Lively Discussion on Fastpitch Board

[scottk_61]

Originally posted by Big Daddy Baker
At the 2003 Fastpitch Advanced School Henry and Merle said that this mechanic is to be used for Mens Slowpitch only because of stealing.

Billy is a very good umpire. One of the best but you are right Mike Rowe he does like to experiment.

Oh my gosh, BDB went to the advanced school?
Well, obviously he didn't listen there either.
There is no way that Henry and Merle said this the way BDB reports.

BTW, Billy P is no longer a national staff umpire and is gone from ASA for the most part.

This mechanic is good for all slowpitch and has been taught that way at least since the 2003 UIC clinic.
We used it at a national in 2002 (slow pitch) because of an umpire shortage. It saved our legs and let us keep working. I did 17 games in 3 days as did one other umpire. Most of the umpires there worked 12 to 15 during that national.
I have seen it used in fastpitch at times, I am not convinced it is a good thing but neither is it bad.
For everything you gain by changing you also lose something.
Hopefully it will balance out in the end.