First Game of the Year: Brutal.
 

JV, one man.

Visitors 26, Home 0. From my game report in Arbiter: "The (home team) pitcher's lack of velocity was only exceeded by her lack of control".

Still got 'er done in just under an hour and a half, and waived goodbye the the guys working the varsity game on the adjacent field.

You must not have called enough strikes on the visiting team :D

You're probably right...but the visitors HIT the strikes. Everything else was either in the dirt or hitting the screen on the fly.

Well, that means it was still airborne passing the plate area, right? Close enough! STRIKE! :eek:

Maybe he meant the screen in front of the dugouts. :D

Had he extended his zone from county line to county line, he could have banged them for a strike.:rolleyes:

Your point? :rolleyes:

Toes to clouds, crowds to crowds?

Thank you for covering this one for us !! :D :D :cool:

Yeah, now all we need is one of our guys to get the 64-0 game out of the way.

Being the team player that I am......I would like to volunteer Wade.:D

Since you're located in the great state of California, I recommend using the California strike zone in these games......






If the pitch is in California, it's a strike! :D

My first games of the season are today - Community College double header. I'm a little nervous because:

(a) I haven't seen a pitch since October,
(b) I've been training new umps on ASA/NFHS rules and mechanics, and haven't had the time to study the NCAA stuff this year,
(c) I have the plate in the 2nd game - the one typically with the 2nd string F1 throwing bricks at a backstop.
(d) weather.com shows the temp to be about 41F at gametime.

I'm sure I'll be fine. Details to follow...

41f..... *shudder*

Yup. I have to call a game this afternoon in similar weather, with winds blowing from 15-25 mph out of the north!

Just wait for my first COED rec slowpitch game this spring where the team with nothing for players wins the toss and elects to be home against a team full of ex-college athletes. It'll take the full hour, and we won't even get the 3rd inning in. :rolleyes:

The games went fine. Scrimmage / pre-season game with a local CC and a club team from the University of British Columbia. First game on the bases, no issues - other than I was almost burned out behind F6 with a R on 2B. As R took her lead off with the pitch, F4 moved into 2B. F2 threw across to F4 to pick R off. I moved back toward 2B with the throw, then realized after 2 steps that R went to 3B. Luckily F4 bobbled the throw from F1 and there was no play beyond that.

Not bad for first game of the season.

2nd game, I've got the dish. It's right around 40 degrees. This is where all kinds of weird stuff happened:

1. Had to tell F1 that her knee brace needed to be padded.
2. With R on 2B, ground ball to F6, errant throw to F3 drawing off to her left. F3 caught the ball. I hold at HP a second to watch for pulled foot or swipe tag, and just as F3 caught the ball and was pulled off, F2 stepped in my way. My partner didn't make any call, just quickly came to me with "was there a tag?" Hell, I couldn't see a damn thing so I came up with a strong "no". DC decided to talk to us about that one.
3. Called a strike on a batter for a violation of the 10 second rule.
4. Had F4 leave in an ambulance for either breaking her collarbone or dislocating her shoulder after diving for a ball and landing wrong.
5. Had 3 overthrows around the plate in one play, got me bouncing all around the place.

Good games tho. And good Mexican food afterwards.

Now there is a conversation I would have enjoyed :cool:

Was this 16" slow pitch?

Ted

:confused: :confused: ;)

Wow, I wrote that fast. Multiple issues. Ugh. Editing now.

:o:(

Uh, no. NCAA fast pitch.

Think you missed his point; your edit shows that, as you didn't fix that issue.

Don't you mean F2 making a pickoff attempt? Most pickoffs by F1 do happen in 16" slow.

Oh jeezus. And to think I was completely sober when I wrote that. Hadn't had any coffee yet - maybe that was the issue.

Yes, F2.

Coffee? In the PNW? Yeah, like I believe you hadn't had any coffee yet!

The only place I've seen a heavier caffeinated town was Missoula, MT.

It was perkin' at 8:12am when I wrote it. I got up at 8 and started the pot...

...wait, WTF am I telling you my morning routine for?

