Touching bases rule

Have to say.........BINGO!! It's a shame that a great game comes down to this. But it happens all the time in one form or another, whether it's an ump's call, coach's decision or player error.

Regarding the rule that prevents players from coming onto the field after a homerun. I don't believe it is new. It is only now beginning to be enforced by SOME umpires. Some interpret it to mean players should stay out of the dirt, others say they must stay in the dugout, while still others don't care one way or another. I'm sure they thought the rule would prevent confrontations at the plate but I definitely see how some see it as petty. However, we can complain all week about petty rules but it seems to me the only way we can justifiably attack an ump for enforcing one is if they only do so some of the time!!

 

Touch Em All???

I can understand missing a bag when a player is running full speed, rounding a base, and trying to hit the inside corner. We've all done that and probably missed the bag a few times. But how do you miss a bag on a home run??We've all heard the old home run saying, "Touch em all"??

 

just to let everyone know, the coach and the player both claim he hit the back corner of the bag. i still think this is true, i thought i saw the same thing sitting on the hill. the best thing about it is the player is continuing on with his life playing legion ball and will be playing in college. the 1st base coach is coaching legion ball (and a great coach he is). i guess all is well that ends well. we can all take this as a learning experience.

i still believe it was a crappy call and will always believe it.

 

Final comment...

What is sad is that CoachMay and Tj21 are former umpires and are saying that a certain rule doesn't matter. I know UK7dook3 and DodgerBlues are on your side, too, so the statement below is for them and anyone else who believes the call shouldn't have been made.

Do something active about changing the rule, but until it's changed, don't blatantly ignore it and say you would lie to the coach. I still find that unbelievable that you defend your argument by saying you would lie. Again, GREAT EXAMPLE TO THE KIDS (yes, that is sarcasm)...

You really do set a bad example for the kids who grow up playing by the rules and who respect the game for what it is. Remember, touchign all the bags is part of the game, just like appealing a call is part of the game. Had I been a kid and you made the call against me, my dad would have argued, but then, after he settled down, he would have realized the umpire was doing his job by enforcing the rules and told me I should do the same. He brought me up to respect the rules, and respect and love the game. And I do.

Unfortunately, some people feel umpires are not there to enforce the rules, but are there to make their own rules when they don't agree with a written rule.

TO TJ21:
YOU SAID: "So I happen to believe my speed limit comparison is very valid. Rules are rules, if you're trying to argue we must follow ALL the rules, then you can't pick and choose the ones you don't like... sorry..."

YOU MADE MY POINT FOR ME. I'm not picking which rule I don't like. MY POINT ALL ALONG, IF YOU HAD BEEN READING, WAS WE SHOULD FOLLOW THE RULES. Again, you make my point because you're drowning in your own irony.

TO DODGERBLUES
YOU SAID: "But many of us do feel that it is not appropriate on a home run that goes out of the park, that is the time instead to tip your hat to your opponent and then try to get it back on the field. At some point the desire to compete and the win-at-all-cost mentality get a little crossed up and go haywire, and in my opinion this is one of them."

WIN AT ALL COST? YOU ACT AS IF SOUTH MECK WAS BREAKING THE RULE INSTEAD OF USING THE RULE TO ITS ADVANTAGE, and instead, demonize them for playing by the rules....Again, unbelievable.

TO THE UMPIRE WHO MADE THE CALL: Thanks for setting a good example for the players who are taught to play by the rules. You saw it. You made it. It was written and you didn't include your interpretation into something that was clear.

Remember, for CoachMay, Tj21 and UK7dook3, truth is relative. No matter if it's written down and they sign on to uphold the rules, they feel they have been given liscense to make new rules as the game goes on, even though they haven't.

They will never change, because, again, rules are relative. It's not the same as the judgment calls, as stated earlier concerning balls, strikes, did the runner beat the throw, etc., because, as stated, those are true judgment calls. A call ceases to be a judgment when there is an absolute. In this case, the runner did or didn't touch the bag. If he did, he's safe and the home run counts. If he didn't, he's out. No interpretation or judgement needed.

They don't care if they are there to enforce the rules, and have instead become the rules and feel they are bigger than the game itself. Unfortunate they disrespect the game like that.

Oh, and one last thing: Again, for the third time, the speed limit analogy fails when considering that lives aren't at stake (again, unless you get crazed parents willing to do harm to umpires)...Baseball is a game, played by rules, and a beautiful game when umpires enforce the rules, instead of interpreting a written rule and blatantly ignoring and LYING about it to the coach and players.

