The signal is described in the ASA umpire manual as "Holding up Play" not "Holding up the Pitcher." Play is play, isn't it?

Unfortunately, no... she should NOT be wearing anything skin tight in public! http://www.mysmiley.net/imgs/smile/sick/sick.gif

Did you not just post on another thread about taking the wording of a rule book literally?:rolleyes:

So, you would not enforce the LBR during this period since that, too, could be considered PLAY. Good luck with that DC.:D

A conversation with a female catcher who frequently wore spandex went like this last year at the beginning of the game where I was PU...

Catcher: You're so lucky.
Me: Why's that?
Catcher: You get to stare at my fabulous a$$ all night.
Me (mentally): It's not that fabulous, honey.

I've always been taught that holding up the hand to the pitcher should be used judiciously.

It you are doing it between every pitch, it soon becomes part of the background and has a better chance to be ignored.

Most pitchers will wait until the batter is set to begin their delivery. While this is not always true, the umpire can gauge this as the game goes on and stop the pitcher when necessary. This is also very dependent on the level of ball you are calling as well. As you move to higher levels, you should almost never have to stop a pitcher to allow a batter to get set. So when you do hold up your hand, it is a different sight and is more likely to be noticed.

And it should be. No doubt about that. But there are times when it absolutely has to be used!

Just my opinions, but you are certainly welcome!

Absolutely.

The only time it goes up a lot is when you have an Energizer Bunny-type of pitcher that just keeps going UNTIL you stop them.

In FP, yes. In SP, not necessarily especially if you have a team that plays multiple sanctions and will do whatever they can to catch a batter or throw off their timing. Never understood it, as it is a slow pitched softball and should make no difference, but that isn't the way it works.

I've had those too...more than once, and usually in coed wreck or in some women's leagues.

Perhaps these jacket tucking umpires also officiate baseball games. Many baseball associations and conferences want the jackets tucked.

Gerry Davis offers a plate jacket that's designed to be tucked:

Micro Fiber Jackets w/Open Bottom: Gerry Davis Sports

Dave,

The lines should be 6 inches from the plate. Assuming an average shoe size of 9 or 10, couldn't the batter have that one foot partially in the batter's box [unless he was stepping parallel to the line and the side of the plate]? If he contacts the ball with one foot completely out of the box, or while stepping on HP, the batter is out.

But if he wants to snug up to HP, what's the violation?

Now, whatever happened after that regarding his attitude or whatever, I've no comment.

Ted

From ASA 7-3-A:
That's the violation.

Thanx. Forgot that part. Pretty straightforward.

Ted

No problem. :)

99% of the time, the batter looks at me and goes, "oh... sorry!" No big deal. I've never had a batter argue with me that he somehow had a "right" to start with any part of his foot out of the box.

And mind you, I wasn't trying to split hairs here. If it looks more like 4 or 5 inches, I don't care. I have no lines, so I won't split that hair. But if his foot looks like it's only an inch or two off of the plate, then it's too obvious, and it should be corrected.

I honestly wonder if this guy suffers from some roid rage. We've had problems in the past with steroid use in the area.

No, not all baseball guys do it. Don't lump all the baseball guys together! ;) There was a baseball thread recently where I think most, like me, thought it didn't look good. I never tuck in on the bases. Here in the northwest I saw two D1 baseball crews a couple weekends ago. On each crew, one BU tucked, one didn't. Long sleeve shirts for both PUs (which I do for baseball and softball unless it's really cold or wet, then I wear a jacket tucked in so I can get into my ball bags).

Like I said, I don't really like the look, but if you want to tuck it, whatever, no big deal. I put this debate right up there with "what color ball bag" and "6-stitch or 8-stitch?"