Expert: Martin Hoover - 5/26/2007

Question
We had a situation in a majors game where two district umpires made a decision about inserting a player into a game at the bottom of the 5th inning who had just come to the field.  Their call was that the player had to enter at the bottom of the batting order. The manager didn't agree and the outcome was that the team protested the game.  We went on to win the game.  My question is, why should our team be penalized by replaying the game from the bottom of the 5th inning on because TWO umpires misinterpreted the rules.  What action should be taken when two umpires interpret a rule wrong, one manager objects to their interpretion, and other manager keeps his mouth shut but the win by his team is taken away so that the game can be replayed from the 5th inning on

Answer
KB,

The other manager was correct in telling the two umpires that they were incorrect in their interpretation of the rules.  Every manager has the right to protest a game(rule 4.19) that they feel is being played with incorrect rulings.  I know you're disappointed, but put yourself in the other manager's shoes:  you have a rule interpretation that makes no sense, that effects your team, what would you do?

The advice I can give you is if you know that a rule is being misinterpreted, to inform the umpires yourself that they are incorrect, whether it's your team or not.  If you can stop a protest from happening, then you won't have to worry about making up a game at a later date.  Little League says that everyone should try everything possible to prevent protests.

I know it sucks, but those are the rules in which we play the game.

I hope I've been able to help.  Should you have any other questions, please feel free to ask.

-Martin Hoover