New ASA Mechanic for 2008

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

And when the defense is giving you a change and the ODB is walking behind the catcher to get to the RH box and watching the pitcher, you are doing what?

Having used the NCAA mechanic, I actually prefer it. For me, that isn't true all the time, but this one I like.

By taking the baseline extended 8' to 10', you are far enough away from the plate (using my age-old geometry, that makes you about 5' to 7' to the side of the plate, almost twice the width of the batters box. I have never felt uncomfortable in that location. I have felt like I could now observe the only things that there are to observe between innings; obviously the team taking the field, but now also the team coming in to play offense.

They can have a batter-to-be warming up in their on-deck circle, and an on-deck-batter-to-be warming up; in NCAA, at least, it is a rule that others are not to be out of the dugout swinging bats, and I find it a reasonable safety rule in other applications.

Mike, to your specific question, the answer is that the ODB is not allowed to walk around to the other side until you call "batter up". Stop it from happening as a rule, and that ends your concern. That person is not the batter, it is an on-deck-batter that must say on his/her side, until you call them to be the batter. And this way, you are facing them, and have stepped back to get that panoramic view you need to see the field.

Like you, I don't know where/when this was adopted, but I prefer it. I strongly suspect that the majority of NUS working NCAA has seen the value, not that this is a single person's idea or agenda.

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by AtlUmpSteve

Having used the NCAA mechanic, I actually prefer it. For me, that isn't true all the time, but this one I like.

I agree.

[SRW]

Put me in the camp that likes this change. For a few reasons:

• It lets me see the entire action - facing the OFF bench and the field. It also removes the ODB behind me, where I can't see him/her.
• It gets me off the line on the 3B side, where you're always in the line of fire for F3's warmup throws to F5.
• There's plenty of room to conduct business if needed - if you feel cramped between the backstop and F2 receivinbg warmup pitches, then slide a little toward 1B or 3B, depending on which side you're on.
• If you're getting hit by ODB's taking swings while stepping into the box, then you're not in the ready position to begin with. If they're stepping in the box, you should be behind F2 about to play ball, not standing in your inbetween-inning-spot. The batter's ready, why aren't you?
• It will discourage your partner from coming down the line to have an idle chit-chat. I've noticed that the primary reason the one-minute isn't enforced is that the PU is jabbering with the BU about something, and not paying attention to the warmup pitches or the time. Keeping the PU closer to HP will discourage the BU from coming over for no real reason.

Just my thoughts on this...