Gripe #21340 for '07- Walking the line from 21 feet.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by wadeintothem

You dont need to "get" where you need on a pitch in A. You can start there. You may need to get somewhere from your ideal starting position.. but you do just as well ready in A than bee bopping around to find your spot prepitch.

I really dont get this one. This is a feel good "ohh we cant think of anything else so we are gonna dream this up", it has no reality or necessity or benefit.

You know, this is nothing new. "Walking the line" was a standard mechanic for years. The only reason there was a move away from it was due to the technology of the bats and apparently, some umpires are not as agile on one foot as in a ready position.

And, you are right. If you are "beebopping around" to find your "prepitch" spot, you don't get it.

"Walking the line" is nothing more than one step, maybe two (depending on the umpire's preference) as the pitch is released. The umpire still begins the pitch the same distance at the previously suggested starting position.

Yes, there are umpires that will start waaaay back and walk a marathon prior to the pitch. That is not what is being suggested here.

[wadeintothem]

Oh I know its not new.. its just gripe #21340 due to the fact that the ASA is having to adjust an absurd useless mechanic to try to mitigate the useless absurd mechanics effects.