China vs Venezuela

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by cgaumpire

Do you think her starting position is too far towards 3rd base?

Sorta. I don't like her on that side of 2B at all, but if that is where ISF wants them, I would rather see the umpire closer to the middle.

[socalumps]

Mike,

That umpire is USA's Traci Stoelting by the way......

But as far as the positioning...I kinda like it...a pickoff throw puts you at a 90 degree angle to the tag on the hand of the baserunner sliding back in to the leading edge (3b side) of the bag?

[wadeintothem]

Well seeing the Olympic Umps for the first time..

All I can say is wow.

I love softball

I love officiating softball..

But I do not understand the mindset of softball peeps of making softball umpires look like mechanical goofy robots in dork suits.

Look at the MLB.

They look good. They authoritative. Sharp!

ALl you gotta do is fricken look at the MLB. Its not brain surgery.

[NDblue]

OK speaking of MLB umpires, who the hell is the PU pointing at when they call a strike? Not all PU's do that but a lot of them do and I would like to know who they're pointing at.

[wadeintothem]

Originally Posted by NDblue

OK speaking of MLB umpires, who the hell is the PU pointing at when they call a strike? Not all PU's do that but a lot of them do and I would like to know who they're pointing at.

It doesnt matter, it is a signal universally recognized as a strike. Some like it, some dont.. I cant imagine anyone looking at it really being confused as to what the umpire is calling. Are you really confused by it or just dont prefer it?

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by wadeintothem

It doesnt matter, it is a signal universally recognized as ....... Some like it, some dont.. I cant imagine anyone looking at it really being confused as to what the umpire is calling. Are you really confused by it or just dont prefer it?

Well stated. It equally applies to NCAA, ASA, and ISF mechanics and signals. They are universally recognized, some like them, some don't, I can't imagine anyone looking at them being really confused as to what the umpire is calling.

So, are you really confused by them, or just don't prefer them. If you simply just don't prefer them, I think you have told us that, more than once, and that you prefer MLB. Some people prefer uniform standards, some people prefer individuality. The people that decide things in NCAA, ASA and ISF prefer uniform standards. You don't (either decide things, nor prefer).

Oh, well.

[wadeintothem]

Originally Posted by AtlUmpSteve

Well stated. It equally applies to NCAA, ASA, and ISF mechanics and signals. They are universally recognized, some like them, some don't, I can't imagine anyone looking at them being really confused as to what the umpire is calling.

So, are you really confused by them, or just don't prefer them. If you simply just don't prefer them, I think you have told us that, more than once, and that you prefer MLB. Some people prefer uniform standards, some people prefer individuality. The people that decide things in NCAA, ASA and ISF prefer uniform standards. You don't (either decide things, nor prefer).

Oh, well.

Yeah so.. its being discussed so I'm chiming in being a discussion board and all.


This ISF umpire in a dork suit.. 2B BU made a moving out/safe call and was still not stopped and in position for the play at 2B. She was still moving. It was terrible. A few feet for a call at 2B when she is already at 2B.. and she f'd it up.


It just so happens that I am chiming in when umpires are on the biggest watched softball event and are in uniforms that are completely absurd, and are engaging in out/safes and other things that should not be occurring with such frequency at that level of ball.

So while you guys are worried about making sure every one looks like dorks in dork suits doing a perfect hammer, I'd take a different route and be teaching and preaching timing and GOOD appearance and making good calls.

I have a different approach. Be believable, look good, be good. If your hammer is a little different, or your slot different, but you are a good umpire.. you should be ISF. If you do a perfect hammer but suck as an umpire, you should not be ISF.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by wadeintothem

It doesnt matter, it is a signal universally recognized as a strike. Some like it, some dont.. I cant imagine anyone looking at it really being confused as to what the umpire is calling. Are you really confused by it or just dont prefer it?

Actually, any right hand/arm movement on a non-batted pitch is recognized as a strike or an out on a play which is why I have always avoided pointing with my right hand.

It's also why an umpire shouldn't be pointing to 1B on ball four.

[NDblue]

Originally Posted by wadeintothem

It doesnt matter, it is a signal universally recognized as a strike. Some like it, some dont.. I cant imagine anyone looking at it really being confused as to what the umpire is calling. Are you really confused by it or just dont prefer it?

I think it looks quite stupid.

[bkbjones]

Just think...our Canadian brethren are forced to wear shirts much like our friends in the Olympics (sans the rainbow colors...who the f thought THAT up). I hope the Olympic shirts are a little more airy than the Canadian shirts. The Canadian shirts attract sweat just like an Elbeco.

As for the double calls: if these ISF umpires from outside the US were umpiring in Seattle, our "pizza" fund would be much larger. We charge $1 for each double call, and we do not accept yuans, yens, rupees or any other currency other than a six pack or a good old American buck.

Meanwhile, from what I have seen Lori Bish (U.S) seems to be having a fine tournament. Oh, and speaking of Canada, CBC is great. for instance, if you are reading this at the right time you will know three hours in advance that M. Phelps won again.

[socalumps]

Originally Posted by wadeintothem

Well seeing the Olympic Umps for the first time..

All I can say is wow.

I love softball

I love officiating softball..

But I do not understand the mindset of softball peeps of making softball umpires look like mechanical goofy robots in dork suits.

Look at the MLB.

They look good. They authoritative. Sharp!

ALl you gotta do is fricken look at the MLB. Its not brain surgery.

I think when MLB was trying to find an audience....they looked silly in their balloon protectors!! They have evolved over a period of time.

I have watched every olympic game so far and think the umps are doing a good job....isn't that the bottom line?

Until we walk in their shoes......it is easy to arm chair quaterback?

[wadeintothem]

Originally Posted by socalumps

I think when MLB was trying to find an audience....they looked silly in their balloon protectors!! They have evolved over a period of time.

I have watched every olympic game so far and think the umps are doing a good job....isn't that the bottom line?

Until we walk in their shoes......it is easy to arm chair quaterback?

I thought PU last night was real good with her zone and calls. 2BU had one out/safe on a steal. Appearance though (required mechanics and uniform), which rank and file umpires cant do anything about, is what I was discussing.

Their uniforms look terrible. They look like animated legoland cops.

I think its obvious most of these umpires (foreign ones where ISF is easy to get) are out of their leagues with the good teams. Their timing is off, they do not look relaxed. That is why we are getting the outsafes/and bad positioning.

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by socalumps

Mike,

That umpire is USA's Traci Stoelting by the way......

But as far as the positioning...I kinda like it...a pickoff throw puts you at a 90 degree angle to the tag on the hand of the baserunner sliding back in to the leading edge (3b side) of the bag?

Sometimes; like, only if the 2B takes the pickoff throw. If they put on a pick play with F6 sneaking behind, absent x-ray vision, U3 will only see F6's a$$, and no part of the play (unless U3 sees obstruction; but from behind??).

In the traditional B, we have the option to slide forward on the pick if F6 covers, or parallel if F4 covers. I suppose U3 could slide parallel from that position, but would still be partially blocked, at least.