ASA SP with stealing

[gdc25]

Over the past 2 weekends I worked the Indiana "D" state and the *Indiana "E" State*. The even with the 0-0 count the prospect of the runner stealing sped up the game simply by demanding that the catcher actually catch the ball and not retrieve it from the back stop. So, from my perspective the rule is a good one and I like it the way it stands.


*Note*: I know there is no "E" and we've been over this before. It's an Indiana thing.

[Fozzie]

Actually its not just an Indiana thing. I just got back from Nebraska where I had the pleasure of working the Mens SP 'E' and 'E1' state championship. And they even have a 'F' division. Its really a very fun tournament to work as most of the teams have never played in a big tournament and never on fields and facilities as nice as they have in Hastings, NE. The quality of the umpires there was also outstanding with two elite slow-pitch umpires heading the list.

As to the OP, we played with stealing and all in all it went really well. I love the game with stealing and now with the rules changes from a couple of years ago its easy to call and for players to understand. I hope they keep it if for no other reason then keeping catchers trying to catch the ball and not waiting for it to bounce off of me.

Jeff Merriman

[SRW]

We had one league last year use stealing that I know of, and I believe they're still using it this year (I haven't been assigned there this year to know - bkbjones: Costco, do they still use it?)

I liked it. Like gdc25 said, it forces F2 to keep his head in the game. That said, there were only maybe 2 steals per game... and those were where F2 let the ball go to the backstop. Seemed to be better quality ball than we typically see.

The mechanics they clarified with it this year make sense to me, but I haven't had the opportunity to use them to know first hand.

[bkbjones]

Originally Posted by SRW

We had one league last year use stealing that I know of, and I believe they're still using it this year (I haven't been assigned there this year to know - bkbjones: Costco, do they still use it?)

I liked it. Like gdc25 said, it forces F2 to keep his head in the game. That said, there were only maybe 2 steals per game... and those were where F2 let the ball go to the backstop. Seemed to be better quality ball than we typically see.

The mechanics they clarified with it this year make sense to me, but I haven't had the opportunity to use them to know first hand.

I dunno. I was supposed to do them on Sunday.

I wish we had more leagues that used it. Not only forces F2 to catch the ball, but think how much better off our shins and heads will be with someone back there who actually CAN catch the ball.