Ground Rules/Pre-Game Coaches' Conference

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by tcannizzo

Here is the ultimate solution. And a money maker for somebody.
Require that all bats have a bar code, and the umpire with a bar code scanner. Not sure that bat was checked? Just scan it. Illegal bats would immediately be flagged.

Won't solve a thing. Bar codes can easily be faked, and I'm not scanning each and every bat at each at-bat.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by tcannizzo

Here is the ultimate solution. And a money maker for somebody.
Require that all bats have a bar code, and the umpire with a bar code scanner. Not sure that bat was checked? Just scan it. Illegal bats would immediately be flagged.

Actually, there was an attempt a few years ago to have tamper-proof sensors installed in the bat that could be read by a scanner which would would give the specs of the bat. It was attached in a way the bat could not be shaven. It could probably be rolled, but would probably disconnect if done improperly.

But it could not guarantee the compression and would have been costly, so I think it was just dropped. But still someone was at least thinking of a way to make things better.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by EsqUmp

I can only predict that you are referring to questions about the specific ground rules and not a free for all about rules interpretations right? After all, it called the ground rules / coaches' conference and not a clinic.

True, but I can't tell you how many times the "does anyone have any questions" was answered with, "Last week in our game..." followed by something they didn't understand or some complaint about the previous umpires. Love league ball, don'tcha?

[EsqUmp]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

True, but I can't tell you how many times the "does anyone have any questions" was answered with, "Last week in our game..." followed by something they didn't understand or some complaint about the previous umpires. Love league ball, don'tcha?

That's why the question should be, "Are there any questions on the ground rules?"

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by EsqUmp

That's why the question should be, "Are there any questions on the ground rules?"

Yes ... but to a coach, "ground rules" includes anything the dastardly umpire he had last week might have done wrong (in his mind, of course).

[EsqUmp]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

Yes ... but to a coach, "ground rules" includes anything the dastardly umpire he had last week might have done wrong (in his mind, of course).

Well let's help coaches better understand what "ground rules" means by not entertaining those questions.

It's also outright improper. Vary rarely do coaches call me as the rule interpreter, despite having my number and email. Let them use the proper method to get answers.

Stop entertaining the questions and they might stop asking (at least as often).