2011 CCA Manual, Impressions?
 

I assume some of you have already gotten your hands on the new CCA manual, mine came today. What is your opinion of the implementation of the 20 second rule?

IMO, it sounds like a mess to me, esp. if you have no visible clock and a 2 man crew.

I am also curious, the NCAA folks are making this into a huge deal, but in the past several years I've never had any games with massive delays or 40 run games or problem with slow pitches and hitters. Is it so bad in other places that this is as big a priority item as it seems? Or is this just a big deal because of ESPN's coverage of the D1 CWS taking too long?

With the new bats I would think games will be shorter, not longer in the future. Any thoughts?

The only thing worse than no visible clock would be a visible clock. How many "countdowns" would you hear? :eek:

Efforts to speed up play have constantly been a point of emphasis for the college game. My impression of why the NCAA is spending so much time on the 20 sec rule is twofold. 1) To get all officials on the same page and 2) To let coaches know that pace of play will be a top priority. I do agree that with the new bats, game times should drop. 3 1/2-4 hour games are inexcusible. Even with all the ingame promotions, indy pro games average under 3 hours. Gotta love the wood bat.

Well,
 

JK,

You don't umpire in the PAC 10.

Four hour nine inning games are normal.

There is a "pace of play issue" in the West.

T

This is off the topic of clocks, but....

They switched it now in the 3-umpire system so that U1 is on the line with R2 or R2/R3 and two outs. They also said that on a base hit, U1 only has plays at first and U3 takes all plays at second and third. We were taught at a clinic this fall that U1 would take the BR into second if he advanced there and U3 would have all plays at third.

What do you guys think of this?

I don't get a vote, so I'll work as I'm asked to work.

If I was given a vote, I would have voted against this change.

You don't like putting U1 back on the line with two outs, or you don't like the mechanic on a base hit?

I really like putting U1 back on the line FWIW.

Why would hearing countdowns be a problem?

I was ahead of my time. A few years ago, I started taking a stopwatch out as the between innings time was getting out of hand. I started telling both coaches that the pitchers needed to get out quicker, because once we hit the time, I'd call out "one more pitch" and off we'd go. After one pitcher got 2 warmups, they figured out I was serious. Our games were going 3.5+ hours and I was sick of it. Naturally, after a few of these dates, I get an email from the assignor telling me to knock it off.

That was my last season of college baseball -- I quit at the end of the year. Working a 6+ hour DH for $185 more than 2 hours from home for coaches that thought they were the second coming of Earl Weaver lost its luster for me.

With U1 at first with 2 outs this puts U1 in the best position for the 3rd out playing the percentages. This falls in line with pro mechanics. U1 will have plays at first and BR into second. This is simply a reverse rotation, or slide. It really isnt that difficult. It is merely putting the umpires in the best positions for the most likely plays. Mechanics evolve. Evolve with them.

That is not what the CCA manual says. It is telling us that U1 will have all plays at first and U3 has everything at second and third base. They don't want us to rotate at all. Check out page 168 in the new manual.

OK. Havent read the new CCA manual yet.

Common sense says to slide taking BR to 2nd, same as bases loaded or R1,R2. Granted, with 2 outs and R2 or R2,R3, both runners will most likely score if BR goes to second. By sliding, it maintains the NCAA philosophy of having the runner boxed in having an umpire in front and behind him.

Pregame with your partner and work it out.

Even more than FED, it seems at times that the CCA makes changes for the sake of selling manuals.

I am not opposed to change, but leaving U1 in A to do nothing while U3 takes B/R to second and beyond is not, in my opinion, the best use of resources.

It's what happens on a bases empty triple, and with two outs chances are that there's no play on R2 at third if BR is trying for second. So, have U3 waiting for BR at second and then escorting him to third.

On a bases empty triple there is a rotation, so U3 only has the BR into second base and the PU has him at third base. U1 only has him at first and rotates to the plate if the BR commits to third base.

I like putting U1 on the line with two outs. I do not like leaving U1 at first on a base hit like the CCA is saying. I really prefer the "slide" that TTS is talking about.