Umpire Mechanics

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by tcblue13

Dear Umpie...

Huh???

Originally Posted by tcblue13

....calls a strike as he points to his right...

While I don't like this mechanic, I am not going to hold against someone if it is his/her only flaw.

Originally Posted by tcblue13

I was not at the start of the game but he batter's box was chalked way too small... Would you have allowed the game to start on a field that was not lined properly?

No biggie. Of course I would have started the game like this. As Wade has already pointed out, it is my judgment anyway. I would have made a note of it at the pregame meeting with the coaches, though.

Originally Posted by tcblue13

But the smaller batter's box put the visiting team at a disadvantage as they had two slappers in the lineup.

No more so than if they had been playing with regulation batter's boxes marked. Again, totally my judgment as to whether or not they made contact with the ball outside of the box.

Originally Posted by tcblue13

He also held up his hand to the pitcher to allow the batter to get set, IMHO not keeping the ball live between pitches. We were told not to do that. Even if a batter holds up her hand, that is not a request for time.

What mechanic were you told to use to prevent the pitcher from pitching before you and the batter are set? The mechanic you state is the prescribed mechanic in nearly all softball codes. Sounds like, in this case, your association provided you with some incorrect information. This is not a calling of time, it is just an umpire telling a pitcher that you cannot pitch yet!

Originally Posted by tcblue13

BU has his pullover jacket untucked and it hanging to his thighs.

Pullover jackets are made to be worn untucked. Now it sounds like this guy may have been wearing one that was a little oversized, but who knows, maybe he has lost a lot of weight recently.

Originally Posted by tcblue13

He was way quick on calling balls and strikes. On one pitch that was extremely low, bounced in front of the batter, he called it a ball as it bounced. The pitch hit the batter on the foot so his called ball had to be changed to dead ball. He was calling strikes as the ball was hitting the mitt.

Common rookie mistake. This is why we are always telling each other to slow down. Heck....these many years later, I still have games where I say to myself "slow down."

Originally Posted by tcblue13

Am I overly critical of fellow umpires?

Maybe just a little.

In some cases, such as the holding of the hand to prevent the pitcher from pitching, you have been given some incorrect information from your association. Might I suggest, in addition to what you have been told there, you read the ASA Umpires manual, view their DVD, perhaps read the CCA Umpires Improvement Manual, and the NFHS Umpires manual. They will give a lot of useful information. Use it for discussion at the next association meeting where they are giving you info that doesn't agree with what you have read. A big part of umpiring sucessfully for many years is always being a student.

[tcblue13]

Thanks Scott

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by tcblue13

Thanks Scott

Just my opinions, but you are certainly welcome!

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by Skahtboi

No more so than if they had been playing with regulation batter's boxes marked. Again, totally my judgment as to whether or not they made contact with the ball outside of the box.

If the lines are wrong or non-existent, it boils down to the umpire's best judgment as to whether or not a batter is in the box. Best way to handle it is to make it clear in the pregame conference that you know the boxes are wrong, and that the lines will not be used to judge whether or not a batter's in the box.

Last night, I was calling on a field where the crew chalks only the outside and back lines to the box. The front line and line closest to the plate are always missing, so it's my judgment as to whether or not they're beyond the lines.

One guy decided to get cute with me about it and stepped into the box with one foot about an inch or so from the plate. I told him to get back. He fussed and grumbled. Long story made very short, his attitude and attempt to show me up afterward earned him the first ejection of the year.

[Tru_in_Blu]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

One guy decided to get cute with me about it and stepped into the box with one foot about an inch or so from the plate. I told him to get back. He fussed and grumbled. Long story made very short, his attitude and attempt to show me up afterward earned him the first ejection of the year.

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

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by Tru_in_Blu

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:

Prior to the pitch, the batter must have both feet completely within the lines of the batter’s box. The batter may touch the lines, but no part of the foot may be outside the lines prior to the pitch.

That's the violation.

[Tru_in_Blu]

Thanx. Forgot that part. Pretty straightforward.

Ted

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by Tru_in_Blu

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.

[SethPDX]

Originally Posted by wadeintothem

hmm seeing your location.. Tucking in a jacket isnt some southern thang is it?

Originally Posted by CajunNewBlue

Don't group us all in there! I think the jacket tucked in is a Baseball thang... bleeck.

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?"

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by Skahtboi

...This is not a calling of time, it is just an umpire telling a pitcher that you cannot pitch yet!...

Well, it is more than just that. It is holding up play, effectively a momentary dead ball.

As to the batter's box, if the box is improperly drawn so as to put the batter at a disadvantage, I will inform the coaches AND solicit the team captains' help in kicking out at least the front of the boxes, depending on how badly they are drawn. I take it this far just to avoid the inevitable fan comments if I merely blatantly ignore the lines during the game.

As to umpire uni's... we have such a wide disparity of umpires in my group, ranging from "spit and polish" to wearing whatever is kind of gray (including skin tight capris by one female), never-washed hats, etc., that I can't possibly be offended by it or I would be in a constant state of offense...

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by Dakota

...including skin tight capris by one female...

But does she wear 'em well? Any pictures?

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

But does she wear 'em well? Any pictures?

Unfortunately, no... she should NOT be wearing anything skin tight in public!

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by Dakota

Unfortunately, no... she should NOT be wearing anything skin tight in public!

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.

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

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

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Dakota

Well, it is more than just that. It is holding up play, effectively a momentary dead ball.

I disagree. Would you not enforce the LBR during this "momentary" period? After all, you just stated it is a "dead ball". Cannot have an LBR violation during a DB period.