Am I missing something?

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally posted by TruBlu
Yes, but isn't there something to not letting players, coaches, fans make a travesty of the game? Following the "letter of the law" I believe only works 99.9% of the time. If allowed, some people (read: coaches) will bend the rules to the breaking point. Case in point from my experience: coach in the 3rd base box sees the grip on a pitcher's hand, and yells the pitch, expecially change-up, to the batter as the pitch is being delivered. Upon being told to stop, he replies "I'm talking to my batter, not the pitcher". The pitcher is visibly upset, cannot deliver the pitches, the coach doesn't stop, obviously his job is done.
This is a game I am watching from the sidelines (my game off). I called him on it the next game, he said he didn't have to stop, I tell him if he continues I'll toss him for unsportsmanlike conduct. He complains to my UIC, my UIC backs me and tells him he will not allow him to make a travesty of the game. The coach asks for it to be pointed out in the rule book, the UIC says he doesn't have to point out a single rule to cover this particular infraction, that it is his job to make sure the game is played fairly for all.

I have no problem with your UIC backing you up, but the coach is correct.

If a pitcher isn't capable of concealing her pitches, that is a problem for her coach, not the umpire. We have enough to do on the field without "making up" for a player's shortcomings.

Stealing signals or catching tip-offs and sharing them is not against the rules. ASA, or any of the sanctioning bodies, presents a rule book and other guidelines upon which to base our duties. I find no advantage to an umpire imposing their personal feelings of what is or is not fair upon teams.

As an umpire, I would never stop the coach from doing this. I might, however, have a problem with his/her timing. If it happened as the pitcher began her delivery, then I could support a USC ruling if s/he refused to stop.

Of course, if the coach had half a brain, he would have coded his signals. Then what are you going to do, insist you can read his/her mind? And, I have no problem with coaches attempting to bend the rules. When they go beyond that point is when we, as umpires, step in. That is why when there are violations it is referred to as "breaking" the rules. No mention of "bending."

JMHO,