[IRISHMAFIA]

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.

Let's make it easy and go to the International rule that says you must have the ball (period) or you are guilty of obstruction.

That was defeated last year, but I would think there will be another attempt made this November.

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.

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!

These are rules for competitive ball, not recreational, everybody plays ball. There must be some penalty and you can't throw out the coaches or you are inviting chaos to the game.

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.

ASA's rule makes the most sense. Why would you deny the defense an out or two they just gained because the opposition cannot follow a simple batting order? If you changed it, the offense would be openly reporting themselves in violation to avoid the additional outs.

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?

I will cede to the FP experts on the board on this issue. If I had my druthers, I'd move the pitcher's plate back to 46-48' and the only underhanded illegal pitch would be starting while not in contact with the plate. But, as you all know, that will never happen.