The Official Forum  

Go Back   The Official Forum > Softball

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Rate Thread Display Modes
  #1 (permalink)  
Old Thu Aug 04, 2005, 08:41am
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 110
Can someone please tell me why this term is ever used to describe a pitch?

There is no place in any rule book that says the ball must land within X of the plate (unless you play matball). So the pitch is either over the shoulder "High" or under the knee "Low" or "Inside" or "Outside".

Just curious where this started.
Reply With Quote
  #2 (permalink)  
Old Thu Aug 04, 2005, 08:46am
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Little Elm, TX (NW Dallas)
Posts: 4,047
Please see one of the 20 other threads on this.
__________________
"Many baseball fans look upon an umpire as a sort of necessary evil to the luxury of baseball, like the odor that follows an automobile." - Hall of Fame Pitcher Christy Mathewson
Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Old Thu Aug 04, 2005, 09:53am
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 110
I would love too. However, the search function has been turned off. If you could kindly direct me to one of them I would love to read it.

Apparently this is a commonly asked question.
Reply With Quote
  #4 (permalink)  
Old Thu Aug 04, 2005, 10:08am
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Little Elm, TX (NW Dallas)
Posts: 4,047
Try "slow pitch strike zone" about 4 down from this one.
__________________
"Many baseball fans look upon an umpire as a sort of necessary evil to the luxury of baseball, like the odor that follows an automobile." - Hall of Fame Pitcher Christy Mathewson
Reply With Quote
  #5 (permalink)  
Old Thu Aug 04, 2005, 10:37am
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 110
That is not what I am looking for. I am trying to find out where the term started. When I was playing 3 nights a week many many many years ago it was being used then. I am trying to find out where it started and then after that, why we have not gotten rid of it.
Reply With Quote
  #6 (permalink)  
Old Thu Aug 04, 2005, 11:32am
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: USA
Posts: 14,565
Quote:
Originally posted by baldgriff
That is not what I am looking for. I am trying to find out where the term started. When I was playing 3 nights a week many many many years ago it was being used then. I am trying to find out where it started and then after that, why we have not gotten rid of it.
I have no idea when it started and who the SOB was to first use the term.

I suspect it has been perpetuated throughout the softball world as a matter of talking down to a player's level. Personally, I refuse to use the word as it relates to a pitch or strike zone. And I definitely discourage other umpires from dropping to that level.

__________________
The bat issue in softball is as much about liability, insurance and litigation as it is about competition, inflated egos and softball.
Reply With Quote
  #7 (permalink)  
Old Thu Aug 04, 2005, 01:05pm
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 129
That term always baffled me. I know what they were refering to, but also thought it was a misstatment.

Like you said, it's either over the shoulder, "High", or under the knee "Low".

My guess would be someone said "It's High" and the pitcher said "But it wasn't illegal"....maybe that's where the confusion came from.

I've been trying to abide by Pollard's advice and when they ask "Why was that a ball?!?", I just say "Because it wasn't a strike".

=)

(I will give the old head tilt on close pitches)
__________________
**Rookie eager to learn!**
"I call it like I see it."
Reply With Quote
  #8 (permalink)  
Old Thu Aug 04, 2005, 01:22pm
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Little Elm, TX (NW Dallas)
Posts: 4,047
That or "It was high". "Then why didn't you say illegal?"

High vs Deep differentiates in the mind of the uneducated player between the illegal arc pitches (high) and the ones that come in OVER the strike zone (deep).

I, however, use neither - and only say high if asked.
__________________
"Many baseball fans look upon an umpire as a sort of necessary evil to the luxury of baseball, like the odor that follows an automobile." - Hall of Fame Pitcher Christy Mathewson
Reply With Quote
  #9 (permalink)  
Old Thu Aug 04, 2005, 01:40pm
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 110
I am using "it crossed over the shoulder". It is an accurate statement of what I saw and is not confusing either.

Out of curiousity if the pitcher asks why would you not tell him what the problem was.
Reply With Quote
  #10 (permalink)  
Old Thu Aug 04, 2005, 02:37pm
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 129
Because someone I trust told me to do it that way.

I would suspect it's because you don't want to get in the habit of having to always explain yourself and your calls.

Like I said, I try to 'stay in the habit' of....

In all reality, now and then I will explain "It was over the shoulder"...
__________________
**Rookie eager to learn!**
"I call it like I see it."
Reply With Quote
  #11 (permalink)  
Old Thu Aug 04, 2005, 03:38pm
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: In the Desert....
Posts: 826
The word should be banned from use on the softball field
Reply With Quote
  #12 (permalink)  
Old Thu Aug 04, 2005, 03:56pm
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: USA
Posts: 14,565
Quote:
Originally posted by azbigdawg
The word should be banned from use on the softball field
Darrell,

Speaking of being banned from the softball field , I just found out I'll be working with Wally in OKC.

He'll swear I won't remember his name, but I've got it down pat.
__________________
The bat issue in softball is as much about liability, insurance and litigation as it is about competition, inflated egos and softball.
Reply With Quote
  #13 (permalink)  
Old Thu Aug 04, 2005, 04:16pm
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: In the Desert....
Posts: 826
Wally is a nice guy...
Reply With Quote
  #14 (permalink)  
Old Thu Aug 04, 2005, 11:23pm
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,718
The term, "DEEP", is used in the the slo-pitch leagues that use the "mat", or "plate extender". In those leagues the ball must land on home plate or the mat/extender to be a called strike. If the pitch lands beyond, it's "DEEP". Conversely, if it lands in front of the plate, it's usually called "SHORT".

Bob
Reply With Quote
  #15 (permalink)  
Old Fri Aug 05, 2005, 08:08am
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 1,640
Since I got stuck doing all the pitching for my team this year (no one else would do it- I wanted to play SS!) the calls of "deep" and "short", combined with the hands- and foot!- antics indicating the pitch location just about drove me bonkers.

Another frequent signal I see is the one indicating that a pitch has hit the plate. It's the one where the umpire hits two fists together, end-to-end, so that when the fists touch they are roughly in the position they would be in if you were gripping a bat. It is often accomanied by the verbal call of "plate".

Is this signal used in other parts of the country?

Is this a standard signal described in any rule book or umpire manual for any association?
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:44am.



Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.3.0 RC1