Umpires’ Plan Gets the Thumb From Council

A proposal by the California Baseball Officials Assn. to institute the so-called “mercy rule” at the high school level was defeated by the Southern Section Council on Thursday--a decision that may have backed umpires into a corner.

According to sources within the CBOA, umpires met last weekend and voted to enforce the rule regardless of what the section council decided. City Section games also are included in the CBOA plan. Another CBOA meeting is scheduled Feb. 6.

“How do I put this? Membership will have to decide what to do,” said Bud Bellinfante, president of the association. “We were advised to expect this (outcome).”

However, Bellinfante would not confirm that the organization plans to enforce the mercy rule, which stipulates that a game ends when one team is ahead by 10 or more runs after five innings of play.

“We had a meeting, but nothing was established concretely,” said Bellinfante, who said he plans to meet again with section officials.

The mercy rule is an attempt by the association to gain a concession from the section because umpires have not received a pay increase in three years. Plate umpires receive $46 per game and base umpires receive $44.

A mercy rule is opposed by coaches, who say seven-inning games offer a greater opportunity for substitutes to play. Coaches also maintain that if scores get out of hand, games could be terminated by mutual consent.