UmpJM

Bailey, In a word, yes. JM

Michael (& Warren), That makes sense to me. I too find it pretty aggravating when I've given an instruction and the players and/or coaches fail to comply. I don't believe I've ever had a player in a HS Varsity game enter the game wearing jewelry. I've seen it a few times in Frosh & Soph games & always get the "Oops, I forgot..." type of reaction when I tell them to remove it. I also concur with your opinion about it being pretty stupid looking, though, in the context of a baseball game (as opposed to wrestling, or even basketball, for example) I think the safety/danger aspect is a little exaggerated. But, as I said, if it'a a rule, I'll certainly enforce it. John

Michael & Warren, For some reason, the jewelry thing doesn't really bother me that much. If I'm doing a FED game, or any game where the league rules proscribe wearing jewelry, I'll certainly enforce it - but I'm very low key about it & it doesn't boost my blood pressure at all. And many of the leagues I work have "no provision" regarding jewelry. In those leagues, I don't say anything about it - unless, in my judgement, I find it inappropriately distracting or hazardous. It's probably more annoying to me that FED makes the umpires responsible for enforcing the prohibition or saying the stupid "properly and legally equipped" and BS "sportsmanship" line at the plate conference and do the "pre-game "bats and hats" check. I do it, but it's mildly aggravating and I feel kind of stupid doing it. Now I've got to take issue with Michael's assertion that because it's simply not true. For example, both USSSA and CABA have no provision prohibiting jewelry at the HS age level. To make an issue of a player wearing jewelry in one of those games would, in my opinion, be OOO. As for players improperly out of the dugout, I'm with you on that one. I strictly enforce that - in a firm but courteous manner, of course. So, I'm curious, why the heartburn over jewelry? JM

The best compliment I ever received came "indirectly" a few days after I had called a Colt League game (15-17 yr. olds, Summer ball). During the game, the pitcher for one team had used a "jab step" pick-off move to 1B. The Offensive HC, who I know pretty well, asked me (politely) why it wasn't a balk. I explained it to him briefly at the time and he accepted my explanation without any fuss. That evening, I sent him an e-mail with the text of the MLBUM section dealing with the jab step move. A couple of days later, I received the following e-mail from him in reply: Given the context and the phrasing, it struck me as sincere. JM