Why Softball Rules Are Smarter

[wadeintothem]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

IMO, there are too many umpires being pushed at the higher levels to be at point A and that's the end of the story. In the recent NCAA, there were umpires so intent on getting to point A, they almost lost the play. One umpire was so intent on getting to the 90 for the call at 1B, the umpire literally stepped into the middle of a possible play. Another so busy working the rim on a call at 3B, the possibility of a play seemed to be overlooked as the umpire placed themselves behind the play and would have missed any tag.

People talk about ASA umpires being too robotic. I would rather have an umpire be willing to get to a position to make sure of the best view and give a standard signal than have an umpire get to his/her prescribed point and make a call on a play not completely seen.

JMHO

Now that we can agree on. But you are the rare exception. No evaluator (unfortunately) in my area is going to say "wow that was not 'point A as prescribed' but you had a great view."

You are going to get dinged because the book says with Runners on 1 and 2 in a 2 man system on a ball hit here and a play there, you be in Z position.