24" width
 

Single umpire game (which means no one is cleaning off the pitcher's plate between innings). 14U, 2 strong teams. One pitcher takes a wide step, which is probably outside the width much of the time, once definitely outside the width (which I call).

With the pitcher's plate half buried, I gave her the benefit of the small amount of doubt I had that she was outside the width.

I hope my choice of words make it clear I was almost (but not completely) sure she was stepping outside the width, but since the plate was obscured, I wasn't 100% certain.

Did I do right by not making the call (except for the one time when she left no doubt)?

I wouldn't call something like that if I wasn't sure of it. If the lines of the batter's box are wiped out, I don't call it unless I'm absolutely positive their foot was completely out of the box when they made contact.

What's preventing you from taking a quick jog to the PP and brushing it off? :)

This is the one call that has to be obvious, and I do mean obvious, for me to call.

With the ball arriving at 45 degree angle. :)

I've been told by local D2/D3 (only one D1 college in MN) assignors, "Nobody wants you to call the 24" plate violation, and if you want to go anywhere, you better not call it." That's the college level, not 14U. I disagree with that mentality, since there can be an obvious advantage to breaking that rule, but, at the same time, it better be REALLY obvious to get called.

This is where I have a problem. Why weren't you dusting it off every half inning, especially if you had doubt where she was landing? 3rd out, jog out, dust it off, come back to the plate. It takes you all of 20 seconds...

And when the pitcher comes out and kicks dirt on the PP during her warm-ups?

As previously noted, like stepping out of the box to hit the ball, it must be obvious and for a PU working alone, it's going to be so obvious, he doesn't need to see the PP to call it.

Have you attended any of the National/Regional NCAA meetings? I have never heard anything like this before.

This happens, and you have to live with it. However, taking that little effort to show that you give a $h!t is good for the game. Hearing the "Thanks, Blue" is a nice thing. :)

So why do we dust off home plate? If it's obviously unhitable, then we should call it a ball...right? Same kind of logic? :rolleyes:

Agree, and routinely clean the PP when necessary

Because....this slab of rubber is the focal point on whether a pitch is to be ruled a ball or strike, which is a major part of the game. Personally, I would love to just call strikes for any pitch the umpire believes is hittable. OTOH, there are a lot of umpires who believe they are top-notch, that make a pitcher hit a zone the size of a postage stamp.:eek:

So, we need to have something to determine which pitch shall be ruled a strike.

Besides, a UIC isn't going to tell you to not call balls and strikes. ;)

I don't hear it there either, just from the 'gentlemen' who handle the assignments locally.

Well, in my case, a little over 200 pounds of living breathing bullspit.:eek:

Actually, I scared the spit out of a pitcher in a coed game Monday night. I went sprinting by to make a call at 2B. Heard the pitcher, after regaining her composure, give me the usual "I mean none of the other umpires have been out here to make that call all year."

Damn that makes one feel good. :D

Rock on, fella! ;)

If anyone wants to see the 24" rule TOTALLY ignored, watch the D2 championship game and the LHU pitcher. She's stepping so wide she is damned near out of the circle...sideways.

Glad you didn't say D3 as one of my deputies is working the plate on the "if" game today.