Anyone want to discuss 2002 rule changes?

Are there changes that you say "finally - its about time"?

Are there changes that you say "Uh oh - wish they hadn't done that"?

Talking from an umpire's perspective, of course.

The only rule change for 2002 that I really don't like is following the Fed's lead and allowing a re-entry for EVERY participant.

The argument is that it will create more playing time for the non-starters, but I don't buy it.

What I believe it does is reduce some of the strategy of line-up management and will actually reduce the playing time of those on the lower end of the roster.

For example:

A speedier Jane runs for starting catcher Jackie (who is a bit on the big side and a slow runner) in the 4th. In the 5th, Jackie reenters as F2. Jackie gets on in the 7th and is the tying run at 1B. Last year, mediocre, but not slow Amy would come off the bench and run for Jackie. Next year, Jane comes back into the game and Amy goes home with a clean uniform again.

This is a coaches rule and a good umpire's nighmare. And if you think you are not going to have some mixed-up scorekeeper slow down a game or two trying to get things straight, I wish you luck.

I suggest everyone take the extra few seconds to keep an accurate line up card and learn to write (and be able to read)small print.

JMHO,

I agree with you on this one. The rule change was supposedly put in to increase playing time. It will increase playing time for the #1 and maybe #2 substitute, but farther down the bench, it will reduce playing time.

It also simplifies life for the coach and complicates life for the umpire and scorekeeper.

I can't write too small, or I'd need to take my cheaters to the field - and that would hardly inspire confidence! :D

I agree, too. I'm not wild about letting everyone re-enter - for the same reasons Mike listed.

On the other hand, I do like the clarification on the look-back rule not being in effect until the batter-runner reaches first.

And I like the uniform change. The choices are what we have been using in league and invitational tournames for the past several years.

Uniforms
 

My state is kind of an independent fiefdom of the ASA empire. We haven't used the official ASA uniform forever.

We have been using the gray pants all along, and we finally made the powder blue pullovers mandantory beginning in 2002 (they have been optional for 2 yrs)finally doing away with the Elbecos. But they're not the ASA pullovers - they are identical with a different patch - they have the state org. patch on them.

So, I have no idea what our local Lords of Softball will decide, but I'm not wild about buying a complete duplicate uniform, so I hope they stay the course.

The flag is a nice tug on the heartstrings, but pure symbolism, and in technical violation of flag display protocol, so I have been told. I will be buying at least one new hat anyway, but I hope someone sells the flags as iron-ons so I don't have to scrap my existing hat collection.

Agree with everyone on the re-entry rule change. Uniforms should not be a problem as I already have grey slacks and a few pullovers. I just bought 3 new hats at the end of last year and am also hoping for some way to get the flag on the hat like Dakota.

I like Steve agree that the clarification on the look-back rule is a good thing........HOWEVER.......I wish they would re-write the whole thing to make it clearer. The additional verbage they added in 2000 confuses the heck out of a first time reader of the rules.

Joel

Guys...it seems like we all have pretty similar gripes concerning the rule changes. The re-entry thing is a bugger, a real umpire's/scorekeeper's nightmare. I am also not wild about the "required" flag emblem, as it is not in keeping with protocol. As for the grey pants, I have had them as part of my Fed uniform, so that doesn't bother me.

Scott

Scott,

I have to agree with you on the uniforms. Don't care for the grey, but that's life.

As for the flag, I think it is a common American knee-jerk disgrace. The attachment to the uniform is going to cause disgrace to the flag.

I commented on this before, but time is starting to prove a point. All these great Americans went out and started through flags on everything they own, but only to fail in their responsibility of maintaining it. Don't believe me? Take a walk around any parking lot. When you are waiting at a light, look at the vehicles around you.

Flags from the antennas are tattered and dirty. Decals of Old Glory, especially on commercial vehicles, are covered with dirt, oil and grease.

Flags on apparel are dirty, fading or falling off.

Many of us are dedicated umpires and take care of our uniform, but how many times to you see an umpire just jam his hat in a bag or throw it into the backseat or rear window of their car.

If these "patriots" believe the flag is the symbol of our country and they do not treat it properly, how do you think they feel about their government and fellow citizens?

BTW, I hold this opinion to all who attach the US flag to sportswear, uniforms or any other surface where it and it's message risk desecretion.

JMHO

Boy, is this ever true. Just this morning while coming into work, I passed a semi with a large flag attached to a hand rail behind the cab, so the flag was flapping above the rear wheels of the tractor, in between the tractor and the trailer. The flag was faded, tattered, and filthy.

Some patriot! It was disgraceful. The worst part was this is hardly uncommon. I see a display like this several times a week.

By the end of a hot summer game, my hat is not where <u><b><big>I</big></b></u> would choose to display our flag!

