Just my imagination?

[Mountaineer]

Originally Posted by Dakota

No self-respecting softball organization would assign baseball-only umpires to their softball national tournament.

The above statement includes LL softball. See if you can find it.

I don't disagree with you. Fact are facts and it's a well-known fact that LL Baseball is the golden goose and EVERYTHING else takes a back seat. I have actually served on our district staff for the past 3 years and softball is most usually an afterthought. I've also heard LL evaluators state that "if you can work a 60' diamond you can do either sport." I said, "Mechanically, yes - rule wise? NO." That's just their way of justifying putting baseball only guys on a softball field. When I did the regionals in 04 - there were a couple of guys that did ZERO softball games that year prior to walking on the field at the regionals. One of them did a fantastic job - of course the night before he and I sat up talking softball rules as a refresher.

I think bkbjones hit the nail when he talked about taking guys that didn't get a baseball WS and sticking them on a softball field. I have also noticed that those that attend the LL training get's preferred treatment.

I still hope to get there one day - but whether I do or don't will not define my career as an umpire.

[Julio Caliente]

I noticed many of the softball ump on TV using the Gerry Davis type stance. Which I have experimented with in baseball. When I do softball though I use the approved ASA stance. To be honest, I like the GD stance better but when in Rome you do as the Romans do.....

[Mountaineer]

Originally Posted by Julio Caliente

I noticed many of the softball ump on TV using the Gerry Davis type stance. Which I have experimented with in baseball. When I do softball though I use the approved ASA stance. To be honest, I like the GD stance better but when in Rome you do as the Romans do.....

The thing about GD in LL is that it puts your head height exacly where they want it - your chin at the top of the catcher's helmet. If I'm having back issues, I will sometimes go to it because it does eliminate lower back stress. I stay more in the slot than the GD stance wants though.

[rwest]

Originally Posted by Mountaineer

The thing about GD in LL is that it puts your head height exacly where they want it - your chin at the top of the catcher's helmet. If I'm having back issues, I will sometimes go to it because it does eliminate lower back stress. I stay more in the slot than the GD stance wants though.

At our High school Camp this year one of the clinicians explained why we don't use the GD or scissor stance in softball. In baseball the batters box is a foot deeper. The catchers set up deeper in baseball than they do softball. Therefore, the umpire is farther back in baseball and can see the corners of the plate using the GD or scissor stance. Using it in softball makes it harder to see the corners because the catcher is closer to the plate. He demonstrated it. It was very convincing.

Can you see the corners when you use the GD stance?

[Julio Caliente]

Originally Posted by rwest

At our High school Camp this year one of the clinicians explained why we don't use the GD or scissor stance in softball. In baseball the batters box is a foot deeper. The catchers set up deeper in baseball than they do softball. Therefore, the umpire is farther back in baseball and can see the corners of the plate using the GD or scissor stance. Using it in softball makes it harder to see the corners because the catcher is closer to the plate. He demonstrated it. It was very convincing.

Can you see the corners when you use the GD stance?

In baseball I did not have a problem seeing the plate.
In softball I have never tried it because they tell you how they want it done, and its my job to do that.

[rwest]

Originally Posted by Julio Caliente

In baseball I did not have a problem seeing the plate.
In softball I have never tried it because they tell you how they want it done, and its my job to do that.

My question regarding plate coverage was strictly directed at Softball. I know you can see the corners when using it in baseball. Sorry for the confusion.

[Mountaineer]

Originally Posted by rwest

At our High school Camp this year one of the clinicians explained why we don't use the GD or scissor stance in softball. In baseball the batters box is a foot deeper. The catchers set up deeper in baseball than they do softball. Therefore, the umpire is farther back in baseball and can see the corners of the plate using the GD or scissor stance. Using it in softball makes it harder to see the corners because the catcher is closer to the plate. He demonstrated it. It was very convincing.

Can you see the corners when you use the GD stance?

Yeah, I feel I can see the corners ok. Maybe because I still work the slot with the stance. I have never been taught the stance, just picked it up through reading and watching on TV. It seems like they set up more behind the catcher with GD. Therefore, being further back would be helpful. So no problem with corners but, I think the problem is with the low strike because you are higher up. Like I said, I have used it some when my back is screaming at me - never used in Fed or college. I'm thinking about trying it on a certain college team that has a catcher that "pinches" off the slot. She sets up soooo far inside that there litterally is NO slot. I'm wondering if being higher will help see a bit better.

[umpharp]

its too bad that ESPN can't/won't work out a deal with ASA to do some of the JO finals.
Not only would the umpiring be better, but the level of ball would be a lot better as well.
I think that televising little league softball isn't doing any favors to the game of softball or the umpires that work hard because they love the game of softball.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by umpharp

its too bad that ESPN can't/won't work out a deal with ASA to do some of the JO finals...

"Won't" is the correct word. And I don't blame them, from a business perspective. ESPN is not in the business of broadcasting sporting events. They are in the business of selling advertising for broadcasts of sporting events. 99%+ of the audience for ASA softball is the parents, grandparents, etc., of players, not the general public.

I suspect what ESPN really wants to sell advertising for is the LL baseball world series, and they are contractually obligated to broadcast softball because LL insisted that it be part of the deal. I have no inside information; that is just my suspicion.

ASA has no product that would attract the advertising dollars (meaning attract the national audience) that LL baseball has in the world series. Therefore, they have little bargaining power with ESPN.

Perhaps they could work a deal with a socal local station that would foot the bill for the on-site television crew for local broadcast rights, and ASA would web-cast the feed nationally, perhaps sponsored by Hooters!

Something like that MIGHT be workable.

[pob14]

Originally Posted by rwest

At our High school Camp this year one of the clinicians explained why we don't use the GD or scissor stance in softball. In baseball the batters box is a foot deeper. The catchers set up deeper in baseball than they do softball.

I thought under most rules, the SB box is LARGER than the BB box, and that the difference is in how far FORWARD they go, not how far back. And I'm not familiar with BB catchers setting up deeper than SB.

Originally Posted by rwest

Therefore, the umpire is farther back in baseball and can see the corners of the plate using the GD or scissor stance. Using it in softball makes it harder to see the corners because the catcher is closer to the plate. He demonstrated it. It was very convincing.

As I understand it, part of using the GD stance is setting up deeper and higher than usual, at least an arm's length behind the catcher. Carl C's article on the Davis stance is here.