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Disclaimer: Slowpitch guy here. Went to our local clinic a week ago, and the UIC showed a few clips from YouTube and some other u-post-it-here websites, of calls and actions from mostly fastpitch games. One was a fastpitch game, where the catcher deliberately pulled down her glove while the pitcher threw a riser that hit the umpire square in the chest. After the blue caught his breath, he called time and ejected the catcher and pitcher both, and in the ensuring chaos, tossed the coach as well, and started to walk off the field and apparently forfeited the game. This was well justified (and don't ask me where you can find this one because the deputy UIC did all the fun work).
Speaking of walking off the field or telling the coach he/she needs to replace the catcher, some of that may be justified, but most isn't. You may think what the hell gives me any authority to speak as a slowpitch umpire, you haven't worked enough wreck ball to take a few off the shin because the catcher can't catch worth crap. I actually have told a few of those catchers they may want to start catching, or I'm moving back a few feet and can't guarantee their pitcher getting the call they should be because of a poor angle. Some will wise up and actually catch the godforsaken ball, and we have no problems. I've also gone to the point of saying the heck with the slot and lined up directly behind the catcher (and in slowpitch, that doesn't do the trick much of the time either!).
Just venting, but at the same, feeling for you folks doing fastpitch because that ball's coming in a heck of a lot faster and harder. I don't envy you. Good luck the rest of the season!
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Mon Mar 23, 2009, 07:02am
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