Left to my discretion...or black and white?

[wadeintothem]

You should arrive on time and address this matter at pregame then there will be no 5th inning thing.

If you can get them to agree to allow it at pregame, then its over with.

I would not want to OOO this personnaly.

But, then again, I would be on time.

Did I mention be on time?


Tell the other umpire "oh hey thanks!" and go about your business.

[gumpire]

Originally Posted by wadeintothem

You should arrive on time and address this matter at pregame then there will be no 5th inning thing.

If you can get them to agree to allow it at pregame, then its over with.

I would not want to OOO this personnaly.

But, then again, I would be on time.

Did I mention be on time?


Tell the other umpire "oh hey thanks!" and go about your business.

Thanks for yourr reply. 150% agree with on-time....hard to do when I accidentally went to wrong field however, mistakes happen. Not an everyday event for me and 5 minutes was not make-or-break....we have a 5 minute gap between games (which I often give to the team that is short 2 players who "are pulling into the parking lot right now") and in this instance, game was over 40 minutes after it started (10-run-rule).

I'm sorry, don't know what "OOO" means?

[wadeintothem]

Over officiate the issue..

IMO Clear the air at pregame and go on. I dont set my self up as having time to parade all the fat dudes down the cat walk for close inspection. Once the games on its, on.

[Umpteenth]

One of our local wreck leagues has implemented a similar rule (shirts must be of similar color and must have unique number). I know myself and one other umpire enforce this rule. Either the player finds an appropriate shirt, or they don't play. Yeah, they whine and cry about it, but nothing else arises during game play.

[IRISHMAFIA]

To start, if it is a league rule, it isn't something you or the other team can waive. An umpire certainly does not have the authority to determine which rules applications/misinterpretations upon which they will or will not accept a protest.

OTOH, it isn't, nor should it be the umpire's job unless the league will accept and pay the umpire for the forfeits that will result in not allowing players to participate without the proper uniform. Trust me, forfeit a couple of games and this silliness will stop.

Suggestion: Local leagues have same rules here. Uniform must be worn by 5/15. After that date, the OFFENDED team may protest an opponent not in the proper uniform in the first three innings of the game while that player is the batter. The penalty is the player is ruled out.

Stop right there. I can hear people thinking now about "what if the player doesn't enter the game until the fourth inning" or "but what if s/he doesn't get to bat until the fourth inning", etc. The only caveat is that team members may not change shirts as they come to bat in order to avoid the rule. Otherwise, I don't care what sorry-*** excuse one has, if it isn't in the first three innings, any protest is ignored and they can take it up with the league.

This places the onus of the LEAGUE uniform rule upon the LEAGUE members and eliminates the umpire from any type of associated action other than ringing up the out AFTER the defense insists on enforcing the LEAGUE uniform rule.