Magic eyeglasses

[FleasOf1000Camels]

Johnny is a RHP and wears glasses.  His two grandfathers (one is an optometrist, the other a jeweler) have fabricated a very special pair of glasses for him to wear when he pitches.  There's a tiny, convex mirror attached to the inside of the upper-right corner of his right lens.  With a simple eye movement, Johnny can get a perfect view of first base and R1, even when Johnny is in the set.

When these same teams played 3 weeks ago, Johnny picked off 3 runners in five innings.  After the game, parents of the other team overheard conversation about Johnny's "magic glasses" and passed that info back to their team's coach.  Now at pre-game plate meeting (with Johnny warming up to pitch), coach questions you about the legality of Johnny's magic glasses.

 

[grayhawk]

More outs?  Sounds legal to me.

[Richvee]

First, find me a rule that says he can't wear them. I'm assuming they're not reflecting light causing any distraction. If we have sun glaring off the mirror, we have an issue.

Second, you better have some strong rule backing you up to take away Johnny's prescription eyeglasses. Even if we've got light glaring off the mirror, I'd have him blacken the mirror with a sharpie. Can't have a kid pitching "blind" 

[Mudisfun]

Someone go tell the parents on Jonny's team to shut their traps! Why are they giving away state secrets?!?

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[stkjock]

That's brilliant 

[Cato the Younger]

17 hours ago, FleasOf1000Camels said:

Johnny is a RHP and wears glasses.  His two grandfathers (one is an optometrist, the other a jeweler) have fabricated a very special pair of glasses for him to wear when he pitches.  There's a tiny, convex mirror attached to the inside of the upper-right corner of his right lens.  With a simple eye movement, Johnny can get a perfect view of first base and R1, even when Johnny is in the set.

When these same teams played 3 weeks ago, Johnny picked off 3 runners in five innings.  After the game, parents of the other team overheard conversation about Johnny's "magic glasses" and passed that info back to their team's coach.  Now at pre-game plate meeting (with Johnny warming up to pitch), coach questions you about the legality of Johnny's magic glasses.

 

Soon to for sale on Amazon and rule interps will follow. Always something interesting.

I think there is a potential for umpires to use these as well: To see if a runner a second is breaking. Of course, the to subtly pick out if the guy whose bench jockeying your strike zone from the dugout.

[elares]

http://www.amazon.com/Cycleaware-Viewpoint-Eyewear-Mirror-Round/dp/B00012345A

[stkjock]

42 minutes ago, elares said:

http://www.amazon.com/Cycleaware-Viewpoint-Eyewear-Mirror-Round/dp/B00012345A

IMO, since that is an attachment, not part of the actual eyeglasses, easy call for a official to ask for it to be removed from the lens

[Rich Ives]

1 minute ago, stkjock said:

IMO, since that is an attachment, not part of the actual eyeglasses, easy call for a official to ask for it to be removed from the lens

Rule basis?

[stkjock]

2 minutes ago, Rich Ives said:

Rule basis?

good question, there may not be one, at least at lower levels one could make the case it's a safety issue as the part could dislodge from the lens.

[elares]

good question, there may not be one, at least at lower levels one could make the case it's a safety issue as the part could dislodge from the lens.

That seems a reach to me.

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[Cato the Younger]

1 hour ago, Rich Ives said:

Rule basis?

Each code usually has a clause that indicates that nontraditional equipment needs to be approved. I would use elastic clause support and that clause if I was compelled to take the glasses out of the game for rule support. To be perfectly honest with you even reading this thread I wouldn't be compelled to remove the glasses from the game unless somebody came up with something that hasn't been posted here yet.

[FleasOf1000Camels]

I wondered if anybody would ever get around to this:

FED: 2-1-10; "Any questions regarding legality of a player's equipment shall be resolved by the umpire-in-chief"

FED 2-1-11: "Non traditional playing equipment must be reviewed by the NFHS Baseball Rules Committee before it will be permitted to be used."

FED 10-2-3g: (duties of umpire-in-chief) "make final decision on points not covered by the rules."

Would we allow F8 to use binoculars so he could see catcher's signals?

[HokieUmp]

The coach can question it all he wants.  "They're staying, Skip."

I'm not entirely sure, other than it's not the season, and we're all bored out of our skulls, why we're looking so hard for rule basis, etc.  So he can see the runner - so?  Still gotta make the move to 1B and actually pick the runner off.  How are the glasses helping that, exactly?

