The only thing that I can disagree with is your opening statement. My wife says that is giving me too much credit.
I have absolutely no issue with changing the rules. I have said that on illegal pitches in softball and in a major argument over balks in baseball. We cannot just enforce things because “it should be”. If you want things to be illegal, you have to change THE RULES. I emphasize THE RULES because too many orgs (including NFHS) have tried to “legislate through case play” and end up issuing contradictory statements.
The only other hiccup I would point out in your post is the video thing ... It sounds good, but we have videos in this thread and can’t agree. Maybe clarify that with comprehensive/quality videos?
Edited to add: I did forget one thing ... not saying it doesn’t happen, but I have never been told by an assignor or UIC not to call something.
Hey "The Man In Blue" (TMIB) - I am guessing your an umpire... and not part of the Vegas Show?
Your wife sounds like mine... My wife tells me she is always right... So every time she makes an actual mistake... I say "What did I do to cause you to make that mistake"
TMIB... I agree with your comment on the random game video...
That is why the RULE BOOK videos would need to be produced and filmed in a controlled environment (not game footage).. with several camera angles filming at the same time (U1, U2, U3, U4).
In addition, you would need to have a "Rule Book Committee" consensus that a set of videos are the EXACT interpretation of the rule.
In the "printing press era"... The Written Rule Book had to be approved by a committee... So the process of "creating a video interpretation of the "written text" should be simple" (just don't allow any pitching coach to be involved or have any influence)
Pitching Coach and Pitchers must be kept accountable to the rules... so having a "video rule with voice-over" will STOP the "toe bending", because there will be no "so-called interpretation" of the written text.
Currently... the LAZY pitching coaches that don't know how to correct this "toe bending" problem... they just argues that "they are right and the umpire is wrong" because admitting to the parents they don't know... and don't want to learn how to fix this problem... would be really hard on their GIANT EGOS
Just think... the parents have spent all that money to have their daughter taught an illegal pitch.... So... the pitching coach is forced to tell the club's parent, pitchers, coaches that THEY are right... so at every single game... they YELL & SCREAM & SWEAR at the umpires until they all quit calling it an "illegal pitch" (or a coach gets ejected... and these parents/coaches still think the umpire was wrong... and their pitching coach is correct - WTH)
TMIB - Good to hear that your local UIC's don't tell you "not to call illegal pitches"...
Unfortunately... In various confidential conversation... I have been told that the scouting "college coaches" should know if a pitcher is "illegal"... so... there is no illegal pitch calls... and these teams win the tournament with an illegal pitcher
Plus the hosting club team... does not want to "piss-off" any teams... and get negative feedback... that spreads to other club teams about their tournament... they want them all to keep coming back... and spending money
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