Again, those examples posted were examples from more than 100 years of lost home runs because players failed to adhere to the rules and umpires had the guts to make the right call, no matter what they FELT.

Again, it doesn't matter if you feel it's a bad rule or not. It's written and until it's changed, you are given the responsibility to make the call whether you feel like it or not.

Nuff said...

Sincerely,

Insider

 

Touching Bases

First of all I never said I was an umpire past or present. I coach baseball. I could careless who won that game because I dont coach either team and dont know anyone that was playing in the game. When I heard that a kid hit a big homerun that won the game for his team out of the park and then they lost because he was called out for missing the bag I have a problem with anyone making that call in that situation. I dont have a problem with the players or coaches for trying to get the call. I personally would not want that call in that situation. But thats my opinion I have a right to it. If his foot was anywhere around the bag as an umpire I dont make that call period. To me its no different than the neighborhood call at second base on a double play turned. Is the umpire going to call everyone safe at second base when the bag is not touched by the mif on turning two? Do umpires open up the strike zone in blow outs? Do they give the close call at first to the team in the field when they are getting blown out? Is that umpire a liar or a cheater? Is that setting a poor example for the kids? Again I will use the same example again. Is a cop in derelection of his duties when he lets a person go for speeding when he does not stop someone going 36 in a 35? There is a thing called judgement and common sense. Umpires that do not use common sense and good judgement make bogus calls that cause these types of controversies. You do not have to agree with me I could careless if you do. I respect your opinion thats fine. If your team lost a game much less had their season end on a call like this would you feel the same way. If so fine.

 

Insider,,,,,,, you said "if I had been reading".........??????????

Look pal, don't be sarcastic with me. We simply don't agree, plain and simple.

The only thing I will say to you is "THANK GOD" everybody don't agree with you.

Each spring, a lot of guys pay their money and go to clinics trying to umpire,,, but coaches will tell you over and over that the best umpires are the ones who know the rules and know how to use a little COMMON SENSE...

 

Insider doesn't know if the ball is pumped up or solid. I am done with this topic.

 

Hey Insider, we just disagree on this and we're always going to disagree on it. But I sure hope that in my years in the game I've set a pretty good example for the kids, except for the occassional losses of temper that I wish I could have back. There was that one day in particular... nah I won't go there!

I hope I've taught the little leaguers I've coached (and my children) to play fair, to respect their opponents, to have compassion, to feel joy, to enjoy the game but keep it in perspective, and at the end of the day, whether they win or lose, to strive to win but to feel good about the way they competed and the effort they left on the field. At least that is what I've tried to do.

I like stories, so I'll have my last woords on this topic by sharing one with you. I remember a time when one of my little league players hit a home run in a championship game off the best pitcher and player in the league, Antonio Cousart, who some of the Charlotte posters know, then a very worthy opponent who later became like a second son to me.

The shot pretty much put the game out of reach, and it was the first homerun Antonio had ever allowed. Now Antonio was a fierce competitor who wanted to win as badly as any other kid out there, and who competed as hard as he could every time out on the field. But I remember and admire him to this day for what he did next. He retrieved the ball, which had been thrown back onto the field, from his center fielder, walked over to our dugout, tossed the ball to the hitter, smiled and said, "Nice shot, but I'll get you next time."

To me the significance of the story is this -- Antonio was a fierce competitor who that day gave his opponent his due. Did he watch to see whether the hitter touched all the bases? No, he was busy getting the ball. Was he looking for a loophole to turn the home run into an out? No, he was acknowledging that on that day, for that plate appearance, maybe in his mind never again, but for that one time, he had been beaten, fair and square, when the ball sailed over the fence. I was 41 years old then, but I learned a lot from that 12 year old that day.

Say what you want about rules and 100 years of history, talk about taking advantage of a rule to get an out, but all I know is this -- if I were the opposing player or coach, I'd a lot rather be remembered for smiling and tossing the homerun ball to my opponent in his few moments of homerun glory than for appealling an alleged missed base and getting the out call. And I sure do hope that any kid who looks to me for an example of how I would want him to act would know that I would much, much rather he acknowledge his opponent's homerun than follow him around during his moment of excitement from the thrill of the homerun, looking and hoping for a misstep.

I don't ask you to agree with me, but I do know for sure that I for one was more proud of Antonio that day than I was of my own son, and he was the one who had hit the homerun.