:)

Man that reminds me of a Regional Game I had about five years ago. It was a two out of three toury and had some good teams that had won State Tournaments before.
One out in the last inning, tieing runner on second, batter hits the ball down the first base line- F1 and F2 both are after the ball when F1 gets the ball and throws to F3 way out to the right. Base umpire calls her OUT. The base coach fans go wild saying she pulled her foot. He then comes to me. I swear- I could not tell who's feet was with which player. I had the base runner, F3 and F1 all right at the base and the catcher right in front of me. I had to go along with my buddy.
Due to the crowd there was only two people in the area of the field that did not see her pull her foot and both of them were wearing blue.
The HCoach, a regular State champion, comes running toward me saying you know she pulled her foot. The home fans, players and babies were yelling.
With all respect I told the coach that I was looking down the line but your catcher and pitcher got in the way and to be honest relaly did not see if she pulled her foot.
The Head coach didn't say another word to be and turned to his team saying "Ok lets get the runner home'. Had this been anywhere that I usually call I would have had trouble, but this coach had class.
>
After the game I told him that I was sorry about not seeing her foot and he told me-- If you have said that she did not pull her foot you would of had to throw me out of the game. When you said that you did not see because of players then I knew it was just softball.
One of the few coaches in high school ball that I really respect!

That must be one popular coach to have his own fans :D

Good call and work between you and partner. Then again, the HC shouldn't have been talking to you, so I assume your partner was there for the conversation.

This is why you never, never lie. If you didn't see the play, you didn't see the play. Lying is one of the quickest way for any sports official to lose their integrity, and not only with the teams and fans.

Nah, the coach just thinks they're all there for him. :D

I was waiting to see if anyone else would comment, but no. Personally, I completely disagree with an umpire that doesn't make his call as required by the mechanics.

Bottom line is simple; that play at 1B belongs to the base umpire. Make a friggin' call!! Your call, your responsibility, make it!! If you think you need help, you can get it, but MAKE YOUR CALL!!

This play is the perfect example why. The call belongs to BU; PU has "help" responsibility for pulled foot and swipe tag. Primary, secondary. Primary now reassigns the call to secondary who was blocked. WRONG!! Secondary now has to answer why he didn't see what wasn't his primary responsibility, while primary gets away with reassigning his responsibility?? Bull$hit. Make YOUR call. If there is help, you can get it, if there isn't help, it was your call.

In my postgame, that would have been said in spades; and you are buying the beer (and that can be expensive when I'm drinking). Do it a second time, and my answer isn't "no tag", my response is "YOUR CALL!!".

This has been discussed a few times. Some disagree with it, and that is fine as long as they are working the game where there is another prescribed mechanic. Call what you saw and IF there is help, you can utilize that tool (the mechanic, not the partner :rolleyes:) afterward.

Once an umpire gives up a call, if the partner didn't have a good view, the ONLY call that can be made is SAFE.

Not if your girlfriend (Ruthann?) is serving :D

Admittedly, Ruthann has been good to me/us. That's only good for 3 days every other year, though, since I don't live in OKC.

amen

Steve/all:
Yeah, my partner and I had a little discussion about that after the game. I know that it's specifically in the ASA umpire's manual page 245:

If you think that you were blocked out of seeing the entire play and are
asked to “go for help” then go to your partner for information to get the
call correct. ALWAYS MAKE THE CALL AND THEN GO FOR HELP, IF NEEDED

Don't know if it's in the CCA manual or not...

Some organizations tell you to go for help first, but something like what happens to you occurs and, oops, there is no one to make a call and runners are still moving around the bases.

Steve - I am going to respectfully disagree with you to a point.

In SRW's play the BU was not giving up his call, he was asking for the last piece of the puzzle he needed to make the call. Coming from C position in a two-umpire system, the angle for that is terrible, as I'm sure you are aware. The BU is asking a yes or no question to get that last piece of information to make the call. This is actually the way that Emily taught me as I was learning many years ago. I understand that the philosphy has changed somewhat as evidenced by the quote from the ASA book.

I completely agree that the BU should not point to the PU and completely give up the call, however, I don't see the issue with asking the BU for that last piece of information needed.

That being said, Mike's point about baserunners still moving around the bases is valid and if that is the case the BU needs to be aware and make a call at first, let the play finish, then go for help if needed.

I'm saying that this method is useful on a case-by-case basis.

If you are coming from the C position, there are ALWAYS other baserunners, so when could you use this without them being affected? There is always the potential for subsequent plays with other runners.

That aside, do you really believe the teams and coaches see this as anything beyond the base umpire having the plate umpire make the call? Do they see this "last piece of information", or completely giving up the call?

Let's ask SRW what happened in this specific case, when the coach decided to converse. I am willing to bet he focused on the PU, whom he saw as missing the call, not the BU whose call it was.