Since this is not mandantory until 2003, I think I'll try to wait it out and hope good sense prevails.

Quote:

Originally posted by IRISHMAFIA Flags from the antennas are tattered and dirty. Decals of Old Glory, especially on commercial vehicles, are covered with dirt, oil and grease.

Quote:

Originally posted by Dakota Since this is not mandantory until 2003, I think I'll try to wait it out and hope good sense prevails.

I agree with what both of you gentlement are saying. I
am going with the pins that I have purchased at Wal-mart,
until someone in the powers-that-am decide that I am not
in compliance with the rules.

glen

Does anyone know the size the flag on the hat will be? I spoke with the clerk in the local WalMart fabric department last week. She said if I knew the size, she could order it in for me.

I hope Dakota is right and someone in power comes to their senses.

ntxblue:

Why not do like many of us, and wait out this year where we have a "grace period" and hope that common sense does prevail over the almost rabid reactionary response? By 2003, the "powers that be" may have changed their minds and realized the error of their ways.

Scott

Scott,

I bought a couple of new hats recently, so I will wait to see what happens. I'm excessive compulsive about my hats (cleanliness, condition, etc). My wife just says I'm a pain in the a**!

I too am a pain in the A@@ when it comes to my uniform. I shine shoes like crazy.....clean hats and can't stand when something is not "just so". I like a good crease in my pants and when I am wearing an Elbeco, I have to have it ironed correctly. That is a plus with the pull-overs.........wash em and hang em to dry........that does make my life a tad easier.

I wish that obsession carried over to the rest of my life. My car and house (laundry scattered etc.) are usually a wreck........grin. Funny though........at work, I can't stand for things to be messy.......(except for my desk).

Joel

I agree Joel, shinned shoes, [just did 4 pair for tourney
tomorrow] pull-overs dried just right to not wrinkle and
pressed pants with razor creases. [The new Downy Wrinkle
Releaser works good on the pull-overs]. All of the above
is a must....probably does not help my judgement...but
damn, I look sharp doing it.
__________________________________________________ _______
Character is much easier kept than recovered.--Thomas Paine,

glen


glen

The wrinkle releaser may work on the pullovers, but be careful........you should NOT use fabric softener with them......and I think the wrinkle releaser has some in it.

BTW.......Wrinkle Releaser does NOT work on Elbeco's.

Joel

Never thought I'd be posting in a laundry discussion! :D

Why shouldn't fabric softener be used with the pullovers?

When I bought my first micromesh pullovers, the sales person told me not to use fabric softener.....he said it interfered with the micromeshes ability to breath away moisture......I don't know if that is correct....but better safe than sorry.

Joel

I haven't seen any need for a fabric softener for any of the uniforms. But I don't recall any of the stores or manufacturers saying not to use them.

Look at where this discussion has taken us! You can really tell that winter is setting in! :D

Just finished what I am hoping is my last tourney of 2001. 18U Fastpitch tournament for charity. Saw some good ball playing and raised funds for a worthy cause. Now maybe I can take about a month and a half off, not counting meetings, rules clinics, tests...etc.

Scott

You're going to take a month & a half off, Scott. Here in the northeast, I've had more than a month since my last games and have until at least the beginning of March before the first game next year.

In another couple of weeks, I'll start working out. Then spend a few hours each week working with one of the local college teams beginning mid-January. And clinics & chapter meetings will start in February.

Our AFA shirts are not like the ASA or NFHS pull-overs.
They are a Jersey knit [made by Jerzees & Haynes] not of
the Micro-Mesh as are POS & Hoing' and ASA. So the Downy
Softener works on them. I use Sears Flex Slacks and it
works on them also. Naturally, an ironing is the best
solutions to wrinkle problems

glen

Yow Steve! What do you do with all of that time? In these warmer climes they play ball about as much as they can. There are actually a couple of "small" tourneys in January that I know of, but I have no plans to take part in them. (Of course, as we all know in this biz plans can change at the drop of a fitted ASA cap.) First BIG tourney in this area is the first weekend in February, then there are a couple of smaller ones after that. High schools crank up about the third week of Feb., and from there on it is all uphill until about September, when the number of leagues and tournaments begin to slow down a little. The last of the bigger tourneys is the one that I was talking about in my last post, which is always early December. Let me sum this up...there are plenty of opportunities around here for some dedicated umpires.

Scott

Scott,
I take the first month & don't do much at all - my bdy tells me that I need the rest after 320+ games. Then I start going over the books and start seriously studying in early January. Mid-January, I start doing some plate work with a local college team. I'm also working then on some aspect of a clinic for the high school district then. The clinics and chapter meetings start in February, so keep busy. But after the first month, gotta admit that I'd rather be on the field.

<b> Steve wrote: But after the first month, gotta admit that I'd rather be on the field.

</b> Move to Texas! ;)