If you like these advanced mechanics, you'll love what is apparently the new softball umpire uniform requirements- or, at least, the uniform worn by a recent partner I had in a men's fastpitch tourney.

This guy was on the bases and wearing a ball bag! But there was more to it than that. He wore his shirt UNTUCKED, then fastened the ball bag around his waist with a thin, elastic belt, so his shirt was cinched at the waist with about 12" below that blousing out like a tunic.

Now, he did also demonstrate some mechanics that must have been super-secret advanced stuff. Like positioning himself right on the foul line behind third base with a runner on second.

But my favorite was when we had a check swing appeal. I step out from behind the plate, point to my partner and ask, "Did he go?". All I get is a deer-in-the-headlights blank stare until, finally, he seems to realize we're waiting on his input. Then he just says, "I don't know", and shrugs his shoulders!

In the beautiful area of Phoenix, AZ, we get to play ball year around. There are so many slowpitch leagues and games around here that I believe the umpiring organizations will take just about anybody that wants to work.

With so many leagues and games available, we also have a glut of "umpires" that call SP solely for the money. If you can work 4-5 nights a week, 3 or 4 games a night and tournaments on the weekends...that's a decent second (or in some cases) primary income.

Darrell is much more involved in SP around here than I am, so I'm sure he could shed some light on this as well.

I'm sure that went over like a turd in a punchbowl.

Just to expedite things and keep the game moving I quickly said, "That's a ball", gave the count and got back behind the plate. Surprisingly, nobody really said anything, other than the catcher. All he said was something along the lines of, "What was that?", and I said, "He didn't overrule me, so it's still a ball". He seemed to have bought it- not another peep.

Which, when you think about it, does kind of work out the right way. If a base umpire is not sure he saw a swing, he should not call the strike. Believe me, this partner wasn't sure of much!

This summer when I scored my first SP game for my friends, the umpire called one pitch "hit the plate!" and I instincitvely called out "so is it a ball or a strike?" :D

I only asked since I once was at a HS JV FP game (NFHS rules) where the other team was not very talented and their pitcher pitched slow pitch style. And any time she hit the plate with a pitch, the PU (working solo) called it a strike. :eek: :confused:

Most slow pitch style pitching that hits the plate passes through the strike zone, no? Unless she's pitching low or going around the strike zone.

While that is true, NFHS 7-2-2 Effect says "Any pitch that touches the plate shall be called a ball if the batter does not swing at it."

ASA 7-5.A also makes a ball that touches home plate in fastpitch a ball, if not swung at.

According to the "old regime", that rule exists for consistency, not because they believed it couldn't be a strike.

Whoa, that's a big one I've never noticed. Strange I've never taken any grief for it. Thanks.

--Actually, edit: I guess it's not strange since normal fastpitch pitches don't hit the plate if they go through the strike zone so I've probably never missed it even though I would have.
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If it's beer league, I say go for it!

What ever you do to get you through that night mare is good to go!

Double fist pump with a throat slice and a flying double safe call..

Thats good to go!

For the beer league....Does it really matter?

Of course not. Survival of whatever it takes.

So when my wife gets home from her work today (school teacher) she tells me one of her co-workers is getting a "new set of boobs.":eek::eek:

I ask the obvious question.

"Why does she want two slow pitch umpires on her chest?"

Even better, she got the joke. :D

now that's funny!

No, I wouldn't say it usually passes through the strike zone unless you are working the Monday-Wednesday Munchkinland League.

Hey! I resemble that remark!

Did she ask if you were making a joke or volunteering? :rolleyes:

She must be a keeper then!