I think you may have missed a few points....
If you go back a few posts to dash's response....he states:
"6 year-old T-ball? Anything goes. Do whatever feels right for the kids."
But then qualifies his next statements with:
Serious baseball?
Then goes on to state correctly what we as HS and college umpires do......
In my response, I clearly step around the whole T-ball thing and and responded only to the level of baseball that I do and the accepted way to handle the situation...........
You go on to say
"Something that has always bothered me about the "umpire fraternity" is their willingness to cover their partner’s *** even if they know the guy's dead wrong"
In this instance neither of us is trying to cover anything........we are only doing what the rule book tells us to do.......
Under NFHS rules, please read rule 10-2-article 4
"any umpires decision which involves judgment, such as whether a ball is fair or foul, whether a pitch is a strike or ball, or whether a runner is safe or out is final.
But if there is a reasonable doubt about some decision being in conflict with the rule, the coach or captain may ask that the correct ruling be made.
The umpire making the decision may ask another umpire for information before making a final decision. No umpire shall criticize or interfere with another umpires decision unless asked by the one making it."
In our levels of baseball, our opinions and mechanics are correct........
in T-ball....thats up to you
Just my .02