ASA Rule Changes

[greymule]

1. If INT occurs before the BR reaches 1B, all runners not out return TOP unless forced.

2. Runner who has crossed the plate at the time of intentional INT to break up a double play on a fly ball should be considered the runner closest to home.

[JEL]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

I'd toss the bat anyway. I'd snag 'em with the following section of 3-1-J



Was the bat like this when it was made? No? Get rid of it, coach. I know it's a stretch, but that's what I'd do.

I did that at Nats this year. Guess what? The bat WAS made that way!

There is a Cat Osterman (I believe) bat that has a flex handle and ASA approval! The first one I tossed because of the "wiggle." Told the coach it was leaving, and while the UIC was on his way to tag it, the coach removed the factory grip stating "it's always been like that." Sure enough, the handle was made to flex. I suppose to help stop any sting. Saw one other later on.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by JEL

I did that at Nats this year. Guess what? The bat WAS made that way!

There is a Cat Osterman (I believe) bat that has a flex handle and ASA approval! The first one I tossed because of the "wiggle." Told the coach it was leaving, and while the UIC was on his way to tag it, the coach removed the factory grip stating "it's always been like that." Sure enough, the handle was made to flex. I suppose to help stop any sting. Saw one other later on.

Sheesh... What's next?

This was made with a flex handle, too...

Originally Posted by greymule

2. Runner who has crossed the plate at the time of intentional INT to break up a double play on a fly ball should be considered the runner closest to home.

Maybe it would be more simple to base the runner closest to home on where they were at TOP? Of course, that wouldn't help on the sitch you have in mind.

Originally Posted by JEL

I did that at Nats this year. Guess what? The bat WAS made that way!

There is a Cat Osterman (I believe) bat that has a flex handle and ASA approval! The first one I tossed because of the "wiggle." Told the coach it was leaving, and while the UIC was on his way to tag it, the coach removed the factory grip stating "it's always been like that." Sure enough, the handle was made to flex. I suppose to help stop any sting. Saw one other later on.

This got me curious. I found the following description on one website that sells this bat:

Once again, DeMarini leads the industry, this time with the first bat to combine a Fiber Reinforced Carbon fiber handle with a DX-1 alloy aluminum barrel. This bat was specifically designed for better control and feel. DeMarini's battle-proven Single Wall Technology is combined with a new carbon fiber handle and taper that makes this bottle bat design on of the best on the market today. With fiber in the handle and the action in the barrel, the Cat Osterman DXCAT swings like a natural extension of the human body. The new Positac 2 grip gives the player the most comfort at the plate. For the player, Half & Half means more power at the plate. The Demarini DXCAT Cat is ASA, USSSA, NSA, ISA, and ISF approved. This bat offers an long barrel length with a -13 length to weight ratio. Behold the worlds first bionic bat.

Another website describes it:

This is the DeMarini DXCTF Cat Osterman signature model fastpitch softball model. This bat offers the DeMarini singlewall, bottle bat design with a precision balance for competitive play. The 7046 aluminum alloy makes up the strong and durable outer barrel. The improved n2m end cap helps damper the vibration to make for a better feel and easier swing. The new Variegated Comfort grip gives you the most comfortable feel allowing you to have to most control possible over the bat. With the new rotation index labeling you will be able to rotate your swings to evenly break-in the bat. The new superior graphics provide for optimal look while at the plate. The Cat is stamped “Official Softball,” along with the ASA, USSSA, ISF 1.20, and NSA official markings. This bat also includes a full twelve month manufacturers warranty. The DXCTF Cat Osterman is the standard in bottle bat design. DeMarini: Insane Dedication To Performance.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by Ref Ump Welsch

......The DXCTF Cat Osterman is the standard in bottle bat design. DeMarini: Insane Dedication To Performance.

Does anyone find this a bit odd... I wonder when was the last time CO actually swung a bat in competitive softball?

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by Dakota

Does anyone find this a bit odd... I wonder when was the last time CO actually swung a bat in competitive softball?

No kidding. That's like marketing a Nolan Ryan catcher's mitt.

I second Dave on invoking the crash rule whether or not the fielder has the ball, even if it is a losing proposition.

[DeputyUICHousto]

Make the batter's box more narrow...this way, a pitcher knows he can hit the inside corner with the knowlege the ball won't be coming back at him at 100mph...oops, 98 mph. Make the batter's get up on the plate...and enforce the rule!

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by DeputyUICHousto

Make the batter's get up on the plate...and enforce the rule!

Call with me sometime. This won't be an issue.

[ronald]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

Call with me sometime. This won't be an issue.

Hey, we might get to call together in Salem!

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by ronald

Hey, we might get to call together in Salem!

That's what I'm hearing! Lookin' forward to it.

[DeputyUICHousto]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

Call with me sometime. This won't be an issue.

Do you guys not enforce the batter's box rule? I'm confused.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by DeputyUICHousto

Do you guys not enforce the batter's box rule? I'm confused.

I always enforce the batter's box issue, and I don't put up with BS from the players who won't step in and keep their feet from going over the lines before the pitch.

You're in the box, or I call strike.

[greymule]

Maybe it would be more simple to base the runner closest to home on where they were at TOP?

For intentional INT on fly balls, that would work. In fact, it would make a good general rule (for INT on fly balls). No runner should be able to advance or score simply because he reached the next base or touched the plate before another runner committed INT on a fly ball. (INT before the BR reaches 1B would probably cover most of this, but there still might be a loophole.)

I would also change the ruling on this play:

Bases loaded, 1 out. Slow runner B4 grounds to F6, who throws to F4 for the out on R3 as speedy R1 scores. F4's throw to 1B is in plenty of time to get B4 and end the inning, but R3 (who is already out) deliberately interferes with the throw. The ruling is that R2 (the runner closest to home) is the third out, and since R3 had been put out, the out on R2 is not a force, and thus R1's run counts.

On such intentional INT, I would give the defense the advantageous third out they were trying to get at 1B.

There are a half dozen ASA rules I'm not particularly fond of, but they don't have the potential for disaster, like letting a team benefit from committing deliberate INT.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by DeputyUICHousto

Make the batter's box more narrow...this way, a pitcher knows he can hit the inside corner with the knowlege the ball won't be coming back at him at 100mph...oops, 98 mph. Make the batter's get up on the plate...and enforce the rule!

A couple years ago the box was widened and then returned using the same excuse.

AFAIC, the excuse is nothing more than just that, an excuse, and a weak one at that, for playing t-ball.

It is slow pitch softball. Anyone who cannot avoid hitting a ball someplace should consider taking up golf, or maybe competitive rock, paper, scissors.

"To avoid forcing the batter to hit up the middle" has also been used as an excuse against home run limits and pitch height limits. The players will use anything as an excuse to be able to keep hitting cheap HRs.

The players are already whining about the .52/275 ball which has been introduced in some areas. The ball sucks, it knuckles, it turns to mush, etc. all which is a load of crap. The ball still exits the bats at 98 MPH, but impact is only a third of that which would fracture a human scull. The present ball being used in ASA SP has an impact at 50% higher than the force needed to cause that fracture. The key is the HR hitters will still be able to hit HRs with the presently legal ASA bats while the pretenders have to start learning how to deal with simple basehits. And, of course, has already surfaced as just another excuse that will inevitably lead to "forcing" the batters to hit up the middle. Go figure.

The good news is that the introduction of this ball may reduce, if not eliminate, the non-approved bat list. But we all know how slow ASA is with this type of change.