Major Controversy in Caldwell County Game

Major Controversy

:banginghe Once again we are seeing "Grown-ups" taking the fun out of a great game for the kids. I dont care if this guy can see or has to have his seeing eye dog with him, but i do care that he didnt have the common sense of throwing the coach out of the game for non compliance of his directives on the 2 prior HRs. He didnt have to hurt the kids and anyone who does whether its an umpire or the NC School system, should be held accountable. Suspend the coach for the next game and either finish the game or award the victory to the team leading.

 

I won't make a comment on this one.. it might get deleted . After all we live in the United States of the Offended.

 

Same umpire

Hickory had this same umpire for its opening game during the first week of the season. After a Hickory player drilled a grand slam home run, the only players to meet the hitter as he touched home were the other 3 players occupying the bases. I made a comment to another Dad that I was amazed that the rest of the players did not come out of the dugout to greet the hitter as he touched home, as I have seen many times before. I questioned my son later that night about the lack of team support after the grand slam. To my surpise, he told me that his head coach had discussed this situation during practice and warned the team that the umpires would emphasize this rule this year. The message was clear - DO NOT LEAVE THE DUGOUT AFTER A HOMERUN IN 2005 !!! I have seen the same discipline from the Hickory dugout following homeruns in all games this season.

The umpire in question is well respected by many in the Catawba Valley area. While I agree that the rule is questionable, sounds like the ump enforced the rules as dictated. Do not be so quick to blame "Blue." Perhaps not all coaches have covered the new rules to be emphasized with their teams.

 

Hitman, sorry, but EVEN IF it is a rule,,,, there are other rules all through the book that the umps usually turn their heads on. Having your teammates come out of the dugout jumping up and down on a homerun hitter is supporting your teammates, plain and simple. Its "NOT" showing up the other team, and its not taunting,,,, its simply a celebration for something that many players don't get to do very often in their lifetimes.

I applaud your Hickory team for abiding by this rule,,, but I agree with these others that this is a rule that most umps should and no doubt "WILL" turn their heads on. Even if its an opponent hitting a homerun against us, I don't mind watching his teammates mob him at the plate,,, because I respect what that hitter just did.

Its a stupid rule and serves no purpose,,,, but thats just my 2 cents. But I respect your opinion.

 

Regardless of how bad a rule may be it is still the rule and should be enforced.
The answer is if it is bad for all to get busy and get it changed.
Are the rules in NC changed just by the State Assoc. or do they have an advisory committe?

 

From the umpire's perspective

I am a college, high school, & american legion umpire in this area. I have umpired with Mr. Cline and to be fair, he did warn them and it is a point of emphasis FIELD CONDUCT (pg. 67 NFHS rulebook):

"While the position of the committee is not to suppress youthful exuberance when a homerun or a winning run occurs, the behavior around home plate while team members await their teammate to touch home plate is becoming undesirable and antagonistic. The committee would like to remind players and coaches that no team personel, other than a batter, runner, on-deck batter, occupant of a coach's box, or a defensive player, should be in live-ball territory to congratulate a teammate while the ball is alive. The rule is in place to miniize risk to players and coaches. Extra emphasis by coaches, game officials and athletic admin. to explain and enforce proper behavior would be recommended to avoid any unsporting-like occurrences, thus avoiding rule legislation to quell celebration around home plate similar to other rules codes."

and also in points of emphasis is a new section on UMPIRE'S PROFESSIONALISM (pg. 67 NFHS rulebook):

"It has been brought to the attention of the rules committee that certain rules, written and interpreted by the NFHS are not being enforced by some umpires. Umpires have the responsibility to enforce the rules in a consistent manner. Umpires are not authoriezed to create new rules on the field, nor are they authorized to choose which rules they will or will not enforce. An umpire's personal opnion about the value of a rule is not to have an effect on the enforcement of the rule. If he does not like a particular rule, there is a mechanism in place for him to suggest an appropriate rules change. To provide a level playing field for the student-athlete's and an environment for teaching for the coaches, the umpire must enforce all the rules to the best of his or her ability."

Now after reading that, you can understand why the umpire ruled as he did. It is because he enforced the rule the way the NCHSAA & the NFHS wanted him to. They were very specific with us about this at the rules clinics. Its like the policeman who stops you for going 45 in a 35 mph zone. Even if the cop thinks the zone should be 45 through that part of town, he must enforce the law. Having said that, the problem I have with it is that they made it a point of emphasis and explained it with: "no players are to be in live-ball territory to congratulate a teammate while the ball is alive." Maybe I'm wrong but I believe when a player hits a homerun, the ball is dead until the pitcher is given a new ball, steps on the rubber, with a new batter and the umpire says "play". They also explain it with references to safety, when there is no safety risk to the players coming out of the dugout.
I like the college rule - no player from the dugout can be on the dirt portion of home plate. That way it takes care of the unsportsmanlike instances by keeping them away from the catcher.

 

This just goes to show you the powers to be are turning all of baseball in north Carolina to crap.

 

You are exactly right TNT, the play is dead. I also like the college rule.

 

TNT,,, very well said, and very well explained too. But you are right, when a homerun goes over the fence, the ball is NO LONGER live. Play is dead; therefore, the rules committee shouldn't be worried about "risk of injury" in this specific situation. A homerun is simply a rare feat and the players should be allowed to "PLAY". A homerun is one of the few moments where baseball players can look and act like "little boys" playing the game again, watching them jump up and down.

Again, I will say that "taunting or trash-talking" issues are a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT subject and should be dealt with accordingly. But as I understand it, the situation in Caldwell County was simply like most other homeruns where teammates were merely cheering on teammates. I still see no harm in this celebration.

The thing that bothers me in this situation is not necessarily the rule itself, I think we all agree that there are rules which may need tweeking or even changing,,, making some more severe and some more lenient. But what bothers me in this situation is the umpire's "JUDGEMENT" to eject the entire team. Short of a heated game which is on the verge of breaking into a fight, I just don't think umpires should go around ejecting the whole team. If the umpire had given a million warnings already, and he thought his only recourse was to eject someone, then eject the first player out,,,, but not the whole team, and certainly don't penalize the homerun hitter. Just my 2 cents.

 

I agree with TJ on this one... once the ball has cleared the fence, where's the danger? If it's a result of the fear that unsportsman like conduct could take place, then eject offending players for taunting and baiting, not celebrating a good feat. As long as they are celebrating with their teammates and not degrading the opposition, then let them celebrate as an umpire in my area told me last week.

Now if it starts to get out of hand, either eject the offending players or the head coach for unsportsmanlike conduct.