Agreed....there will always be runner(s) at second and/or third base. However, in the specific situation we are discussing, we more than likely have a banger at first base. Most, not all, of the time, the runners will advance a base safely or hold on the base they are at without a subsequent play. This is why I made the statement that the BU needs to be aware of the potential of a subsequent play and react accordingly.

As with most things concerning the mechanics of umpiring, I really don't care what the teams and coaches see or think about how we do our job, It's really not something they need or want to understand.

Do you think the outcome would have been any different if the BU had made (perhaps guessed) a call, then went to SRW for help and reversed his call? It comes down to the same conversation..."Coach, I had a (bad angle, blocked out, etc.) I asked my partner for help and made (or reversed) the call based on that information." PU's response to any question from the coach should be "Coach, my partner asked if I saw a (pulled foot, tag, etc) and I told him what I saw."

Although there are many times when going to your partner for help after making a call is appropriate, I believe that anytime a coach can get an umpire to go for help and reverse a call, even if it is valid, sends a message that the coach (of either team) can now go ask the umpire to get help on any call that s/he doesn't like. Coaches generally don't differentiate judgement calls from calls where an umpire may have not seen a piece of the play that his partner was able to.

Again, I'm not saying that going for help prior to making the call is the way it should be done in every instance, but it is a tool that the umpire can use when appropriate.

Agreed. This is one instance where I prefer the ASA mechanic over the NCAA mechanic. BU makes the call, then goes for help if needed, and ,more importantly, discusses HIS/HER call with coach.

And as I'm sure you know, here's where good umpiring comes in. You either need help or you don't; regardless of what message the coach feels he was sent. If I'm not missing something, I'm not going for help unless required to by rule.

Here's the problem, Andy.

That BU did give up the call by not making one. He shouted across the field that he did not see a tag. That means the PU who may not be in a position to help, must make the call or, by default, the runner is safe. God help.....no, even God isn't going to be able to help an umpire who openly asks for help, doesn't get any and calls the runner out. Sort of like pointing to a players glove, "show me the ball", the player opens the glove and shows it and then the umpire calling the runner safe! :eek:

My tenet has become "make the call what your eyes thought they saw." Apparently, the BU saw something to make him think there was a tag and then doubted his eyes. Unless completely taken out of the play, I will always make the call.

I do not care what a coach/player/fan thinks, if there is a possibility that I missed something, I'll go for help if requested. If you have coaches who believe that is a license to make such a request on any play and you allow it to happen, that's the umpire's fault. If there is no doubt you were in the best position and saw all the elements, just say no. And, more often than not, I've had a coach/player thank the crew for getting together even if they didn't get the call being sought.

You want the rest of the conversation? Sure. I've had coffee today, so I'm allowed to post. :o

DC asked for time, I gave it. He came straight to me. He was cordial and calm the whole time.

He: You didn't see F3 tag the BR?
Me: No sir. Your F2 blocked me.
He: What DID you see?
Me: I saw F3 pulled to her left, she caught the ball, then all I saw was the backside of F2.
He: Oh. So is it still his call to make? (pointing to my partner)
Me: Yes sir. He asked me for some information and I gave him what I could. I can't call what I can't see.
He: Can I talk to him about his call?
Me: Please do, coach.

DC then went to my partner to talk. DC asked if he saw F3 come off the base. BU said yeah, but he couldn't tell if the tag got the BR, so he asked if I saw it. BU told DC that neither of us saw a tag, so the BR is safe at 1B.

DC walked back to his dugout and didn't say anything more.

Apparently, the DC didn't have his daily caffeine fix for the day :D

ASA vs NFHS
 

Isn't this one of the differences between ASA and FED mechanics? I don't have my FED books with me. I remember from last years on field training we had that the FED wants the base umpire to go to the PU for help on this. I agree with you Steve. The base umpire should make the call. I don't like giving up my responsibilities to someone else. I prefer the ASA mechanic on this one.

Randall, if that is what you heard here is Georgia, someone erred. We have adopted ASA mechanics for high school. So the umpire manual is moot.

ok just so i understand....
 

In GA we are using ASA mechanics in FED games? No exceptions?

As approved and directed by Ernie Yarbrough, GHSA Associate Director, based on input from his Softball Camp and Training Committee (which I am the assistant chairman, so I know firsthand). Our reasoning was simple; the vast majority of umpires in Georgia already know ASA mechanics, why mandate, learn or enforce variations that aren't even better, just somewhat different?

