From: nalin@athena.mit.edu (Palitha Nalin Wikramanayake)
Subject: Baseball and Neutral Umps was Re: Neutral Umpires ---> Pick your own !
Followup-To: rec.sport.cricket 
Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 1992 23:42:10 GMT

In article <1992Jul30.152858.13722@bnrmtl.bnr.ca>, sewell@tsingtao.bnr.ca (Henry Sewell) writes:

	stuff deleted
|> 
|> Since I moved to North America, I have seen many baseball
|> games. There are similarities between the umpiring 
|> functions for the two games. For example, calling a strike
|> and assessing an LBW appeal both require a mental, 
|> three-dimensional model of a fast-moving, swinging ball.
|> Another example is running to base and a run-out appeal.
|> The call in baseball seems far more difficult because
|> of the physical contact between the runner and fielder
|> as the ball comes in.
|> Yet in baseball, the umpires always seem to give instant
|> and confident decisions. Rarely do the players argue
                            ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
|> (though they don't always look happy!). Similarly, the
|> action replays generally vindicate the umpires.
|> If baseball umpiring is indeed superior, I wonder why?
|> Are there penalties for bad umpiring?
|> Are there rigorous training procedures and examinations
|> for qualification?
|> Are they rewarded for high standards?
|> It sounds like heresy, but maybe cricket could
|> learn from our merkin friends.
|> 
|> Henry Sewell       My opinions, not my employer's.
|>  
|> 

	From what I have gathered while in the US the baseball umpires are
	very carefully selected. The League has scouts who go around the
	minor leagues and pick out good umps for the majors. Also I believe
	that they are well paid and their travel expenses etc. are all borne
	by the league (of course the league makes a LOT more money than the
	ICC or TCCB).

	As for "rarely do the players argue" - have we been watching the same 
	game?????  I think there is MUCH more dissent (stares, glares, gestures
	and verbal) than what I remember of cricket (particularly below Test
	level). Why its not uncommon for the manager to come out and argue. Of
	course the umpire always has the last word - including tossing players
	and managers. 

	The only baseball call where I see relatively less dissent is in the
	call of balls and strikes. This call is similar to that of LBW. I wonder
	if the dissent is less here (and maybe in running to bases) because in
	baseball the umpire must ALWAYS make the call. There is no appeal here.
	A runner must be declared "safe" or a pitch a ball or a strike.

	In running to base the baseball umpire has one advantage over the cricket
	umpire. He can watch the runners foot and listen for the ball hitting
	the fielders glove - unlike in cricket where you must watch two things.
	Its not uncommon for good umps to make calls where the difference is a
	matter of a fraction of a second - a situation where a cricket umpire
	- as kre points out - often has no idea what happened.

	To conclude, I believe this whole umpiring thing has got out of hand
	in the last 10 years. After many tours by Eng. (primarily) and then
	Aus. where much complaining was done about umpiring the other countries
	now feel they should get into the act too. I don't believe there is
	any racism involved. NZ umps have been criticized often too. Also when
	Pak toured SL in 1986(?) their behaviour was atrocious. They once sat on 
	the ground and refused to play after a catch was given not out. Of course
	there were no match referees in those days! This should show that it is
	not only Gatting who has been guilty of absolutely reprehensible
	behaviour in Test matches.

	As a compromise on the argument about third country umps - here is my
	suggestion.


		Have one ump from the home country and another (accepted by
		both sides as being good) from an ICC panel (from a third
		country). This way umpires get to umpire in front of their
		home crowd (though why this is a big deal I don't understand)
		and also people get a chance to see the different interpretations
		of the rules (particularly LBW) in other countries.

	Nalin	
	





		







	




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