[Dakota]

Good list for provoking thought, WMB!

Here are my opinions...

Originally posted by WestMichBlue
My major issue with ASA is the "about to receive a thrown ball" portion of obstruction (1.Obstruction.B.3, and 8.5.B). Now personally, I believe that most umps can fairly judge "about to receive," but ASA screwed it up with POE 35 in which they tried to replace "judgment" with a scientific fact "ball is closer than runner." Now we both know that the ball travels faster than the runner, and thus the defender has the ball before before the runner is there; in effect negating the "about to receive" clause.

If you assume the defender catches the ball, you are correct. However, "about to receive" says nothing about whether the reception, in fact, ever took place. The ASA rule provides protection to a defender who has muffed the catch - the defender cannot be charged with obstruction while bobbling the ball, for example. My biggest issue with the obstruction rule is not the rule per se, but the lack of enforcement each time, every time, leading to coached obstruction as a defensive technique. It's not a rule issue, but a training of and evaluation of umpires issue.

This situation you posted on eteamz, and is a good example of obstruction that would never be called (well, close enough to never):

ASA, Women's FP. Runner coming home, ball coming home, catcher set up in front of plate. Runner executes a wide slide and reaches back with hand to touch plate. (You probably saw this in the NCAA World Series this summer.) Catcher receives ball, spins, and tags runner in the middle of the back just before left hand comes down to touch plate.

In addition to lack of enforcement, there is the problem of interpretation of "about to receive" meaning anything from "ball on the way" to "set up in order to receive," as Cecil said - myths. But, making the call, in general, is a much bigger issue, IMO.

We make this change and umpires will be making zillions of obstruction calls. And coaches and players will have to change. This change will force players to start taking the throws alongside the base or base path, then turn and sweep tag the runners. This will remove a lot of contact from the game and eliminate a dangerous trend of coaches teaching obstruction.

Would that it were true - won't happen by making a rule change, IMO.

1. Unreported substitute is disqualified. These kids come to play the game; the only reason they should be disqualified is for un-safe or un-sportsmanship acts for which they are directly responsible. So a kid sits an entire game because her coach forgot to tell the umpire of the substitution. In NFHS an unreported substitute is legal as soon as the ball is put into play.

Remember - the rule book only applies to ASA Championship Play. Local leagues can, and do, make changes to the substitution rules for just such objectives as you mention. That is the place for this, IMO - local rules. Teams in Championship Play should watch their P's and Q's wrt line up and sub rules.

2. I’m not sure that illegal substitutes should always be disqualified. Coach sends Mary into run for catcher in the 1st inning; coach sends Mary into run for pitcher in the 4th inning. Mary is kicked out of the game!

First, the umpire should not allow this to happen - this is a courtesy runner being visibly sent it - the umpire should check the lineup card and say, "Coach, you can't do that." Second, see #1.

3. BOO – the batter who failed to bat is called out, and if the improper batter makes an out, it stands. “Outie” umpires love this, but let’s be fair. Either the batter who did not bat is out, or the batter that did bat is out. One or the other, but not both! NFSH wipes out the out (or hits) of the improper batter and records one out on the batter that did not bat.

I like ASA's rule better than NFHS, and it has nothing to do with "umpires like outs!" It has to do with applying a penalty that will put a limit on the shenanigans. Critical situation, one out, runner on base - Carol Cementbat is due up, and right behind her is Sally Slugger. CC is a sure out anyway against Helen Highheat pitching, so why not put SS in to bat and take a chance the opposing coach doesn't notice?

4. Pitching – I am sure this is ingrained in ASA culture, but I have never understood why ASA allows it’s men and JO boys to step back, but not its women and JO girls. Other fastpitch programs (NFHS, USSSA, PONY) allow the step; why does ASA force this restriction only on its female pitchers?

The JO game is already pitcher dominated. If ASA is going to muck with the pitching mechanics rules, I'd rather they take a look at what is de facto legal already wrt leaping and crow hopping, and decide whether to tighten up the rule & get it stopped, or loosen up the rule to restore integrity to the pitching rules.

[Edited by Dakota on Jul 30th, 2003 at 10:26 AM]