We do have the authority to vary with communication (ie, use an NCAA mechanic if the crew knows it), but are not teaching or directing anything BUT ASA. If you were taught differently at a local level, mention to them what I said, and/or have them call or email me; we discuss it every year at our "Train the Trainers" meeting, as well as at the camps and clinics.

Yes, we still give out the NFHS Umpire Manual; we have talked about doing away with that expense, but feel it has quality educational material aside from the mechanics we aren't using.

Thanks!
 

Makes sense to me and I wasn't doubting your word, just wanted to make sure that we are using ASA mechanics across the board.

I like it, not that my opinion matters, but I like simplicity and Ernie's logic is sound.

See? Now there's your mistake, get a coffee maker with a timer, set it before going to bed and wake up to the smell of fresh coffee.


God I miss electricity. :(

Yep, that is what I have including a grinder, so I only deal with beans, not the messy grinds you have to dig out of a bag or can.

Now, if I can just find one that is self-cleaning :D (and, no, my wife will not do it)

With as much coffee as I drink, it's always the timer or some stupid little feature on those $75 models that breaks down.

Nope, not for me. Give me a good grinder (and I mean a true grinder - not one of those blade deals. The blades go so fast they burn the bean) and a carafe with a cone filter and I'm good to go. I never grind the night before. The oils in the grounds dissipate and the coffee loses its flavor overnight. Grind the morning of, and the coffee's so much better.

Maybe I'm a coffee snob?

Ground the morning of? How about the minute of?

My grinder, (yes, with a blade) does a pretty good job. Coffee is rich and aromatic. Now you did it. I gotta go get a cup.

Just what we need around here...coffee snobs and beer snobs! :D

Excess beer leads to hangovers, which leads to coffee.

Seems like a natural progression to me... :)

New term.

What's that??

That beer which was left over from the night before because someone invited Region 15? ;)

JUST KIDDING!

And this is why coffee and beer are both a big deal up here. :)

You're from Seattle . Maybe you're a coffee snob ? :rolleyes:

I'm one of those Californians who keeps looking up at the PNW as my next stop. :D

You wanna talk fresh coffee? How about, pick, dry, roast and grind it yourself? One of the perks living in a tropical country, coffee tree out back.

A cup of properly made black hole® coffee, ie, when you add milk/cream it doesn't change color, will keep me going all day, I usually start the day with 3.

Bah

As long as its hot and has caffine in it, I'll drink it in the morning. Hell, I'll even drink the mud at 7-11.

Me and you both. I drink a ton of coffee and its however it comes. I add a little creamer and thats about as fancy as I get. If it sits over night in the pot, I finish it off before starting a new one. In the microwave it goes for the warm up.

I'm not buying any fancy stuff or grinding beans or any crap like that. My wife insists on at least folgers, me I'd buy whats on sale. I dont put my pinky up when drinking it or nothing. Hell, be happy if I rinse out my cup.

Damn, that will ruin a good cup.:D

I have never aquired the taste for coffee.

That was my attitude, too until I started working for my current company. They provide us with free Peet's and Starbuck's coffee. My standards have changed some. :D

My favorite homebrew is 100% Kona coffee, harvested from a friend's coffee farm on the Big Island.

Scott, you have fine taste in beer at least. :)

I survived my entire undergrad career without a single drop of coffee. I hated it.

One day, I'm having breakfast with my wife in Asheville, NC, and I suddenly get the urge to drink coffee. Now I'm a coffee drinker. Don't know why.

Because its da bomb?

Da bomb. LOL

Are middle-aged white guys from the "hills" allowed to use terms like that in public ? ;)

LOL I dont think so.


I try not to fit in here too much though. I like sleeves on my shirts and having all my teeth and all that stuff you guys in the big city take for granted.

Maybe I should start sipping skim milk 2 oz latte's and listening to Obama Speaks tapes with ole SRW though.

I'm not sure you can use the words "da bomb" in western NC anymore.

Oh wait, Eric Rudolph was already arrested. :D

"Venti non fat latte please."

Not exactly sure if the capital qualifies as a "big" city. I have lived here 9 years and now know why it's considered a cow town. When real estate bounces I am headed back to the mothership, San Francisco. :cool:

I also microwave yesterdays coffee, no matter how much my beautiful,darling, aristocratic wife whines. :cool: No Folgers here though. Whatever Target has on sale...

