Quote:
Originally Posted by luvthegame
Just to ramp this up a little....
The "slot" is a term that should become extinct for practical purposes ! The NCAA changed the verbiage this year in the manual to... between the catcher and the batter. As long as you can see the strike zone.
The closer an umpire can set up to the middle of the plate and still see the corners of the plate and strike zone accurately...ie...bottom of sternum (NCAA) and knees..and both corners...PHYSICALLY..VISUALLY SEE....the more consistent and accurate they can be. It only makes sense...???
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First:
That is not an accurate statement....assuming that you are referencing the 2010 CCA
Softball Umpires Manual, the NCAA still uses the term
SLOT to describe the area between the
"catcher's inside shoulder and the batter when she assumes her natural stance, and the catcher is in her normal crouched position behind the plate."
Section 4-Definition of Terms (Pg.44), SLOT.
I won't rewrite the entire definition here, but I will point out that the definition is shaded, which indicates language has been changed in someway from last year's manual. So while the NCAA has changed verbiage within their definition of slot, they have not taken the term SLOT out of their mechanics.
Second:
What we're trying to share with each other in this thread, is how we as umpires handle the adjustments that we find we have to make from time to time during the course of the game.
I'm really not concerned with what an umpire's manual from the NCAA or any other fast pitch governing body has to say about the subject.
I want to hear from other umpires, their thoughts, reasoning, etc. on the subject based on their experiences over the years...in the heat of the game. No manual is going to help you out when you're getting "squeezed" by the position old the batter and/or catcher, you can't see a particular part of the strike zone, and you've got some pitcher throwing BB's up there that are just exploding on you as they reach the plate....all this plus it's a close, tight game.
FWIW....I've found most of the replies to be extremely helpful. Guys here have offered some great suggestions, and have raised some points that I had not previously given any thought to.