As an umpire, I will not admonish a player for making a bad play. So why do some players think that umpires want them to admonish the umpire's calls when the player considers it a bad call. Do we claim to never make a bad call? In no regard is this the case. We are human like everyone else and will make mistakes from time to time. We, as umpires, do not tell players how to hit, field or throw the ball. We certainly do not need players telling us how to call balls and strikes, outs and safes, and how to interpret the rules. When a player engages in this behavior they risk being ejected because the rules state that umpires will not discuss judgement calls. Only captains can discuss a rule interpretation call with the umpire. If you as captain do not agree with a rule interpretation, you have the option of paying twenty dollars to the umpire and letting him know that you are protesting his or her call. You must make the protest at the point that the call was made. Not at the end of the inning or at the end of the game. The scorekeeper will annotate when the protest was made. Then you need to let it go and play the rest of the game. The next day you need to type or write something up stating what call was protested and on what grounds. The board will review it and make a decision. So this is a warning to players that engage in this risky behavior. We do not tell you how to play the game. Please do not tell us how to call the game. This goes for umpires that play in the league, too. Just because you umpire on other nights, does not give you the privilege of arguing with the umpire. Unless you are the captain you should not be discussing a rule interpretation call. This could be summed up in a few words. Just Play the Game!
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Garrett MehalA resident of Jennings, LA. Area Director for USSSA and a board member of the Jeff Davis Adult Recreation. Archives
July 2013
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