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Online now: 2 members: TABLE SETTER 11, kotonk; 155 anonymousDiscussion: Rule Joke
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| July 17, 2017 Nancy Allen Men's 55 1438 posts | Rule Joke I am mostly posting this for the amusement of Dave, but I think that quite a few others might find this amusing or possibly even want to argue the point for fun. I was doing bases in a game, and the 11th fielder clearly missed the bag at second, no foot swipe, just stood to the inside of the bag and threw the ball to first. So I called the runner safe at second. During the half inning, the coach came over to me, and he said that he was not going to argue that his player did not touch the bag, but he said the reason that the runner should have been out was because SSUSA out west gives the fielder six inches on any side of the bag, vicinity, to get the force out. I did not give him my resume, but I told him that I really was not too interested in what he perceived other umpires as doing or their rules, but if he ever saw me in a game that the fielder would have to touch the bag to get the out. I was polite but fairly amused by the premise that he presented. I would love to hear what SSUSA umpires out west think too. ...and you thought that you had an interesting day. At least I got a thank you from the runner because the fielder was not ever on the bag or near it. Fortunately he continued to the bag and didn't give up. |
| July 17, 2017 Omar Khayyam 1357 posts | Nancy, I have played only out west for many decades and I had no idea that umpires have a different standard out here. But it seems to work only for the defense. In an important game, my teammate missed second and steamed into third for a triple. On appeal, the umpire called him out! But his foot was within 6 inches of second!! Where's the fairness? |
| July 17, 2017 B.J. 1105 posts | Nancy, I'm not from the west (Fla.) but I had the same call several years ago...but the manager did come out to argue and said its the vicinity rule for a fielder... my reply was really do they have that same rule for the runners?? then I turned and walked away |
| July 17, 2017 Nancy Allen Men's 55 1438 posts | Omar and B.J., that is interesting to extend it to the runners too and probably only fair given the coach's logic. I don't ever try to be rude to players, but if I was, I guess that I could have explained that as a girl that I have no idea what 6 inches is. By the way, he was more than 6 inches inside the bag. If anyone suggests bigger bags as a rule change, it did not come from me. I just could not believe the coach was trying to pin this on SSUSA to me. Let's just say the team was from east of Indiana; so I am at a loss how they came up with that given that they only go west maybe once a year. |
| July 17, 2017 Omar Khayyam 1357 posts | Nancy, you have a wicked sense of humor!:=) |
| July 17, 2017 Nancy Allen Men's 55 1438 posts | Omar, thank you, that is wicked awesome compliment. |
| July 17, 2017 BruceinGa Men's 70 3233 posts | A few years ago we played in a tournament that was delayed by rain. When we resumed the base umpire told me that the baserunners, for safety reasons, didn't need to touch the bases, just be close. I then asked how close was close. He changed his mind and said runners must touch the bases. Lol |
| July 17, 2017 the car 83 posts | i play out west and have not heard of this and we have been called for not touching the bag on a double play |
| July 17, 2017 Omar Khayyam 1357 posts | Wet base bags is not a common occurrence in California, but it is a dangerous one. When it happens, umps typically allow runners to miss the bag when wet. Close is defined by the eye of the ump. Was it a force? Was it close enough that it didn't give the runner a significant advantage. Never been a problem with a confident umpire in those rare occasions. |
| July 18, 2017 Nancy Allen Men's 55 1438 posts | Mine was 83 and sunny. I know in wet conditions that I have told players to be careful on the bags, but I believe that I have only ever told anyone to not touch anything but the plate because they can become like ice in that situation, and I can see it clearly in a one ump situation. The car, thank you, we all know that it was a pretty weak attempt from a team that is from way east of the Mississippi that almost never travels west. Omar, I am pretty confident. Bruce, I have often thought about writing a book of all of the funny things that I have encountered over the years, but softball players probably wouldn't read it. Yes, your game in Georgia that I officiated would definitely have a couple of paragraphs. God bless the Pensacola Hitmen and that experience. Never has a team accidentally found so many technical outs. I do have a title, Sliding into Third. We can talk about that choice in a non-public forum the next time we meet up. I love this game. |
| July 19, 2017 DBurke23 Men's 50 22 posts | The "neighborhood rule" at second has been in effect for baseball as long as I can remember. Even as far back as Little League. However, with the implementation of "video challenge" the neighborhood rule as we knew it is no longer acceptable. |
| July 19, 2017 neck10 714 posts | did they ask you to close the gate???????????????????? |
| July 19, 2017 Nancy Allen Men's 55 1438 posts | DBurke23, I know that I have seen it in baseball and fastpitch softball, but it was just too funny for the coach to try and tell me that this was a SSUSA rule; he should have picked a different association to blame this on. Then especially to say out west when who knows when the last time they played west of the Mississippi was. Neck10, I missed you so much at the Brickyard. I actually did think about you because I was not at Midwest, but a thrown ball wedged into the bottom of the gate where I was. The 1st baseman held his hands up wanting a ground rule double. After time was called we had a nice discussion on how the ball was playable, could pick it right up. It was not outside the field, and a poorly thrown ball is never a basis for a ground rule double. I wish that you had been there. Where are you playing in the next few months? I would like to try and catch up with you and your guys. I love this game. |
