Cute little pep talk there, Stevie. But based on Greymule's posting history, I dare say he has enough experience that he doesn't need that. I would hazard a guess that he shared his anecdote as a way of reinforcing for us lesser experienced officials on how to handle such cases. So. . .just go out there and give it your best. ;)

"Fans (and some coaches) go bonkers because they do not understand the rules."

Yes, I'm accustomed to this. Listing all the rules I've been accused of not knowing would be the longest post on this website. But three recent cases in girls' ASA FP are typical: (1) When I upheld a dead ball appeal on a missed base, some "fans" were outraged—even though the miss was obvious—because I had upheld the appeal improperly: the "experts" knew that the defense had to return the ball to the pitcher, who then had to "call time" and throw to the base to appeal the baserunner's error; (2) I called a foul ball when F5 reached over the 3B line into foul territory to glove a chopper, but the fans could see clearly that "both [F5's] feet were obviously in fair territory"; and (3) A runner beat the throw to 1B but touched the white base. Play continued, and a run scored while the BR returned to 1B. After play ended, with the BR standing on 1B, the defensive coach appealed that the BR "touched the white base."

Maybe things are getting better, though. It's been years since I've been lectured by a knowledgeable fan that "the fielder has to hold the ball for three seconds. It's right in the rule book!"

More proof that
1) They never get their heads out of LL
2) They watch too much football and baseball TV doesn't help
3) Most only learn half a rule

4)With today's schools, they can't count to three.

1...2....
 

Well said, Cecil. I had a coach who told me a couple years ago that the (ASA SP) "strike zone" was from "the batter's FRONT shoulder to the BACK knee." Try visualizing that. I told him it was from the "BACK shoulder to the FRONT knee." He was certain HE was right. So, after the game, I broke out the rule book, looked up its' definition and let HIM read it. He was dumbfounded.

I may be mistaken, but that may be the old U-Trip rule. I haven't called U-Trip in well over a decade, but I seem to remember doing a double-take when reading their definition of the strike zone in the book.

Please clarify in posts like this that you are referring to slow pitch rules. :(

Nope...the old USSSA Slo-Pitch rule read "front knee to back shoulder." I was actually calling both USSSA and SP in those days.

:D :cool:

Quoting a guy talking about SP rules wasn't obvious enough? :)

I see you got my humor, or lack thereof! :)

As long as everyone reads the quote and reads it carefully enough to see the little "SP", ok. ;)

Just being sure no one thinks we USSSA Fast Pitch umpires are that confused, because USSSA Fast Pitch organizationally is quite different than U-trip SP. :)

I can remember a time when they were one and the same. My first USSSA UIC for this area was strictly a SP guy! (So was most of the state organization at that time!)

Way to represent Utrip fastpitch in our area Cecil.:)

And notice I use USSSA and not the slang and often derogatory u-trip. :p
See you on the 2nd.