2007 ASA Mechanic Changes
 

<TABLE class=MsoTableGrid style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; mso-yfti-tbllook: 480; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 0"><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 149.4pt; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" vAlign=top width=199>Three-Umpire System FP and SPffice
Two-Umpire System FP
<O:p</O:p


</TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 293.4pt; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" vAlign=top width=391>With no runners on base, Base Umpires on the line shall “walk the line.” <O:p</O:p


</TD></TR><TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 1"><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 149.4pt; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" vAlign=top width=199>ALL<O:p</O:p


</TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 293.4pt; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" vAlign=top width=391>Expand the use of the terms that can be used beyond the “one word” mechanics.

</TD></TR><TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 2"><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 149.4pt; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" vAlign=top width=199>Three-Umpire System FP and SP<O:p</O:p
Two-Umpire System FP<O:p</O:p


</TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 293.4pt; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" vAlign=top width=391>The starting position for Base Umpires who are on the line is a minimum of 18 feet and a maximum of 21 feet behind the base.
<O:p</O:p


</TD></TR><TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 3"><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 149.4pt; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" vAlign=top width=199>Slow Pitch with Stealing<O:p</O:p


</TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 293.4pt; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" vAlign=top width=391>When a pitched ball touches the ground before reaching home plate, touches home plate or strikes the batter, the Base Umpire should mirror the Plate Umpire’s “dead ball” signal ONLY when necessary.
<O:p</O:p


</TD></TR><TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 4"><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 149.4pt; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" vAlign=top width=199>Slow Pitch with Stealing<O:p</O:p


</TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 293.4pt; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" vAlign=top width=391>When a pitched ball touches the ground before reaching the home plate, touches home plate or strikes the batter, the proper sequence to use in calling the play is to signal “dead ball” and then indicate that the pitch is a ball or, if swung at and missed, give a strike signal.
<O:p</O:p


</TD></TR><TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 5"><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 149.4pt; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" vAlign=top width=199>Slow Pitch, All<O:p</O:p


</TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 293.4pt; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" vAlign=top width=391>The Plate Umpire now goes to the set position when the pitcher first moves the ball after the required stop, that is, the when the pitch starts.
<O:p</O:p


</TD></TR><TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 6; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes"><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 149.4pt; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" vAlign=top width=199>Two-Umpire System<O:p
Slow Pitch<O:p</O:p


</TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; WIDTH: 293.4pt; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" vAlign=top width=391>The starting position for the Base Umpire in the Two-Umpire System in Slow Pitch with runners on base is on the second base side of the Second Baseman.<O:p</O:p


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Please
 

Mike,
Thank you so much for this information.
As you probably know in Italy we are using ISF Umpire System.
Though this we are very interested in ASA technical changes, because they often are real achievements for umpires.
I have couple of questions for you:
First: by “walk the line” you mean the umpire must position one foot on foul territory and the other on fair? And if so, is this the same position a base umpire shall assume with a runner on, also?
Second: what do you mean by “one word” mechanic? The only situation I am able to relate to this term is the teaching Henry Pollard gave us talking about enforcement calls (pointing + ONLY ONE word, e.g. “tag” or “swing?” on a check swing, etc.).

Sorry to bother you… I would like to learn and to pass this news to Italian umpires…
Thanks a lot and in advance for your help

Ciao

walk the line .......... still in foul territory, but as the pitch leaves the pitchers hand take a step forward with timing such that as the ball is hit your left foot is down so you can quickly move to where ever you need to go. or something similar ....

Any word if these changes will be included in the 2007 "Umpire Edition" ASA rule book?

For those that might want to print the mechanic changes, they're on ASA's website in a PDF file here.

They got them up there quick. However, OKC swears that the computer will now be one of the most important tools for an umpire.

This quick addition should be indicative of the manner in which information will be passed on the ASA umpires around the country.

That's what we were told in Colorado Springs and so far, the ASA has been true to their word.

I actually received the PowerPoint via email from Wild Bill 2 days before you posted here... :)

Didn't get it in Power Point, but had it for a day or so from the rookie on the NUS.

Wild Bill was the only NUS member that openly supported my argument against the removal of "intent" from the interference rules.