ASA Proposed Rule Changes
 

Most of these are rewording to accomplish a clarification.

Rule 1

INFIELD FLY. A fair fly ball....which can be caught by an infielder, pitcher or catcher with ordinary effort.

Rule 5.10

ADD SENTENCE When the time limit rule is in effect, the time begins at the conclusion of the pre-game meeting.

Rule 8.1.B.2

CHANGE TO READ:

2. Whenever there are two outs. This is called the third strike rule.

This is GREAT:
Rule 5.10

ADD SENTENCE When the time limit rule is in effect, the time begins at the conclusion of the pre-game meeting.

Now I am legal and clock is moving, no matter what my partner says! It is a shame we do not have to wait for the first pitch

All of those clarifications make sense. So, they will probably be voted down! :D

Careful with 5.10. Some pre-game conferences are help prior to finishing previous game. This may be true when tournaments are running behind.

And your point is??? ;)

They may flip a coin and exchange line ups and even cover standard ground rules, but, as the umpire, I will not be there.

At some point, there must be a pre-game, if for no other reason than to get my line-ups.

Nonetheless, and especially when a tournament is running behind, when the crew walks on the field, all they need to hear is, "Gentlemen/Ladies, you are on the clock."

Waiting until the first pitch defeats the purpose of having a time limit and, IMHO, is a bit inane.

How many times ?
 

The clarification of when the time starts has been submitted many times before I believe and has yet to pass. What is to make us think this year will be any different ? Not saying it's not needed but I'm just saying it is something not to get your hopes up about. True ?

I used it in a JV tournament tonight and both coaches in both games bought it. SELL IT and reduce discussion. They ran off and on the field to make sure they got maximum playing time.

All AFA tournaments utilize the "clock starts when plate
conference ends." After conference I don't care how long
they chat on the side lines. Naturally later in the game
one of the coaches will want to hurry things up. If all
the delaying tactics being used are ones that have taken
place during the coarse of the game, then I just let things
go. (i.e., Suzzie tying shoe, pulling batting glove up,
coach talking to batter on way to box, fielders lazily going
back to position. These were all normal "flows" of the game,
so let 'em be.

Re: How many times ?
 

I submitted it as a change last year. The problem was that so many people in committee were SP folks who did not understand that according to ASA Code, a time limit may be imposed in ANY Championship Play.

There are two reasons I am attempting this again:

1. The wording of the rule was changed in the 2004 book and the sentence which stated that the clock started at the first pitch has been removed.

2. Now that there is clear wording in the Code, I will be better prepared for the committee when addressing this issue.

Now, if it doesn't go this year, I'll give it up.

Women stealing?
 

Have you seen anyone submit a change for woman to be allowed to steal?
I think it should be done. Local leagues in my area are trying it and it is used about the same as the Men's game.
It does speed up the game and puts the catcher in the game.

Re: Women stealing?
 

Yes, I've heard that the women want the same rule.

However, in this area, it would be devastating. If you want to call strikes in the women's game, an umpire needs to have an imagination. Many catchers cannot.

However, in the Men's game, the rule took baby steps at first and maybe that's how it should be approached on the women's side before passing it for all levels.

Heres one for the umps that like to speed up the game. I saw it for the first time this year at a tournament. They called it the "flip flop" rule. In the last inning if the visitors are winning the home team bats first. If they don't score enough game over you go home half an inning early. Brian

Hmmm,

That sounds interesting! I coulda used that a couple of times yesterday! Gotta think about it, but I like the concept!

That sounds great expecially the fall rec leagues

It's been tried and will not pass.

You think people have a hard time understanding the IFR, what do you think this would do?

Besides, most, if not all tournaments have runs for, runs against or both included in seeding tiebreakers, so denying a team an at-bat could be detrimental to the winning team.

Re: ASA Proposed Rule Changes
 

Found out today, that I'm one-for-one and the convention is more than a month away.

Craig Cress called the president of our state assn. and informed him that this will be accepted and handled as "housekeeping" item instead of bringing it before the entire council.

So, no more arguments by the coaches about what to do with an uncaught 3rd strike with two outs and 1B unoccupied.

Now, let's see how the other two fair :)

Quote:

Rule 5.10 ADD SENTENCE When the time limit rule is in effect, the time begins at the conclusion of the pre-game meeting.

Well, another call from Craig Cress and I am now, 1-1.

The NUS will propose starting the clock at the first pitch as it had been in the past. However, they sighted a problem of which I never thought - the scorekeepers may not be ready and could cause a delay.

Personally, I think that is a bit weak as the umpire can always check with the scorekeepers after the pre-game and then start the clock afterwards, but this is what the NUS will propose, so I have pulled my change. Without the NUS support, it had no chance of winning.

That's a shame. It would have been nice to have the rule changed, there is far too much time wasting before the first pitch is thrown. Oh well, wouldn't want too many good rule changes at once. :D

That was my point. Start the clock early to set the pace of the game. That pace may eliminate the "time" from even coming into play at the end.

Silly me! I'll try again in a couple years.

Mike,

<font size = 7>

YOU DA MAN...</font>

I like speed up rules.

I usually start the timer immediately after the last warmup pitch as the first batter is getting set, with a loud announcement.

Why not start the timer when you part from your plate conference? That really gets em moving!