You know, teams will do 'codes' like slapping the glove, or making certain noises, to let F1 know to pick off.  So, are we banning sounds?  C'mon, guys.

[Rich Ives]

7 hours ago, Cato the Younger said:

Each code usually has a clause that indicates that nontraditional equipment needs to be approved. I would use elastic clause support and that clause if I was compelled to take the glasses out of the game for rule support. To be perfectly honest with you even reading this thread I wouldn't be compelled to remove the glasses from the game unless somebody came up with something that hasn't been posted here yet.

Fleas posted the FED rule - where are the OBR and NCAA rules?

[Cato the Younger]

41 minutes ago, Rich Ives said:

Fleas posted the FED rule - where are the OBR and NCAA rules?

Equipment NCAA Baseball Rule 1

Only equipment that meets specifications published in the NCAA Baseball Rules may be used in intercollegiate competition.

The rules committee suggests that manufacturers planning innovative changes in baseball equipment submit the equipment to the rules committee for review before production

Rule 3 / Game Personnel and theIr DutIes 

Any umpire has the authority to order a player, coach or team attendant to do or refrain from doing anything that affects the administering of these rules and to enforce prescribed penalties

Each umpire has the authority to rule on any point not specifically covered in these rules

[Cato the Younger]

55 minutes ago, Rich Ives said:

Fleas posted the FED rule - where are the OBR and NCAA rules?

Pro

If the umpire observes any violation of these rules, he shall direct the violation to be corrected. If the violation is not corrected within a reasonable time, in the umpire’s judgment, the umpire shall eject the offender from the game, and disciplinary action, as appropriate, will be recommended. 

 

Before the game begins the umpire shall:

1. (a)  Require strict observance of all rules governing implements of play and equipment of players; 

 

1. Each umpire has authority to rule on any point not specifically covered in these rules. 

[Cato the Younger]

1 hour ago, Rich Ives said:

Fleas posted the FED rule - where are the OBR and NCAA rules?

Still I think I would allow the glasses but a smart umpire would have rule authority and support to not allow them.

[Rich Ives]

2 hours ago, Cato the Younger said:

Pro

If the umpire observes any violation of these rules, he shall direct the violation to be corrected. If the violation is not corrected within a reasonable time, in the umpire’s judgment, the umpire shall eject the offender from the game, and disciplinary action, as appropriate, will be recommended. 

 

Before the game begins the umpire shall:

1. (a)  Require strict observance of all rules governing implements of play and equipment of players; 

 

1. Each umpire has authority to rule on any point not specifically covered in these rules. 

What rule is being violated?

[Rich Ives]

2 hours ago, Cato the Younger said:

Equipment NCAA Baseball Rule 1

Only equipment that meets specifications published in the NCAA Baseball Rules may be used in intercollegiate competition.

The rules committee suggests that manufacturers planning innovative changes in baseball equipment submit the equipment to the rules committee for review before production

Rule 3 / Game Personnel and theIr DutIes 

Any umpire has the authority to order a player, coach or team attendant to do or refrain from doing anything that affects the administering of these rules and to enforce prescribed penalties

Each umpire has the authority to rule on any point not specifically covered in these rules

Glasses are baseball equipment?

[Rich Ives]

You do know you can just go to a bicycle shop and get a mirror that clips onto your glasses - right? You don't need a clever optometrist and jeweler.

[stkjock]

8 hours ago, Rich Ives said:

You do know you can just go to a bicycle shop and get a mirror that clips onto your glasses - right? You don't need a clever optometrist and jeweler.

true, in the OP it seems that the mirror was so discreet that it was not noticed.  one that clips to glasses would be.  Additionally, at least at the youth level, most kids are wearing a sport goggle, those bicycle shop clip ons would be very obvious and could be difficult to attach (based on design of googles vs. glasses)

[scrounge]

8 hours ago, Rich Ives said:

Glasses are baseball equipment?

This is a perfectly pedantic representation of this entire pedantic thread.

Glasses are corrective lens to improve vision and adjust the optical images coming into the eye. MIRRORS ARE NOT GLASSES! They are adulterations to glasses, additional equipment added to gain an advantage, not correct vision.

Is this a serious debate?

[Rich Ives]

50 minutes ago, scrounge said:

, additional equipment added to gain an advantage,

Like a glove or mitt?

 

 

[noumpere]

If the game today were played without one, and then someone brought out the first glove or mitt, then yes, it would be covered under this rule.