ASU - LSU Tempe Regional Final

[dtwsd]

Finally got around to watching this game that was played on Sunday.

Ok - So not only did an LSU assistant coach bring the rule book out on the field, the umpiring crew actually took it and looked at it.....at length. I couldn't believe my eyes.

The crew took nearly 10 minutes discussing a situation that apparently stemmed from the LSU head coach being ejected for what the talking heads were saying was two visits to the "mound" (gotta love former Olympic softball players and Beth Mowins) in one inning.

I don't know what the NCAA rule book says about it but I wouldn't think that two conferences in one inning would warrant an ejection. If that was indeed the reason then maybe that was why the LSU assistant coach got the crew to look at the book. Even so I can't believe that the crew actually accepted a rule book from a coach.

Anyone else see this?

[ronald]

I did not see that game but saw others and blown calls.

Any in that game?

[jwwashburn]

Is this available online any where?

If you have it tivo'd...please post it to youtube so we can watch it. I would love to see it.

[ncaaumpdj]

Originally Posted by ronald

I did not see that game but saw others and blown calls.

Any in that game?

We are very fortunate in the game of softball to have the exposure and media coverage that we do in the NCAA. Over the past 7 years games are being televised more and more. TV is an excellent tool to use, to watch and learn from other umpires. Even the best umpires make mistakes and "blow" calls. We all do it. Others more than others but thats another topic...lol jk. TV can be very deceiving when it comes to angles and perception at times. Dont be so quick to "rip" the umpire. He/She is there for a reason. It can be hard to determine if the ump was in the right place at the right time to make the correct call due to camera angles. And one piece of advice for all that dont know this already: DON'T LISTEN TO RULE INTERPRETATIONS FROM COMMENTATORS! Most of the time they are absolutely clueless as to the proper rule or what the proper ruling on the field was. Previously at WCWS Kathy(NCAA coordinator of umpires) would sit with/near commentators to give them the proper interpretation of a rule. Hopefully she or someone will do the same this year. Enjoy all the games the next few weeks and cheer on our fellow brothers and sisters in blue! Good luck to all this summer!!

[ronald]

Ump was standing at least 3 feet (that is generous) to the left of 3rd base line on a diving try by pitcher to catch a fly ball. It hit her and her glove before she went into foul territory where it hit her again. So we all learn that was a bad place to be on that play. I'd better move to 3rd base line extended and if I need to move move in and to the right a hair.

Reply shows when we blow calls. Ain't nothing to do with ripping. It is a great tool for learning. Off board but NBA refs, college refs and I imagine MLB umps are graded using video. Great tool. And by the way, when they see they missed one, their bosses say something to the effect that the call was blown or incorrect.

Same ump calls foul ball on swing by batter with 2 strikes with no hesitation. Pitch was high. Could not tell if pu was asked to go for help or she had doubt created but went to 1b ump who now calls it a complete miss. Reply showed it was fouled. Also one could hear it hit the bat. So that play is a great learning experience.

As plate ump, you have called foul ball. Are you going to go for help on whether it was or not with somebody 66 feet away or keep you call if asked or ask for help? IMO it was a double boo boo.

Both of these plays were at crucial junctures of the ball game.

I learned from the incorrect calls.

[HugoTafurst]

Originally Posted by dtwsd

Finally got around to watching this game that was played on Sunday.

Ok - So not only did an LSU assistant coach bring the rule book out on the field, the umpiring crew actually took it and looked at it.....at length. I couldn't believe my eyes.

The crew took nearly 10 minutes discussing a situation that apparently stemmed from the LSU head coach being ejected for what the talking heads were saying was two visits to the "mound" (gotta love former Olympic softball players and Beth Mowins) in one inning.

I don't know what the NCAA rule book says about it but I wouldn't think that two conferences in one inning would warrant an ejection. If that was indeed the reason then maybe that was why the LSU assistant coach got the crew to look at the book. Even so I can't believe that the crew actually accepted a rule book from a coach.

Anyone else see this?

Didn't see it, but a second defensive conference IS an ejection....... unless a pitching change is announced BEFORE the conference.

