Illegal pitch mechanic

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by fiasco

Welcome to the real world, sir.

That's life. Sometimes umpires fall through the cracks and don't get top notch training. The good news is that, in the majority of these cases (as in mine), these umpires are doing low level recreation co-ed games. Not that I will call them meaningless, but not properly understanding the IP mechanic in this case is really not the end of the world as you so dramatically make it out to be.

Were I to move up, say, to upper level men's league softball or even fast pitch girls softball, of course I would get the proper training through my association.

But the reality is, when you're new like me, you start out doing low-level games where the players are there just to have a good time, and so am I for the most part. I care about the job I do, and my assignor is not always readily available to answer my questions when I think of them. So I come to places like this, only to encounter pretentious blowhards like yourself hellbent on protecting the integrity of the game via an internet message board.

So, I'm not bothered by the flippancy I get when I ask a simple question and get a "oh that's softball 101" answer. Some people have the heart of a teacher, some do not. I can't speak for anyone else, but I'm not trying to skate by. I read some of the ASA manual every day. Some days I get it. Some days I feel like I'm getting dumber with every page I read. I write down scenarios from games I work and talk them over with my assignor. I ask some questions here. Some of them are stupid questions, but I've never been afraid to ask stupid questions and encounter people who love to tell you how stupid your question is. That's just life.

I'm going to chime in here a little. I'll be 100% honest when I tell you that my initial reaction to your first postings on here were that of, well, a troll. I'm not saying that's what you are, but that's just how you came across. If you want to change that perception, just stick around, be open-minded to what people say, and just be honest with us and yourself. We're here to help each other.

Bear in mind that umpires, generally-speaking, are naturally an apprehensive bunch. We don't trust outsiders very quickly, mainly because we catch a lot of sh1t. We protect our own. If you're new here, we welcome you. Just don't expect the free backrubs to start right away. You've gotta earn those (see skahtboi down the hall).

Oh, and take nothing of what Mike says personally. He's just brutally honest with you, and most people just aren't used to it at first. But trust me, he's not an evil or ill person, and he devotes more time in a week helping other umpires than most people dedicate in a year.

If you really want to advance, this is, without a doubt, the forum where you want to be. You will absolutely, positively get the definitive answers for rule interpretations here. Stick around, relax, and pay attention.

However, the most important thing to stress is honesty, both with us and, most importantly, with yourself. The forum is like the field: if you lie, you will get caught, and your integrity will forever be shot. If you're honest with us and with yourself, you'll learn more than you thought possible.

[fiasco]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

I'm going to chime in here a little. I'll be 100% honest when I tell you that my initial reaction to your first postings on here were that of, well, a troll. I'm not saying that's what you are, but that's just how you came across. If you want to change that perception, just stick around, be open-minded to what people say, and just be honest with us and yourself. We're here to help each other.

Bear in mind that umpires, generally-speaking, are naturally an apprehensive bunch. We don't trust outsiders very quickly, mainly because we catch a lot of sh1t. We protect our own. If you're new here, we welcome you. Just don't expect the free backrubs to start right away. You've gotta earn those (see skahtboi down the hall).

Oh, and take nothing of what Mike says personally. He's just brutally honest with you, and most people just aren't used to it at first. But trust me, he's not an evil or ill person, and he devotes more time in a week helping other umpires than most people dedicate in a year.

If you really want to advance, this is, without a doubt, the forum where you want to be. You will absolutely, positively get the definitive answers for rule interpretations here. Stick around, relax, and pay attention.

However, the most important thing to stress is honesty, both with us and, most importantly, with yourself. The forum is like the field: if you lie, you will get caught, and your integrity will forever be shot. If you're honest with us and with yourself, you'll learn more than you thought possible.

I understand the apprehension you feel. I'm not a newbie to officiating. I will start my seventh year of basketball officiating in September.

I am a newbie to softball, though. I can understand how the "tag without the ball" came across as trollish. I was honestly, and without guile, trying to play devil's advocate because I didn't fully understand the rule (since it's written so poorly).

I will, however, say that I've never agreed with the "don't take it personally" meme. I had a guy in a game last night who was arguing balls and strikes with me and then came up to bat the next inning and told me "hey, I'm just riding you a bit, don't take it personally." I called him out in the middle of the inning. I said, "When you speak to someone, you automatically make it personal. Don't absolve yourself of the responsibility of treating someone with respect by encouraging them not to "take" it personal when you were the one who "made" it personal."

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by fiasco

I understand the apprehension you feel. I'm not a newbie to officiating. I will start my seventh year of basketball officiating in September.

I am a newbie to softball, though. I can understand how the "tag without the ball" came across as trollish. I was honestly, and without guile, trying to play devil's advocate because I didn't fully understand the rule (since it's written so poorly).

Again, being honest is good. I've seen a lot of people get chased off of here because, quite simply, they veil their intentions behind their questions, and we get dragged into the middle of some p1ssing match. Stick around, and you'll see it plenty of times.

Originally Posted by fiasco

I will, however, say that I've never agreed with the "don't take it personally" meme. I had a guy in a game last night who was arguing balls and strikes with me and then came up to bat the next inning and told me "hey, I'm just riding you a bit, don't take it personally." I called him out in the middle of the inning. I said, "When you speak to someone, you automatically make it personal. Don't absolve yourself of the responsibility of treating someone with respect by encouraging them not to "take" it personal when you were the one who "made" it personal."

Well, in re-reading this thread, I can see who fired the first shot, and it wasn't Mike. Mike just tends not to mince words once this happens.

And no, you shouldn't take it personally. We're not criticizing you as a person, we're criticizing your judgment or your opinion. There's a huge difference.

I'll admit that I used to take criticism or disagreements personally. If someone disagreed with me, or if they felt that I did a bad job, I internalized it. I felt threatened. Then, years later, I had a boss who used to be in the Marines. Working for him taught me the difference between someone tearing you down to build you up and someone tearing you down just to tear you down.

If someone now tells me, "Dave, you screwed up" or "Dave, you're dead wrong," I don't get mad. I simply ask how, and if I disagree, I disagree.

So seriously... No one here is trying to tear you down for the sake of tearing you down. We tear you down to build you up, brother.