It is safe to say the Sunday’s game between the Red Sox and Yankees was a little heated. In all areas of the game there were disagreements and protests but for the sake of arguments and to follow up on my word I want to state a fact that I was told I was completely wrong on. I was even told that I will get my league fees reimbursed by the infield umpire if I was indeed wrong. I do not expect you, field umpire, to pay my league fees, however, if you are going to be an umpire in this league, then you should be knowledgeable to the rules associated with that. You are in fact getting paid a great deal of money each time you step on the field and with that price tag, should be quality. Mistakes will be made, no doubt, but for the consistency of being wrong should not be accepted. I was told by the league commissioner that we go by MLB rules so I will simply point out in the rules exactly where it states that a field umpire cannot make any call they so desire. I am referring to the hit batsman that was ruled by the home plate umpire to go to first in this instance. Then without being asked the field umpire shouted to over rule it. This is completely incorrect. So to get on with it, this is an excerpt from MLB rule book 8.02 (c)  8.03 (a) #4 and #5 and 8.03 (c).

8.02 Appeal of Umpire Decisions

(c) If a decision is appealed, the umpire making the decision may ask another umpire for information before making a final decision. No umpire shall criticize, seek to reverse or interfere with another umpire’s decision unless asked to do so by the umpire making it.

8.03 Umpire Position

(a) The umpire-in-chief shall stand behind the catcher. (He usually is called the plate umpire.) His duties shall be to:

(4) Make all decisions on the batter;

(5) Make all decisions except those commonly reserved for the field umpires;

(c) If different decisions should be made on one play by different

umpires, the umpire-in-chief shall call all the umpires into consultation, with no manager or player present. After consultation, the umpire-in-chief (unless another umpire may have been designated by the League President) shall determine which decision shall prevail, based on which umpire was in best position and which decision was most likely correct. Play shall proceed as if only the final decision had been made.

Joey,

Totally understand your point and you are right.  Here is the thing...the field ump was right but it should've been the home plate ump to make the call.  We have dealt with a number of teams "wearing it" when Mike pitches to get an easy bag.  This is in direct violation of rule 6.08 (b) where it states:

The batter becomes a runner and is entitled to first base without liability to be put

out (provided he advances to and touches first base) when—

(b) He is touched by a pitched ball which he is not attempting to hit unless (1) The ball is in the strike zone when it touches the batter, or (2) The batter makes no attempt to avoid being touched by the ball;

If the ball is in the strike zone when it touches the batter, it shall be called a strike, whether or not the batter tries to avoid the ball. If the ball is outside the strike zone when it touches the batter, it shall be called a ball if he makes no attempt to avoid being touched.

Obviously Mike is not burning them up there and everyone has PLENTY of time to get out of the way of one of his pitches.  So an argument could be made that the home plate ump made the wrong call and is unknowledgeable, either way I see your point, but standing up there and taking a 30 mph "fastball" that you can see the stiches on as its coming at you so you can get a base is also against the rules.

Curtis,

Thanks for the reply! I can't agree with you more that there is definitely time to get out of the way. The fact of the matter is that its not his call. Whether or not the home plate umpire is wrong is besides the fact ( if he doesn't know the rules then why is he umpiring any league, case in point to the field umpire). You don't just blurt what you think the call should be when its not his call. Now if he would have called time, talked to him, told him of the rule and then the home plate umpire change his call then sure, that would be reasonable.

Either way, there are rights and wrongs all over the field. Main focus for everyone and every umpire in this league should be consistency and to let the players play. A lot of grievances would be settled if there was more of those two principles.