I don't blame the current NCAA rules editor, Jim Paronto, for our plight. I blame Don Edwards, the man back in the 70s who told me: "Well, Carl, a college pitcher is often one of his team's best players. We want the coach to have every opportunity to use his skills to the fullest."

The have certainly done that. Three things I know: (1) Dozens of college umpires will not walk onto the field without a laminated DH rule in their ball bags; (2) some D1 umpires always let the coach make any changes involving the DH; (3) some umpires never let the coach make any change if the DH is party to the switch.

What I hope to do is train a fourth man, a guy who goes out with nothing in his ball bag except balls. If you are reading something else into that statement, so much the better.

Continued...