Say hi to Billy and Bod for me up yonder. :)

I use to spend at least $12 a week on Grande Mochas at Starbucks. Now I buy the large size Folgers and Quick chocolate powder from Smart and Finial.

I mix a spoon of the powder with coffee and a little milk. Just as good, and less than $0.30 per day.

THE POORMAN'S MOCHA

Dude, Western Carolina :eek:....I'm a Yankee. Western Carolina is like another galaxy to me. I try real hard to stay north of the Mason-Dixon line. ;)

My wife would call you a cheap *&^%$#$ :)

What, no sugar free vanilla breve with extra foam and a dash of cinnamon on top?

Yuck. Martinez is almost too close at times. My move to Texas can't come fast enough. :p

Yeah. Guess I will have to start drinking it in the mornings as well! ;)

Nobody's can! ;)

Probably the same thing your neighbors have been saying!!! ;)

I like a tasty coffee, but to be honest, most of the time I drink a candy bar.

Cannot wait for my "official" Cafe au lait @ du Monde.

Texas is OK to visit occasionally. Gotta stay in touch with the ole family...

Sac is definately big city. Thats where we go when we go to the city. Folsom, sac, elk grove.

The only place worse to visit occasionally than Texas is SF.

Luckily I dont have family there so no need. :)

Nope! Texas is TX. Oklahoma is OK. People here are easily offended by stuff like that. :)

Mine does

Thank you. ;)

Western NC is probably closer to me than NCASA.

I have a slightly more fancy mix with hot chocolate, sugar, creamer, cinnamon, and some stuff that comes out of the little spice jars. The recipe calls for you to grind up instant coffee and mix it in. I got smart last year and left the instant coffee out and now just add it to the Folgers we get here at the office or the Maxwell House we use at home. The recipe calls this "Fireside Coffee."

What's a Starbucks? :)

Come on! Texicans are easily offended? I don't believe it!:eek:

:D Just kidding!

Ouch...

Considering whom some of my neighbors are, I have an entirely different rant queued up if you are bored. :D

Contra Costa County neighbors?

I'm fairly sure that rant is a bannable offense. :D

Any county that includes Antioch and West Pittsbur...errr...Bay Pointe...just aint good.

no kidding... you'd think umpires would be thicker skinned... heck all y'all just need to move to Louisiana... the sun shines 24 hours a day, the grass is greener, the food is the BEST. And we could always use more "good" umpires. ;)

Bethel Island
 

I was moving from Las Vegas to San Francisco. I got thirsty and stopped for a drink on Bethel Island. Spent a summer with a cocktail waitress out on Bethel Island. Once I got past the whole 1 tooth thing I actually had a pretty fun summer. :rolleyes:
My dad still can't figure out how I ended up there for the summer. :rolleyes:

One good thing to say!
 

My favorite hole-in-the-wall Mexican food place: La Costa in Oakley. I can not be anywhere near that place without getting a carnitas burrito.

The only argument you pose that is hard to refute! :cool:

Antioch, Pittsburg and Gun Points...err Bay Point. What's not to love? Throw in Richmond in West County and you've got quite the combination.

It's hard to believe that San Ramon and Danville are in the same county. :eek:

Speaking of great Mexican food, New Mecca in Pittsburg is worth the trip.

Will you make up your mind? You make a pitch for them to come to LA (and BTW it isn't the GREEN grass that is the draw) and then you disqualify some of them. :D:D:D:D:D:D:D

If sun shines 24 hours a day, why was the Sulphur all but cancelled?

And I do know some good La. umpires. Ya'll got Wayne.

The sun DOES shine 24 hours a day. That is irrefutable. Just 'cuz it ain't shining on you, doesn't mean it isn't shining.

Grass being greener and food being the best are subjective opinions. Probably formulated from walking on other peoples' lawns and sampling various all ya can eat buffets.

Ted

Your right, I knew better than to get into that argument.:D

Well, with all we have to offer.... we can afford to be picky.... dunno how i snuck in? but i digress. :D

Filter? Wait you filter yours?

I like bold coffee, but I don't like to floss out grounds from my teeth.

My wife would want me to give her back the money I saved!

Of course you need more umpires you have only had firstpitch softball since the early 90's. I went to LSU, I had been umpiring fastpitch in Socal since I was 15. My first year their no fastpitch, but I was told I should come back the following year. So I did, I was 20 and had four years more experience than people 2 and 3 times older.