Advantage/Disadvantage

[HugoTafurst]

I'm not good enough to decide if there was an advantage or disadvantage and then make (or not make) a call.

[Umpteenth]

I've gotten grief from fellow umpires (all SP/Rec league) for:
1) Calling runner out for leaving too soon (3rd out, team was way ahead, not quite the run rule, but time was about to expire; it was last game of the night).
2) Coach literally pushing R1 back to 3rd base (1 out, they were behind by a few runs) on a fly ball to F8 to ensure she tagged up - she was 4 steps down the line. Ended up as 3rd out, after the catch.

It's the rule. It's my integrity. It's what I get paid to do.

[BlitzkriegBob]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

If we are going to make decisions and calls based upon TPOAD, there is no reason to have all those rules.

I have never seen a rule or manual or clinic presentation which included the disclaimer: "Call the rule this way unless neither team gained an advantage."

Neither have I, but for whatever reason I've been hearing this many times the last couple of months. I also know that I've read it on at least two or three threads on here and/or other message boards, but other than the "Short Handed?" thread on this board I can't seem to find any other mention. I also had thought no one had called anyone to task for mentioning it, but of course Mike did exactly that in that thread.

Originally Posted by HugoTafurst

I'm not good enough to decide if there was an advantage or disadvantage and then make (or not make) a call.

Exactly! I don't know what advantage might be gained by making 1-5/8 revolutions instead of 1-1/2 revolutions, but if the rule book says you can't do it then I thought I should call it.

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I was planning on bringing this up at a future association meeting, but wanted to make sure I wasn't going to wind up with egg on my face for suggesting we not consider TPOAD as Mike puts it.

[marvin]

My answer whenever someone brings up the advantage/disadvantage issue is two fold:

1) If there is no gain then there should be no loss by following the rules as written.

2) The only accurate way to measure if an advantage is gained to to follow the rules as written. There may be an advantage that you can not perceive.