China vs Venezuela
 

Still do not like the BU2 positioning with a runner on 2B. No matter what, it is more likely to be looking at the runner's back on a throwback.

What is it with Venezuela and sliding at 1B?

Mike,

Where you finding the game? My two NBC's showing other stuff.

Thanks.

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

http://www.nbcolympics.com/softball/index.html

You may have to load Microsoft Silverlight. Doesn't take long.

Thanks....

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.

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?

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.

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.:eek:

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.

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?

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.

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.