Poll: BU calling illegal pitch
In ASA, any umpire is permitted to call illegal pitches. The question is: how many of you actually do it when you're the BU?
|
You can in Fed too - it depends on what you are calling the IP for. As a PU, I cannot tell if they are crow hopping or leaping so that has to come from the BU. The BU cannot see things like the hands coming together or the feet in relation to the width of the pitching plate so that has to come from the PU.
I have called it but try to always get it when it really doesn't do any more damage than a ball on the batter. And - I try to get it early in the game. |
As long as I make the PU aware I may call it, I do call it. Otherwise, it tends to cause confusion both with inexperienced PUs and the players. I usually call it if a pitcher doesn't start on the mound (I only call SP, not FP or Modified). I see a lot of lazy PUs let the pitcher walk up to the mound and pitch with no stop.
|
Quote:
|
Quote:
|
Man, some days it feels like I'm the only one in our org who calls it from the bases! I think a lot of umpires in our org either don't know they can call it or are too afraid to call it.
|
Quote:
|
Quote:
Yep! Makes things interesting. Actually, we don't use horses here. Apparently, we only use sheep. |
Quote:
|
Quote:
In my earlier years, I used to give the pitcher the benefit of the doubt, and 'warn' them that they are doing something illegal, assuming they had a bad habit or some other 'innocent' reason for doing what they were doing. I think I've become a little more cynical, after hearing about some pitching coaches teaching illegal acts 'because they don't call it anyway'. |
Quote:
Originally Posted by NCASAUmp I usually call it if a pitcher doesn't start on the mount Y'all use a horse in SP??? __________________ Scott Maybe she's going to give a sermon. Bob |
Quote:
|
Quote:
Tournies, on the other hand, are a different matter. I call it right away, no warning, no hesitation. |
Quote:
If you cannot talk to them, you cannot offer a heads up. Problem is these coaches have an ego the size of the outfield and cannot (or will not try to) understand what you are doing. But you start calling IPs and see how much they like playing by the strict rule. |
Learning about IPs
I worked my first tourney this past Saturday. I had a partner at BU who had worked a state semifinal HS game, and several NSA world series. In one of my games, a pitcher knelt down in the circle like Mark Fidrych used to do (but didn't talk to the dirt) and literally pulverized the dirt with the ball. I had to call IP and my partner didn't seem to have a problem with that.
In a later game with the same partner I had a girl start her pitch with her left foot toe touching about 6 inches behind the plate. I called IP (NSA rules). Coach came out, I told him about the rule, he was clueless and thanked me and told his F1to do it the right way. Between innings, partner told me that I should let him make those calls. Pitcher was legal for another inning or so, then reverted to the IPs and partner said nothing. It was raining by the end of the game so we couldn't talk, but I guess the practice is to let some things go in lower level travel ball. I say lower level because these were 12U kids who were not exactly elite level players. I'm sure the next "senior" partner I get will want me to call everything by the book. I'm getting the opinion that calling IPs is very "indivualistic" from one umpire to another. Interestingly enough, we had a lights out pitcher here at a No. Va high school 2 years ago who only lost once all year, in the state championship game. My association buddies, said that she pitched illegal all year and that nobody would call it. |
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:07am. |