Mob at home plate?
 

An interesting sequence of pictures for your review. My crappy seats didn't allow me to see the play so I can't give you guys any additional info that you cant' glean from the pictures other than that the collision jarred the ball loose and it went to the backstop. There was no obstruction nor UC called on the play.

In one of the shots you can see the mob scene at home where the offense is telling runner to touch the plate. You think Blue had enough help to make the call?

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Not having been there and lacking a video, I really could not make a definitive decision, but my perception of what happened based solely on the photos, I'm ruling the runner out.

If the catcher had possession of the ball prior to the crash, IMJ that is not a slide when the runner leading with a shoulder.

If the catcher does not have possession of the ball prior to the crash, it is OBS, but the runner may not be out of trouble yet if I believe it was intentional as opposed to tripping and falling forward.

Again, JMO, based on the still photos provided

The first picture looks more like Greco-Roman wrestling than softball.

Here is the picture 374 PhotoReflect - Antonio Morano Photography

and guess what: catcher has the ball.

Ejection.

Speaking ASA, unless everyone had tripped on her own feet and accidentally bumped into each other... Yep. Out. Ejected. And going through the sequence of pictures, it looks like the catcher sure got knocked for a loop. She spent a bit of time on the ground, and here's what appears to be a picture of her after the game. Yes, injuries will happen, but this just furthers my suspicion that this was a BS play.

I also saw this picture. Great positioning. :rolleyes:

They don't crouch like that in the majors but I have seen a lot of major league umps at that angle. Saw TS at the angle yesterday too when runner was rounding 3rd base.

Blue, to be fair, that is a pic of the play just before the collision play. F2 has just caught a throw from outfield on a short fly.

On the play in question, base hit to center scored R1 and R2 is the colliding player. The throw was offline and up the 3rd base path.

That may be, but for that kind of contact, I'd probably still have an ejection for USC. If the catcher had the ball before the collision, I'd also have an out. If I knew for certain the coach told her to do it, the coach is going with her.

End of the game or not, it appears to me that the kind of contact shown by these pictures do not belong in softball, and the consequences should not be ignored. Having seen the pictures of the catcher after the game only strengthens my belief that the contact wasn't just a bump, but more of a football-like tackle.

Video clip
 

Here is a video clip from San Antonio fox news.

Look for the title Smithson Valley going to state 5/30/09

I'm leaning for UC.


KABB News Video on Demand

Now having seen the play, I've definitely got an out and an ejection. The catcher had the ball, the runner was, in my judgment, not hindered (I didn't see her slow down or deviate), and the runner clearly lowered her shoulder to bowl the catcher over.

Total BS play, coach. Your girl should have been tossed.

Thanks for finding a video of the play. That is malicious contact and is covered by a the case book. Dead ball, out, and an ejection. Bad umpiring. No brainer.

Send the video to TASO so they can have a talk with the home plate umpire about what is malicious contact.

terrible... just terrible.
MC... bye bye
coach running down the sidelines almost into the play... bye bye.
players out of the dugout during live ball without helmet and almost into play... bye bye.
sigh.
it was so bad i had to watch the tape 15 times.
then the player is on the news saying she 'had" to run thru the catcher.
I know a lot happened really fast. but, the plate umpire... what a nice guy.

And that's exactly why we're told to slow our calls down. We need to take in everything that just happened and not rule on impulse. It seems like the PU allowed himself to either get caught up in the moment, or he simply wanted the game over.

Oh sh1t, did I just sound like a coach? Quick, someone spray me with Lysol!

This is one of those films that should be shown during rules clinics. WOW I bet this blue has been called by every commissioner and UIC from TASO. But, the bottom line here is we all need to understand that we are being recorded and although our judgment stands on the field, the film does not lie.

I wouldn't doubt that this umpire had two words rattling around in his head and they are "train" and "wreck". Guarantee you guys in Texas hear this more than once.