Slow Pitch Umps

[SRW]

Originally Posted by jimpiano

Unless a pitched ball is illegal for another reason one that simply fails to get over the plate is a ball and is dead, unless there is stealing.

Page 225 refers to games with stealing and the prescribed mechanic has no meaning in games where there is no stealing, i.e almost all slow pitch softball games.

The umpire is under no obligation to explain, visually or verbally, why a ball is a ball,,,,,but the universal pounding of the fists is clear to all players,including the "umpires" at shortstop and in the outfield, that the ball did not cross the plate.

Whoever invented it should get royalties.

I guess I don't see in the mechanics where "pounding the fists" is a prescribed mechanic... especially a "universal" one. Can you explain how that's done, or where in the umpire manual that it talks about that?

[jimpiano]

Originally Posted by SRW

I guess I don't see in the mechanics where "pounding the fists" is a prescribed mechanic... especially a "universal" one. Can you explain how that's done, or where in the umpire manual that it talks about that?

It is not in the manual.

It is simply a mechanic of experience that serves a purpose.

[jimpiano]

"There had to be something put in place to accommodate the players and BU in the situation prescribed"

Sure, for games in which there is stealing. But since most games do not have stealing the mechanic is useless.

I never use a hand signal to describe the location of a pitch. I do use the fist hit to let everyone know the ball hit the plate.

If that is not your style, so be it. It is, after all, my game when I am behind the plate, and yours when you are there.

[azbigdawg]

Originally Posted by jimpiano

It is not in the manual.

It is simply a mechanic of experience that serves a purpose.

bull****...


The jackass that invented that lazy, half-assed mechanic should be shot along with the moron who invented closed fist pounding for a full count....

[jimpiano]

Originally Posted by azbigdawg

bull****...


The jackass that invented that lazy, half-assed mechanic should be shot along with the moron who invented closed fist pounding for a full count....

If you dont like it, don't use it.

I think it is the greatest and most useful signal ever invented. And there is no doubt in anyone's mind, even in co-ed or church league as to what it means.

[HawkeyeCubP]

1. Pounding the fists is sloppy, good-ol'- boy, and lazy-looking, is not an official mechanic, and does a disservice to those of us who strictly follow ASA mechanics while working ASA slow pitch games. There are people in my association who do this - they are, I'll be so bold as to say the EXACT same group of umpires who also never drop to the set position while calling pitches, point to 1B on most walks, and button hook in about 1/5 of the time when out on the bases. Odd how they are not the ones who are invited to work the state, regional, or national tournaments.
2. To be fair, the table on p. 187 of the 2007 Umpire Manual does say "slow pitch with stealing," when referring to the new mechanic. So it could be said that the book says to do it both ways.
3. If my UIC mandated what Mike is suggesting for games without stealing, I wouldn't mind, but that's not how it is as of this moment. I don't currently do or say anything other than "ball" when an otherwise legal, pitched ball hits the plate.

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by jimpiano

I think it is the greatest and most useful signal ever invented.

Are you serious?? Of all the signals we use, this is the greatest and most useful??? Wow!