is largely superfluous.

Do you keep a rule that mainly helps at the lower levels of the game? I say "yes", but I would be very open to modifications as suggested: the LBR does not go into effect until the ongoing play from a batted ball is over.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Dakota

Well, I don't know you could make the case it was ever a necessity, but it is very helpful at younger ages, because otherwise the same silly stuff that now goes on between catchers and runners would just move to between pitchers and runners. OC's would dare pitchers to try to pick off the runner, betting that the runners will be able to advance many more times than they are tagged out.

I do think that at the upper levels, the rule is largely superfluous.

Do you keep a rule that mainly helps at the lower levels of the game? I say "yes", but I would be very open to modifications as suggested: the LBR does not go into effect until the ongoing play from a batted ball is over.

I think it would be more to control the coaches who still think the rules they played in the sand lot 20 years before still apply