NCAA Softball Umpires

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

(I don't do baseball)

Hmmmm. I think I found Captain Obvious' secret identity.

[Jurassic Referee]

[QUOTE=GarthB]

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

(I don't do baseball)QUOTE]

Hmmmm. I think I found Captain Obvious' secret identity.

Is that him?

[bossman72]

The stiff softball mechanics agitate me. They remind me of cheerleaders when they put their hand up in the air at the end of a cheer and strike a pose.

Also, i flipped through and seen this one PU in the NW/Wash game call a 10 second violation on the pitchers at least 5 times. It was ridiculous. I was thinking either this lady is the definition of OOO, or maybe that's the way softball wants it done. i dunno.

[RPatrino]

The way it has been explained to me is that softball is very concerned about umpires being 'bigger' then the game. They don't want to draw attention to themselves, thus the lack of 'selling' calls or different color uniforms.

They frown on 'non standard' mechanics, or colors or doing anything that makes anyone notice anything that you do above and beyond calling the rules and the game as it is meant to be.

[IRISHMAFIA]

I would try to explain it to you, but I don't think you guys have the wherewithal to comprehend the purpose and the common decency to understand that just because it isn't "your way" doesn't mean it is wrong.

[UMP25]

*sigh*

Ironic coming from a poster who has in his screen name "MAFIA."

[RPatrino]

Okee Dokee, Mike!!

I don't think anyone here is saying the softball mechanics are wrong, just different. However, I have noticed that attitudes like yours are quite prevalent in softball.

To each his own, and have a wonderful day!!

[Steven Tyler]

That check swing mechanic makes it hard if you wear a HSM. But wait, I don't believe I've ever seen a softball umpire wear a HSM.

[TussAgee11]

The check swing mechanic is rediculous. Mask off, 3 steps out into foul territory, and a point. Seems a little bit too big if NCAA really wants them to just exist and blend in.

Also, the called strike three mechanic is absolutely hilarious. Arm up, 2 steps to the left or right, then swing it down all the way to your left foot. Give me a break. Hope softball umpires who work 2 man (or woman) don't do this.

Does the signal for "in" in tennis change from clay/composite/grass, men/women, single/doubles? A bit of an exaggeration obviously but you get my point. Baseball and softball obviously stem from the same sport; so what set of umpires changed first? Did baseball umpires in the 1950s used to act like this?

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by TussAgee11

The check swing mechanic is rediculous. Mask off, 3 steps out into foul territory, and a point. Seems a little bit too big if NCAA really wants them to just exist and blend in.

Also, the called strike three mechanic is absolutely hilarious. Arm up, 2 steps to the left or right, then swing it down all the way to your left foot. Give me a break. Hope softball umpires who work 2 man (or woman) don't do this.

Does the signal for "in" in tennis change from clay/composite/grass, men/women, single/doubles? A bit of an exaggeration obviously but you get my point. Baseball and softball obviously stem from the same sport; so what set of umpires changed first? Did baseball umpires in the 1950s used to act like this?

I missed the check swing, but I saw the punch out mechanic, and I agree that it was hilarious.

I don't think that the tennis analogy works, because even though the surface/sex/# of players change, the sport remains the same, the court sizes remain the same, and so the mechanics remain the same. I think a better analogy would be comparing tennis and badminton. Baseball and softball are only similar in nature, not really the same.

And baseball umpires in the 50's used horrible looking mechanics, and rushed all their calls. Back then it was considered proper mechanics, whereas nowdays those same mechanics look ridiculous.

[TussAgee11]

Well then SDS, when did softball become so main stream? Where did they get their umpires from (baseball I'd presume?) And were the baseball mechanics at this time that softball really got going representitve of the mechanics that we see in softball today?

Just asking, I'm not old enough to know much about this.

[greymule]

And were the baseball mechanics at this time that softball really got going representative of the mechanics that we see in softball today?

Absolutely not. The baseball umps in the 1950s and 1960s all had their own style. An ump who made calls like those NCAA softball umps on TV would have been laughed out of the park. The current softball mechanics did not derive from any era of baseball.

Remember that in many places (certainly here in NJ), high school umps (for example) were hired by the school. They were often simply local ex-ballplayers the coach knew. They didn't attend clinics or even have to differentiate between rule sets. It was simply "baseball rules." In the 1950s (and 1960s), things were far less "official" than today.

[hitdawg23]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

Yes, it's been noticed and commented upon. It's what the NCAA softball group wants. shrug.

When the guy on the plate does the NAKE GUN that looks cool also

[hitdawg23]

Originally Posted by TussAgee11

The check swing mechanic is rediculous. Mask off, 3 steps out into foul territory, and a point. Seems a little bit too big if NCAA really wants them to just exist and blend in.

Also, the called strike three mechanic is absolutely hilarious. Arm up, 2 steps to the left or right, then swing it down all the way to your left foot. Give me a break. Hope softball umpires who work 2 man (or woman) don't do this.

Does the signal for "in" in tennis change from clay/composite/grass, men/women, single/doubles? A bit of an exaggeration obviously but you get my point. Baseball and softball obviously stem from the same sport; so what set of umpires changed first? Did baseball umpires in the 1950s used to act like this?

That is what he or she wants to do that is not a NCAA Softball Mechanic!!!

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by TussAgee11

Well then SDS, when did softball become so main stream? Where did they get their umpires from (baseball I'd presume?) And were the baseball mechanics at this time that softball really got going representitve of the mechanics that we see in softball today?

Just asking, I'm not old enough to know much about this.

I don't know nothin' about no softball umpiring!