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Playoff Game 3: ... in the downpour
With a downpour drenching the players, the exhausted GD-A bench forfeits to avoid injury. But was the ump playing nice?
Aug. 1, 2004
By Andrew Wolan / MLSB.com
Dear Mr. Bridges,
I have some comments I want to make:
1) Walk Rule Clarification
I strongly urge that at the start of next season, you ask the managers
and umpires to agree on a "walk" rule. It seems like every umpire and
every manager has their own interpretation of the rule, which is
frustrating. I personally followed the "walk" stated in the Co-Ed rules
for the Complex.
I personally think that giving a male batter a "double" whenever he
walks is excessive. Most of the pitchers I have seen struggle on the
mound and by no means ever intentionally walk a batter. With that in
mind, a walk should be just a walk with no strings attached to it. But
that's just my opinion.
2) Risky Business
Part way into our third game today, it started to rain. (A hard rain,
not a light sprinkle, as you may recall.) I asked the ump to delay the
game or postpone it due to the weather. He said the decision was his and
that we are to continue playing.
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Exhibit A: Rochelle at bat, in the downpour. (Wolan)
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Now that is were I get concerned. The field was wet and was only to get
slipperier and muddier. The rain was only increasing in intensity and
everyone was getting drenched. Add to that the fact that the guys on my
team were tired from playing two straight games prior to that, then I
get a growing concern that someone on my team was going to get hurt. I
forfeited the rest of the game because I did not want to see someone get
hurt on either side.
(See attached photo for an example of the fielding conditions shortly
before I called it quits.)
I personally think you should have a word with the umpire that umped our
game. If someone got hurt due to improper fielding conditions, you would
be fault. Having a ump that values his pay check more than the safety of
the players is unprofessional in my opinion. I can understand that the
umps just wanted to get these playoffs moving along, but you can only go
so far.
I'm not asking for a "protest" or anything like that, we'll take the
loose and end the season here. But when an ump has an attitude with me
after the game after I try to look-out for the safety of players on both
teams, I get a little offended. At least talk to him and asked why he
was pissed at me.
- Andy
A day later, I received the following reply
Hi Andy...I will try and respond to your concerns...First of all, the team managers make up the rules in the league...since you were a late addition, you did not have imput. You will next year, and I do agree that the walk rule should be modified, but that is up to the league managers. As far as the Field Conditions....I, or the Complex controls only the start of a game....After the game starts, it is completely in the hands of the umpires....I did make a comment that the fields in my opinion, were not playable....your game went the necessary 4 1/2 innings to be an official game...The umpires called the rest of the games off...ASA umpires have the control of the games and it rests with their judgement and if someone gets hurt it is their responsiblility if it is negligence on their part.... Hope this answers some of your questions and I look forward to your imput next year....We need to have an executive board of the Co ed league.....We will have a banquet for ALL the players
with free food in September and I will let u know the date....thanks for your imput and let me know if you have time this fall to work on our Web Page.....Jim Bridges...
Game Photos |
Fielding and Batting Line-Ups |
GD-A Player Stats from Playoff Game 3 |
Corbett Report for Playoffs
Andy Wolan is a reporter for MLSB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Softball or its clubs.
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