|
|||
Pithcing lane in the WCWS
just curious if they are ever going to call Stacy Nelson from Florida out of the pitching lane. 9 out of 10 pitches she steps out of it it seems. I know the pitchers wipe it away but can a coach request it be re-lined?
|
|
|||
Quote:
I'll tell you what, you get behind the plate on a field with a pitching lane and a pitcher who is pitching 60 mph, you tell me whether the pitch was a ball or strike, AND whether the pitcher was out of the lane UPON RELEASE OF THE PITCH. However, with the pitching lane marked, only the people who have nothing to do other than watch the pitcher's feet know the violation when it is minute. And suddenly, everyone is an umpire!
__________________
Scott It's a small world, but I wouldn't want to have to paint it. |
|
|||
Yes it is a problem. It is extremely difficult to watch the feet and then watch a pitch whether the pitch is 60 mph or 40 mph. But there is another problem -- it is a rule! So how do you enforce it? Or do you? Do you let everything go and let the pitcher repeatedly get an advantage and flaunt the rule directly in front of you? We're supposed to enforce all rules -- not just the ones we agree with or that are easy to call.
|
|
|||
Quote:
Quote:
|
|
|||
Quote:
__________________
TCBLUE13 NFHS, PONY, Babe Ruth, LL, NSA Softball in the Bible "In the big-inning" |
|
|||
Quote:
These are all rules. I could go on and on. The point is, being an umpire requires common sense mixed with an understanding of the rules. The umpire's first priority on the pitch is to judge it in the strike zone or not. That is what they most expect of us. Now, if, in tracking the pitch, I notice the pitcher upon delivery practically disappears from my periphial vision, then yes, I will slightly shift my focus, and when it happens again and I am sure she has violated the lane rule, I will call it. You can't see everything, even though the coaches expect you to. You have to prioritize your duties, and, as has already been noted by other posters in this thread, call the violations that you see when you see them. Those stupid lines in NCAA have done absolutely nothing to help me in making this call.
__________________
Scott It's a small world, but I wouldn't want to have to paint it. |
|
|||
This is a very realistic question and from my limited experience, the most constant and vexing question in officiating -- when do you enforce the rules versus when to pass on a call. Any experienced official knows you make those decisions repeatedly throughout any contest. We also know we're supposed to know the "spirit of the rule," and it seems the powers that be wanted more enforcement of the pitching lane lines so they required those lines be marked on the field. So what is the "spirit of the rule?" To have pitchers noticeably step on or between those lines or to habitually get away with having a tip of the foot barely touch the outside of those lines? When working the plate, it is one of the lowest priorities I have. But if I see a pitcher is constantly very close or outside, I'll call it on her and without any hesitation and do so as quickly as I can in the game. I'll make the pitcher make that adjustment and live within the "spirit of the rule" rather than let her divert my focus. The bane of all conscientious officials are those officials who refuse to enforce some rules because they are tough to enforce. We've all heard, "Nobody else has called that!" And that is true, nobody has called it all season! But are you right or wrong? Or are all the other officials because they didn't know the rule or chose to pass because it wasn't important to them? We all constantly make those choices every game and learn to live with our choice.
|
|
|||
Quote:
You are arguing apples and oranges here.
__________________
Scott It's a small world, but I wouldn't want to have to paint it. |
|
|||
Quote:
The tip of the foot (or any part of the foot) touching the outside of the pitcher's lane lines is a legal pitch, the pitcher isn't getting away with anything. |
|
|||
by the way the angle principle that has been posted about the stike zone applies to the pitchers lane too
__________________
when the world gets in my face I say Have a nice day For all those who don't know ... Ed Hickox is the MAN NFHS NCAA PONY ASA ISC USSSA |
|
|||
Quote:
If you are talking about camera angles, I disagree. (as long as we are talking about the line as chalked). If you can see the entire foot on the ground and the entire line, you can see that the foot is either in or outside. If you cant see those things, then I agree, you can't make a judgement. WIth the strike zone, you can never have that... |
|
|||
Quote:
__________________
Steve ASA/ISF/NCAA/NFHS/PGF |
|
|||
Quote:
Steve M and I was working a fall game with her a few years ago (before the lines), and we questioned it (she throws very hard, and you will miss the pitch if you watch her feet). So we looked at foot prints just being curious. Out of the 24", most likely, but not by much. We discussed this with the coach, who didn't want her to be outside because "that takes her off her power line" (I know, it was coach speak). BTW, she does not throw a screw ball. |
|
|||
Quote:
So the ball that looks like it is in the batters box but is actually hittin gthe corner of the plate couldnt possibly mean that the foot looking like it could be off the chalk but truly be hitting it with even the front part of the foot? In my opinion I think that its totally possible
__________________
when the world gets in my face I say Have a nice day For all those who don't know ... Ed Hickox is the MAN NFHS NCAA PONY ASA ISC USSSA |
Bookmarks |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
WCWS Umpires? | Dholloway1962 | Softball | 33 | Mon May 18, 2009 11:47am |
While we are on the topic of WCWS coverage... | Skahtboi | Softball | 4 | Tue Jun 03, 2008 11:09pm |
WCWS - Umpires | PublicBJ | Softball | 10 | Wed Jun 15, 2005 08:08am |
WCWS last night | coachfanmom | Softball | 7 | Fri Jun 03, 2005 01:21pm |
WCWS: mechanics? | LMan | Softball | 10 | Tue Jun 01, 2004 02:51pm |