Coach manipulates strike zone

[WinterWillie]

Last nights game was a NFHS state tournament qualifier under the lights AFTER a mens slow pitch game- batter boxes and catcher box markings were non-existent. The hometeam coach had ALL his batters position themselves way up front of plate and then had his catcher set up so close to the visitors batter that she was virtually picking the ball out of the zone. Do you realize how difficult this can be to call during the day- nevermind under the lights? My first call of obstruction brought his (hometeam coach) wrath and complaint that the visitors batter were standing to far back in the nonexistent batter boxes. So much for fairplay. In the next inning on a play at second base, the visitors B/R beat the throw and jammed her leg in to the bag so hard that she lay prone, motionless with such a serious injury that she needed to helped off field- the hometeam coach wanted her called out on the play because the BU hadn't called time since he didn't realize the extent of the injury. And that's OK- but this bimbo is chirping about it in my ear the next inning and still wants her called out. The bottom line is its a jungle out there beware those manipulative coaches who are just waiting to pounce on you! (Incidentally, I shut him up on the out call by telling him I called time which he must not have heard even though he was standing only ten feet away from me)

[wadeintothem]

I think you should call time if you see an injury or a player not getting up. I dont pretend it's big leagues and safety is first when I call games. Thats someones kid out there. I dont know how NFHS handles that; but I cant imagine they are not safety inclined.

I had a 14U play last game where I saw F6 make a play where a ground ball rolled up her body to hit her a good shot in the face - she made a throw to B1 on the BR and R1 turned around and headed back towards 2B - at that point the play was for all intents and purposes over and I called time and had the coach check his SS. I told the opposing coach your runner was heading back to 2nd and I wanted the SS checked and he had no prob with it (he's a good coach, sounds to me like your coach would not be like minded towards safety)

If lines arent there and we are pressed for time, I have the coach run me a 1st and 3rd line. It's a must and I ask them to do it.. it takes 3 minutes to do. With no batters box though - it is your judgement. If they are legal - let them do it, if not (4 feet up is a good distance) then you need to tell the coach or actually call it.

You did good not calling the out. I wouldnt give that coach an out on an injury where a player is being assisted off the field... quite obviously a "time situation" and that coach should be ashamed of himself IMO... but oddly, many are not and try every type of weaseling that can be imagined... even at the expense of an injured player.

[mcrowder]

How exactly is the coach manipulating the strikezone?

Surprised the coach lasted as long as she did. Bringing up a play that happened half an inning ago seems to cross most people's lines.

[MichaelVA2000]

WinterWillie,

Impossible for a coach to manipulate a strike zone. It's YOUR zone. The strike zone is determined from the batter's normal position in the batter's box.

During the pregame the lack of baselines and batter's boxes should have been addressed. I remind the coaches that the boxes and lines are the umpire/s judgment.

Any comment chirping about a play regarding those issues I immediately remind the coach that this is a judgment call and his/her arguing judgment calls is a violation of the rules. If this violation continues I will take further action.

As far as killing the play due to an injury that is also a judgment call and I would suggest always put safety first.

Michael

[CecilOne]

Just for clarity, the height of the strike zone is determined by the batter's normal position. The horizontal coordinates are always determined by the plate.

Permitting assistance for an injured player is always an automatic time out.

The boxes and everything else normally determined by lines always exist in exactly the same place. It is the lines tha are missing, not the boxes, etc. Case in point, no "foul lines" does not mean there is no fair ground.

[Dakota]

Originally posted by CecilOne
Case in point, no "foul lines" does not mean there is no fair ground.

Boy, would THAT make for a LOOOONNNNGGGG game!

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally posted by WinterWillie
Last nights game was a NFHS state tournament qualifier under the lights AFTER a mens slow pitch game- batter boxes and catcher box markings were non-existent. The hometeam coach had ALL his batters position themselves way up front of plate and then had his catcher set up so close to the visitors batter that she was virtually picking the ball out of the zone. Do you realize how difficult this can be to call during the day- nevermind under the lights? My first call of obstruction brought his (hometeam coach) wrath and complaint that the visitors batter were standing to far back in the nonexistent batter boxes. So much for fairplay. In the next inning on a play at second base, the visitors B/R beat the throw and jammed her leg in to the bag so hard that she lay prone, motionless with such a serious injury that she needed to helped off field- the hometeam coach wanted her called out on the play because the BU hadn't called time since he didn't realize the extent of the injury. And that's OK- but this bimbo is chirping about it in my ear the next inning and still wants her called out. The bottom line is its a jungle out there beware those manipulative coaches who are just waiting to pounce on you! (Incidentally, I shut him up on the out call by telling him I called time which he must not have heard even though he was standing only ten feet away from me)

I'm sorry, but if you allowed a coach to manipulate you, that is just what happened. YOU allowed the coach to manipulate you.

Don't wait for anything. If the catcher is too close, move her back. If the coach says anything, tell them that you cannot allow play to continue until the catcher is in her assigned area. Unless this young lady has arms at least 3' long, she cannot be in the box and grabbing a pitch "out of the zone".

If you allowed a coach to harp on something that should have been over an inning before, YOU allowed it to happen.

I don't mean to seem terse, but this all falls under game control. Don't let the coach do anything, but coach. That's there job and if they don't do that, there is no reason for them to be there.

[azbigdawg]

I have to politely agree with mike.... take a little more control.... firmly and politely...no arguing old calls..particulary last inning calls... thats the express train to ejection right there..the reason youre out there is to let the girls play as effectively as they can within the rules.....so enforce them and shut the coach down.