Canada v. USA
 

I was wondering, if they are playing by ISF rules, why are the umpires wearing ASA stuff? (Not completely official, since the shirts are pink due to breast cancer awareness.)

I was also wondering by those of you who know, is it true that under ISF FP rules you don't have to throw 4 pitches to issue a walk? If this is true, and not just a snafu on the talking heads part, doesn't it put the offense at a disadvantage since it basically prevents the chance to steal?

Also, did you see the IP that the PU called in the 3 inning? It looked to me, both on the initial pitch and the replay that the pitcher did pause before separating her hands. (Of course the TH's said something like "she needs to let the umpire know that she is going to do her pause before she takes her signal.")

I thought the IP on Abbott in the 1st inning was interesting. They were trying to say it had to do with a pause but it was clearly that she did not have contact with the pitchers plate.

Yes, in ISF a pitcher simply need announce to the plate umpire their intention to walk the batter and the umpire awards the batter first base.

Abbott has been illegal all year and it is so obvious, I fail to see why there has been no move to correct it.

I watched part of that game and was wondering where you can purchase one of those pink ASA umpire shirts. I'm sure our state UIC would allow us to wear them. :eek:

BTW, who was the PU? I wasn't impressed with her positioning. How could she possibly see the outside corner on a left-handed batter?

Here in Europe we play mostly unders ESF-rules, which are the same as ISF. At the clinics we get the ISF rulebook, which we have to use...

For an "Intentional walk" the pitcher has to announce, however mostly it is the coach who informs the catcher. Who has to tell the pitcher, who will tell the PU. So to speed up, we allow the coach and the catcher also to announce the Intenional.
At that point, call dead ball/time out and give the batter first base. Only runners advance if forced...
Don't forget to inform the official scorer!

For the umpire uniform: I don't think the game was under the ISF-flag. You can play by it rule-set, but the ISF sure didn't call the umpires to work this game. It's a friendly/practice game, not one in a ISF-tournament (such as Olympics or WorldChampionship). So the umpires can wear what they want...
Tomorrow (Sunday) Paddy and I will work a game between the Dutch Olympic-team against a Dutch Allstar team. Not under the ESF-flag, playing by the ISF-rules set, but we will wear our dutch uniform. But we can also chose to wear our ESF-uniform...

About Abbott's IP. I don't know, never saw her pitch. However before separating the hands F1 has to stand still for 2-5 sec's. The IP can be for violatiing this rule, not the full 2 sec's... So that would be a quick-pitch. I see that a lot with USA-pitcher who come over to Holland. The first view weeks you have to call IP frequently on them, after that they know an adjust...

That may be what it was, then. I thought that the pause just had to be one second mininmum as in most rule sets here in the states.

Its always nice when umpires are part of the show. :rolleyes: I think its fine for the players to do the auction thing. THe umpires should not have been made part of it.

And the PU's zone was pretty laughable .. and ever changing.

She was there...we wern't!!!!

Easy for you to be critical!!

I only watched a couple of innings, but I didn't see anything wrong with it while I was watching. What are you referring to?

They mentioned ISF rules a few times, so apparently it was under ISF. After all, two nations.
Was MS correct about the safety base in ISF, colored portion can't be used returning to the base after an overrun?
What about having to use it on any ball hit in the infield, rather than just when there is a play at 1st?

That's what MS said (she did not have contact ), but I have a problem with calling a repeated violation only once.

Lots of bordeline pitches, but I wasn't watching from the west. :p :)

Perception is 99% on televised games.

People watching it know.

Do we want credibility as a sport and as officials of a sport?

Or do we want people in pink with apparently roving strikes zones? As a fan of the sport watching it.. she was not consistent IMO. I think she squeezed at certain times in the game, situationally.

At least she equally pissed off both coaches.. so that was consistent.

I wondered that , too.

ISF Rule on Use of the Double Base:

NOTE: THE FOLLOWING RULES APPLY TO THE DOUBLE BASE:





EXCEPTION: On any live ball play made from first base foul territory, the batter-runner and the defensive player may use either base. When the defensive player uses the foul portion of the double base, the batter-runner can run in fair territory and if hit by a throw from the foul side of first base, it would not be interference. If intentional interference is ruled, the batter-runner would be out.






f) When tagging up on a fly ball, the fair portion must be used.

g) On an attempted pick-off play (FP ONLY) the runner must return to the fair portion.


h) Once a runner returns to the fair portion, should he stand on the foul portion only, it is considered not in contact with the base and the runner shall be called out, if 1) He is tagged with the ball, or 2) He leads off from the foul portion on a pitched ball.

NOTE: The double base must be used in ISF World Championship play.