Rules? We use some of all of em!

[refump10]

Been doing some Perfect Game and Pastime tourneys the past few weekends. It's been pretty good baseball for the most part, but one thing that has been driving me crazy is the way the organizers "tweak" the rules.  For the most part, they seem to use FED rules with a few "exceptions", such as the using the "pro" pitching rule, the NCAA FPSR, etc. 

 

We had a sitch over the weekend with R1, R3 and the pitcher does the old 31 move.  Of course, the offense HC immediately starts yelling for a balk.  I explained we are using FED rules and that's still legal.  He says that is an exception for the tournament and asks me to go to the site director for clarification, and adds that the site director has told a couple of his parents its a balk.

 

This is where it gets fun.  I go to the site director and ask him what rule set we are playing under again.  He says "high school rules, but that's a balk.  They changed the rules this year."  Of course a couple of the parents hear that and start braying.  I told him no, that's only applicable in pro ball and that unless there is a tournament specific rule prohibiting it, then there is no balk.

 

We get the game done, and I'm walking out when I spy the Site Director.  He comes over and tells me that, yeah, he got it mixed up and that move is still legal, sorry bout that. 

 

I was so mad I didn't say a word.  Just thanked him for taking care of us and see you down the road.

 

For those that have been doing these tournaments, do you recurring problems with the rule sets?  Had another situation a couple weeks ago where the TD calls me over to say there's a problem with one of the team's lineups.  he says, they can't DH for the center fielder.  This is after I asked him pointedly what rule set we are playing by and what exceptions there are.  He says none, then 15 minutes later hits me with this one.

 

Just venting, but it seems the games would be so much better if they'd just leave the rules alone.

[Thunderheads]

Pastime?  What State?

[refump10]

Kentucky.  I guess my irritation stems from the lack of clarity of the exceptions/deviations of the rules. I've looked on both the organizations' websites, and Pastime spends a lot of time outlining how bracket seedings are done and the refund policy, but very little on under which set of rules they want to use.

[Thunderheads]

Kentucky.  I guess my irritation stems from the lack of clarity of the exceptions/deviations of the rules. I've looked on both the organizations' websites, and Pastime spends a lot of time outlining how bracket seedings are done and the refund policy, but very little on under which set of rules they want to use.

Pastime is FED ........

[refump10]

Yes, I saw that, but they also allow an EH, XH, or a team to hit the whole line up, if they so choose, and mandate a courtesy runner for the pitcher and catcher with two outs. Not being argumentative (just whining a little) :crybaby2:Perfect Game's rules deviations are spelled out better, just have to piece together bits from three rule sets; FED mostly, but NCAA slide rule, OBR pitching rule.

 

The team that was arguing for the balk got it called on them the week before at a USSSA tourney.  One of the coaches told me that after the dust settled.  I told him that I'm not sure, but I thought U-trip uses OBR, so that's why it might have been called.  Or the umps just kicked it, not sure, but tonight it's not a balk. What really got their radar up was that I balked their pitcher two innings before for not stopping.  So I guess balks were on their radar.

[StrikeToWin]

U-Trip the 3-1 move is a balk.

[goody14]

Yes, I saw that, but they also allow an EH, XH, or a team to hit the whole line up, if they so choose, and mandate a courtesy runner for the pitcher and catcher with two outs. Not being argumentative (just whining a little) :crybaby2:Perfect Game's rules deviations are spelled out better, just have to piece together bits from three rule sets; FED mostly, but NCAA slide rule, OBR pitching rule.

 

 

The Pasttime tourneys I have done are pretty much FED.  For pitching conferences they state, "we will use the rule of the state the game is in".  We are Indiana, so straight FED on the conference rules.  We cover in plate meeting, easy enough.

 

The only problem I have had was with the EH stuff.  Had a game where one team batted their entire lineup (11 guys).  The other team brought 13 guys and only wanted to bat 11 to mirror the other team.  

 

Fast forward to the 3rd inning - runner of team batting 11 of 13 steals second and takes a tag in the face.  Bloody nose.

 

Coach says he wants to use the last out as a courtesy runner to see if they can get him cleaned up.  Partner and I talk it over and decide since he has subs, he needs to use one and the player can always re-enter.  He huffs a bit but games goes on without a hitch.

 

Seemed like a reasonable ruling on our part.