It has been suggested that if you see a coach heading out, you ask if she is making a pitching change.....

[Dholloway1962]

Originally Posted by dtwsd

Ok - So not only did an LSU assistant coach bring the rule book out on the field, the umpiring crew actually took it and looked at it.....at length. I couldn't believe my eyes.

Why couldn't you believe your eyes? If there is a question, why not look?? Since it is indeed an ejection in NCAA, I'm sure they were more than happy to point it out in black and white.

[drog008]

actually i was told that the reason the rule book had come out was because LSU could of been protesting the game....if that was the case than they would have to bring out the rule book and state what was being protested and play the remainder of the game under protest....they do this in the playoffs because if LSU was to protest the game they can't play the game over next week..than after the game high officials will rule in either direction

[Az.Ump]

I was there but only as a spectator. The LSU coach need to make the pitching change prior to entering fair territory 6.11.1.1.2. The penalty is immediate ejection. There is no option. Effect of 6.11.1.1. LSU protested. The protest was settled on the field by reviewing the rule book with the assistant coach while the head coach looked on. If not then...

7.2.6 During play that determines an NCAA qualifier and during NCAA championship
play itself, the coach shall immediately (before the next pitch) notify the plate
umpire of his or her intent to protest. If the game ends (legal contest) in a situation
that can be protested, the offended team has one minute to voice its protest
intentions. All intents to protest must be made to the plate umpire. When a coach
claims that an umpire’s decision violates NCAA rules:
7.2.6.1 After input from one coach of each team, the umpire crew must
attempt to settle the dispute on site by requiring the protesting coach
to identify the alleged rule violation. This should be done in a timely,
professional and nonconfrontational manner using a rules book.
7.2.6.2 The protesting coach has the right to submit a written protest to a
protest committee comprised of the “off” umpire, the umpire in chief (if
not involved with the call) and an additional member (chair) who is:
7.2.6.2.1 Predetermined by the conference for a conference
championship;
7.2.6.2.2 The NCAA representative for regional play; or
7.2.6.2.3 A designated member of the softball championship committee
for the NCAA championship series.
7.2.6.3 If the protesting coach proceeds with the protest:
7.2.6.3.1 The plate umpire must announce to the opposing coaches
and scorekeepers, official scorer and public-address announcer that
the game is being suspended pending the results of the protest.
7.2.6.3.2 The protesting coach must complete the appropriate protest
form (provided in Appendix C, on the NCAA Web site or in the
championship handbook) and state the rule in question at the time of
the action or incident that caused the protest.
7.2.6.3.3 All protests must be ruled upon immediately by the protest
committee. The committee shall confer with the umpires (and the
NCAA softball secretary-rules editor, if available) before making its
decision, and the protest committee chair shall make a written report
to the chair of the respective softball committee and the NCAA
softball secretary-rules editor.

Paul

[3SPORT]

Does anyone know why the extreme penalty of an ejection?

Why not just simply invoke the penalty of removing the pitcher on the 2nd defensive conference?

[jwwashburn]

It was probably the same moron who thinks it is bad for a 3rd base coach to pat a homerun hitter on the back or slap her hands.

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by 3SPORT

Does anyone know why the extreme penalty of an ejection?

Why not just simply invoke the penalty of removing the pitcher on the 2nd defensive conference?

Because, in NCAA ball, the penalty for a second conference in the same inning is ejection of the team representative who holds the additional conference. (6.11.1.1.Effect and 6.11.2.1.Effect)

(See AzUmp's post above!)

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by 3SPORT

Does anyone know why the extreme penalty of an ejection?

Why not just simply invoke the penalty of removing the pitcher on the 2nd defensive conference?

1) Because, as others have stated, that isn't the NCAA rule.

2) It isn't the rule because the COACHES write the NCAA rule book.

3) It is the coach's mistake to hold a second charged conference, not the player's mistake to stand there and get yelled at.

4) There has to be some penalty.

5) Even the NCAA head coaches know they are often more expendable for their mistake of having a second conference than their pitcher.

That rule makes more sense than removing the pitcher, IMO, even though it is less traditional.