[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally posted by WestMichBlue
Mike: “It was pulled because the NFHS and NCAA discovered a hole in their rule and ASA did not want to make any changes until that hole can be closed. The problem has nothing to do with the proposed change.”

I disagree. The “hole” is created by ASA wanting to change the LBR to have multiple starting points.

If that is your true belief, you didn't know the rule before last year. Until last year, that is exactly how the rule went into effect. BTW, from what I understand, it was NCAA and NFHS which approached ASA and informed them of their dilemma.

Mike: “The problem is that no rule specifically addresses at what point a pitcher in the circle returns to being a pitcher after acting as a fielder handling a batted ball.”

Yes there is. The LBR rule goes into effect WHEN the B-R reaches 1B under the single starting point current rule. Then the “fielder” becomes a pitcher.

So a pitcher who fields a slow roller in the circle is immediately a pitcher and not a fielder if BR reaches 1B regardless of the actions of any other runners.

So, you are not contending that ASA, NCAA and NFHS are all wrong and you are correct? Interesting.

Mike: “If the runner is off with the pitch and F1 snags a line drive, R1 becomes aware of the catch, reverses direction and then hesitates trying to find the ball, when to you initiate the LBR?”

Never! The play is not over. We have a runner in violation of a rule (which the umpire cannot call until appealed). The runner can stand there all she wants – jump back and forth – but at some point she better get back to the base before the ball reaches the base and she is out on appeal.

IMO, the single starting point LBR when a batter becomes a B-R is an excellent rule and is easy to manage for umpires. Who cares what other runners are doing while the B-R is lollygagging to 1B? It is a live ball, and if they get careless they are liable to be put out. If the defense makes a mistake, too bad; we don’t need a new rule to prevent that.

Apparently quite a few people care or the issue would never come to the table. I certainly hope you don't believe that there is a group of people in an ivory tower in OKC that make up these rules. These rules comes from committees staffed by commissioners, player reps and representatives of affiliated organizations (i.e., NFHS, NCAA, Parks and Rec organizations, etc). The people who work in the ASA office don't even have a vote.

Mike: “A runner stealing must begin their advance prior to the pitcher receiving the ball in the infield whether from the catcher or any other player. If the runner is not advancing, the play is assumed dead and the runner returns to their base. IOW, just like SP.”

IOW, just like SP? Why should we change our rules to look like SP? The game of softball is Fast Pitch! SP is a derivation; a stepchild of FP. We (FP enthusiasts) don’t need your (SP aficionados) rules.

WMB

Once again, you must be terribly uninformed of the origin of the game and those who carry the load. The origin resembles SP softball more than it ever resembled baseball or FP softball. It may have even been a bit to the MP side. However, SP carries softball organizations. Even the strictest FP aficionado in ASA must even cede this point.

There is no need to keep the ball live between play and pitches.

Tom and Glen, what did I say?