myths and misapplications- where do they come from?

[Stan W.]

Oftentimes we talk about myths and misapplications of rules and we wonder where these things get their start......so here is one real world one from last night...

Sometimes they come from US.......

As I am the Chapter Rules Interpreter for my NFHS chapter, I had just finished with my powerpoint lesson refresher on 2 man mechanics and also on the 2 bats now banned for not meeting the BBCOR standard....we always have a few minutes to allow the chapter to bring situations and rules to the floor to discuss and review......actually I think we often get more from interacting and discussing real world situations than the classroom work......

One of my umpires asked what was the rule on nonadults warming up pitchers between innings and what must they wear to be legal........of course we all agreed that nonadults in a crouch position must wear an approved headgear/mask and cup......The Umpire insisited that any player must be in full catching gear to be warming up a pitcher........

not a problem, we get right into the rulebook and in 1-5-4 it states the mask/helmet/cup only requirement.......

Suitably stunned my umpire states he was sure we had talked about this a few years ago and that the rule was full gear......he even checked with his partner and he also agreed that it was full gear only..........So it turns out that my umpire insisted that both teams in his last game have fully equipped catchers only warm up pitchers.......

he stated that both coaches did not question him on this.......(not too surprised there).....

Sometimes we are our own worst enemies.....

[Kevin Finnerty]

Hands have been shaken, lineups have been exchanged, so here goes: "Are all players legally and properly equipped?" [Yes says one coach, and yes says the other] "Take us around."

Ten words.

[noumpere]

Hands have been shaken, lineups have been exchanged, so here goes: "Are all players legally and properly equipped?" [Yes says one coach, and yes says the other] "Take us around."

Ten words.

Here we also need to say something about sportsmanship but I agree with Kevin that 10 words plus 10 more for the sportsamnship or whatever else is required by your state is all that is needed.

[sdix00]

As "The List" points out:

L-E-G-S

Lineups

Equipped

Groundrules

Sportsmanship

As far as where the myths come from - ONE word: Softball.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Sportsmanship is implied, and going over it at the meeting is an insult to any established, experienced coach. Virtually every game is conducted in a sportsmanlike fashion, and if there is an incident that is unsportsmanlike, I'll deal with it at the time.

[noumpere]

Sportsmanship is implied, and going over it at the meeting is an insult to any established, experienced coach. Virtually every game is conducted in a sportsmanlike fashion, and if there is an incident that is unsportsmanlike, I'll deal with it at the time.

You could make the same claim about being legally and properly equipped and both are required by the state to be said in high school games. In non conference college games I think the NCAA requires us to ask about the 10run rule and the halted game rule (but to be honest I cant remember whether thats on the arbiter or just an association thing).

The point is to cover what is required to be said in as few words as possible and dont add extra stuff about hustling in and out or calling time to come talk to the umpire or whatever.

[th3]

im confused...

[semper_fi_72]

im confused...

Me also.

I don't see how plate meetings got involved with OP.

Seems to have derailed.

[mstaylor]

Myths can be directly derived from the 80/20 analogy. Many coaches never read a rulebook, they just operate on what they knew from playing. Unfortunately some umpires are in the same boat. They don't study the rules like they should and many times they don't pay close enough attention in clinics to further their knowledge. When odd things happen they don't know what to do and many times they do the wrong thing.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Sportsmanship is implied, and going over it at the meeting is an insult to any established, experienced coach. Virtually every game is conducted in a sportsmanlike fashion, and if there is an incident that is unsportsmanlike, I'll deal with it at the time.

You could make the same claim about being legally and properly equipped and both are required by the state to be said in high school games. In non conference college games I think the NCAA requires us to ask about the 10run rule and the halted game rule (but to be honest I cant remember whether thats on the arbiter or just an association thing).

The point is to cover what is required to be said in as few words as possible and dont add extra stuff about hustling in and out or calling time to come talk to the umpire or whatever.

Not telling coaches to be sportsmanlike leaves you open to virtually nothing; not asking if a coach's players are legally and properly equipped is a major responsibility of yours. The argument is nothing close to the same.

I have dropped the sportsmanship bit from my rap, and it has been met with wide approval, and no criticism from above. If you feel your association mandates that, then by all means, say it. I'm leaving it out. I almost never have an unsportsmanlike act in a high school game I work. I don't need to lecture everyone for the indiscretions of a very few.

[Welpe]

Why are you all discussing plate conferences in this thread?

I think Michael hit on it with the 80/20. Things like two bases from TOP after a ball gets thrown out of play. For probably 80% of the time, if not more, the 1+1 myth works just fine. In a way those get affirmed when these situations are seen. It's when something less common happens such as the runner retreating to tag up when the ball was thrown out and him being given two bases.

When that happens, the 1+1 believers are wondering why he got one too many bases. Couple that with an ex pro claiming the umpire messed up and the fans are all going to "know" the umpire messed up.

[bpate]

10U USSSA Tournament.

Pitched ball bounces and hits the batter in the leg. Umpire's call --- "It Bounced."

No bases were awarded. Game was protested and call was overturned.

A lot of myths come from sandlot and backyard baseball and some umps never bother to learn the difference.

[mstaylor]

I have a question for our NY brethren. Do you guys have a special rulebook for travel ball? I am forever having discussions with managers that quote rules from NY umpires. The latest was the one I tried posting in the other thread. Basically the manager was complainly the opposing pitcher didn't set or step off before he went to first. I told him correct, he doesn't have to do either. He says the rule says clearly that he has to stop for a completely second. I told him he has to stop when he goes to the plate, he does not have to going to a base. He also can spin on the rubber. He said that in NY that is absolutely not true. He said he would look it up and show me. I told him to save time look at 8.01b.