Rays / White Sox

[MikeStrybel]

In January, the NCAA's Tom Hiler spent a good bit of time explaining the voluntary release of the ball at first base and the need for umpires to watch for it rather than stare at the base (as has been habit for the past few decades). Did Floyd exhibit control? I know this is OBR versus NCAA (the rule is different regarding control). Just asking.

[zm1283]

Originally Posted by MikeStrybel

In January, the NCAA's Tom Hiler spent a good bit of time explaining the voluntary release of the ball at first base and the need for umpires to watch for it rather than stare at the base (as has been habit for the past few decades). Did Floyd exhibit control? I know this is OBR versus NCAA (the rule is different regarding control). Just asking.

I saw the play on the MLB website and they replayed it several times. It looked to me like Floyd (F1) had control and the ball came out as he went to pull it out of his glove with his free hand.

I too thought they got it right, but went about it the wrong way. Eddings screwed the pooch on this one.

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by MikeStrybel

In January, the NCAA's Tom Hiler spent a good bit of time explaining the voluntary release of the ball at first base and the need for umpires to watch for it rather than stare at the base (as has been habit for the past few decades).

In what country? In the 1990''s Dave Yeast, then NCAA umpire coordinator was teaching the same technique the pro schools were teaching, "look up and find the ball before making your call."

[MikeStrybel]

Anyone who has watched pro ball for the past couple decades has seen the first base umpire stare at the base after making his out call. Anyone who has watched the NCAA highlight videos over the past decade or so has seen umpires who emulate this behavior. Despite admonitions not to do it, they still do.

Tom Hiler made a point of emphasizing what he wants to see us do - and what Doug Eddings did. That is the current directive; he seeks to correct what others have not done so far. In pro ball this is an out. For current NCAA, this play would probably be viewed as a safe call.

[bob jenkins]

I think we're in violent agreement here. The correct mechanic and the teaching is to look for the ball. The bad habit is to continue to stare at the base.

NCAA noticed that "too many" were falling into the bad habit and need to go (back) to the correct mechanic.

[MikeStrybel]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

I think we're in violent agreement here. The correct mechanic and the teaching is to look for the ball. The bad habit is to continue to stare at the base.

NCAA noticed that "too many" were falling into the bad habit and need to go (back) to the correct mechanic.

Thanks Bob, that was my point. I introduced it to the thread to differentiate how this would be viewed differently in collegiate baseball but how many pro umpires are now looking for more than the immediate snare of the ball.

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

I think we're in violent agreement here. The correct mechanic and the teaching is to look for the ball. The bad habit is to continue to stare at the base.

NCAA noticed that "too many" were falling into the bad habit and need to go (back) to the correct mechanic.

Thanks, Bob, that was my point. Nothing new about the mechanic.

[MikeStrybel]

Originally Posted by MrUmpire

Thanks, Bob, that was my point. Nothing new about the mechanic.

I didn't see anyone mention that it was a new mechanic, just a point of emphasis this year for the NCAA.

[Umpmazza]

Originally Posted by MikeStrybel

In January, the NCAA's Tom Hiler spent a good bit of time explaining the voluntary release of the ball at first base and the need for umpires to watch for it rather than stare at the base (as has been habit for the past few decades). Did Floyd exhibit control? I know this is OBR versus NCAA (the rule is different regarding control). Just asking.

The new OBR rule will talk about the same voluntary release...as the NCAA has.. you see it soon.. I go to hear the rule changes a month ago.