From the baseball board....

[wadeintothem]

Originally Posted by jimpiano

I totally agree.

It takes about an hour for a NCAA/ASA plate umpire to call a strike(following book guidelines) and the mechanic is about as sophisticated as little league.They use the same strike call whether it is a called strike or the batter swings...and the strikeout call is the same as a BU's sell out. It gives the impression that to work the big games you better follow the cookie cutter pictures.

And could we please get a new ASA dress code?...blue pants have been out of fashion since Jimmy Carter. Most umpire clothing stores no longer even stock them.

And what is with BU's in the playoffs carrying the clickers in their hands?

Nothing against the ability of the ones I have seen on TV(although I am not sure by TV replays if the Arizona player touced the plate with the only run of the game)

But the mechanics and dress need some updates.

Thankfully we dont wear (and havent for 4 years) the blue pants.. those horrible things.. We wear the heather grey.

The NCAA 3K looking strike call that they obviously mandate to a rigid standard is the most goofy looking thing.. AT LEAST ASA doesnt mandate this and allows some individuality there (although in clinic this stupid thing is always taught)

You rarely ever see the replay of the 3K sell out which includes the ump.. #1, its goofy and the TV people know it, #2, they have pranced themselves out of the frame of the video.

A good exciting sell out should be right there, immediate, and not prancing 2 yards up 3rd base line kicking your legs out 2 minutes after the pitch was delivered.

Its very .. um.. "rainbowish".. in appearance.