Npf

tcblue13 · #1 (**permalink**) Mon Jul 31, 2006, 11:53am

I have only seen a few snippets of a few games. It looked like good ball though.
Has the league been around long?
Who are the Umpires?
I like the bigger field; makes it a real pro game.

Steve M · #2 (**permalink**) Wed Aug 02, 2006, 02:49pm

We've got at least one of the folks who ump that league as a semi-regular on this board - look at the signatures. For the most part, it is very good ball.

Dakota · #3 (**permalink**) Wed Aug 02, 2006, 02:54pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcblue13

I like the bigger field; makes it a real pro game.

I thought it was the money paid to players that did that!

Andy · #4 (**permalink**) Wed Aug 02, 2006, 03:04pm

The last I knew, each team hired their own umpires for their home games. In Tucson, they used some of the local area umpires that called a lot of NCAA ball.

I know a few people that have called these games.
I understand that the fee wasn't near as much as you would expect for that level, but the ball was good.

I don't know how playoff umpires are selected. If the league grows and starts to be a viable sports entity, I can see them starting their own umpire program.

tcblue13 · #5 (**permalink**) Wed Aug 02, 2006, 03:37pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dakota

I thought it was the money paid to players that did that!

You are correct sir

The larger field actually makes it more challenging for the hitters to park the ball. It probably adds to the possibility of the ever more exciting ITP HR.

bluezebra · #6 (**permalink**) Wed Aug 02, 2006, 06:55pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcblue13

I have only seen a few snippets of a few games. It looked like good ball though.
Has the league been around long?
Who are the Umpires?
I like the bigger field; makes it a real pro game.

What's npf?

Bob

IamMatt · #7 (**permalink**) Wed Aug 02, 2006, 08:08pm

I read today that Dot Richardson is working on starting another pro softball league. Doesn't make much sense to me to have two leagues struggling. If they could have a league associated with MLB maybe it would work in the same way the WNBA has done better than the other attempts due to the support of the NBA.

tcblue13 · #8 (**permalink**) Wed Aug 02, 2006, 08:39pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluezebra

What's npf?

Bob

National Pro Fastpitch

IRISHMAFIA · #9 (**permalink**) Wed Aug 02, 2006, 09:17pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by IamMatt

I read today that Dot Richardson is working on starting another pro softball league. Doesn't make much sense to me to have two leagues struggling. If they could have a league associated with MLB maybe it would work in the same way the WNBA has done better than the other attempts due to the support of the NBA.

I believe it is called the PFX Tour. More like a traveling road show. Lisa Fernandez did everything she could to mention it during the NCAA's.

CelticNHBlue · #10 (**permalink**) Thu Aug 03, 2006, 08:31am

Quote:

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

I believe it is called the PFX Tour. More like a traveling road show. Lisa Fernandez did everything she could to mention it during the NCAA's.

I am not aware of any new league that Dot is working on. I do know the PFX Tour is a traveling group, two teams, that play a couple exhibition games on a weekend. In addition, they host JO tournaments and offer golf outings and other activities to make money. They have 6-8 dates this year from what I have heard. It is an interesting idea and supposedly allows most players to maintain regular 9-5 career jobs and play only on the weekends where the NPF requires a 4 game series that cuts into the week making regular work more complicated. Many players are still in the game as college coaches at some level anyway so their summers are pretty flexible.

The competition that I have seen in the NPF is excellent. These are some of the best womens' softball players in the world. Most teams have some local talent added to their roster to try and make a connection between the team and the community and help attract people to the game. Pitching is still well ahead of the hitting, no surprise, but there are still exciting games with regular scoring opportunities throughout the game. If you like softball, I would venture that you would probably love an NPF game. If you are new to softball, it could be a hard sell until there is a little more offense to keep fans on the edge of their seats.

The biggest adjustment for me, as an umpire, was the pace of the game. When the ball is in play, things happen very quickly. After that, it is very very slow moving. Many pitchers are or have pitched for a national team and have mechanics that meet the ISF 2 second pause requirement so motions are very deliberate. In between innings there are often fan participation activities. There are no 5 pitch, 1 minute limits between innings; we work when the players are ready to play. Games under 2 hours are uncommon, but you won't hear me complain.

Dakota · #11 (**permalink**) Thu Aug 03, 2006, 10:00am

Quote:

Originally Posted by CelticNHBlue

...the PFX Tour is a traveling group, two teams, that play a couple exhibition games on a weekend...

Do they wear red-white-and-blue striped shorts? Who plays the role of Meadowlark Lemon and which team is the Washington Generals?

bluezebra · #12 (**permalink**) Thu Aug 03, 2006, 02:01pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcblue13

National Pro Fastpitch

Thank you. Is this the league I've watched onTV?

Bob

tcblue13 · #13 (**permalink**) Thu Aug 03, 2006, 02:19pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluezebra

Thank you. Is this the league I've watched onTV?

Bob

Most likely

CecilOne · #14 (**permalink**) Thu Aug 03, 2006, 02:20pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluezebra

Thank you. Is this the league I've watched onTV?

Bob

Unless you watched something else!

I've heard that MLB, NCAA, WCS, WNBA and some others have been on recently.

IRISHMAFIA · #15 (**permalink**) Fri Aug 04, 2006, 11:19pm

[QUOTE=CelticNHBlue]I am not aware of any new league that Dot is working on. I do know the PFX Tour is a traveling group, two teams, that play a couple exhibition games on a weekend. [quote]

http://www.pfxtour.com/

Quote:

In addition, they host JO tournaments and offer golf outings and other activities to make money.

No, they do not host JO tournaments. Considering her past opinions concernng ASA, I doubt Dot Richardson would have anything to do with ASA. It should be interesting to see if she shows up for her induction into the ASA Hall of Fame this year.