Well, I guess Irish is right in this: we have little problems with legal courts and people suing each other. It isn't up to me to discuss the way your legal-system works, it is simply different from what I'm used to have here in Europe.
When it's unsafe to play, caused by the field, everything stops, all over the world. However, a wrong pitching-distance doesn't all-ways mean that it's unsafe -by definition-. So at that point fairness takes over and we simply complete the full inning.
And yes, I (or you, any umpire) can not simply start the game without checking the field! Not even on an Off-Day, it's not-done!
I'm neither in a position to say that your different fed.'s have a stupid rule in this. Again, it seems to be also an outcome of your legal system. I was just curious and wondering about the why. The discussed ruling sounds unfair in my ears...
When ISF and ESF changed the pitching distance a view years ago, I was told it should bring more hits into the field. Pitching was to strong, so batters couldn't hit the ball anymore. When F1 stands on the old 40ft, instead 43 ft, I doubt Sally would take a line drive into the mouth. Simply because Hanna can't hit any pitch delivered from that distance.
I've experienced it works that way, had a <21 game a view years ago. I knew the F1 on defence, she played that time already in our top-league, but was also selected for a <21-team. So a week earlier she was on a rubber 3 ft further away than in that <21 game. I missed the first pitch complete, wasn't aware she played from the junior distance.
My mistake, but the batter had no change to hit with that pitcher. Sally is safe; we will not see a judge
