Complaining about SP

[ronald]

I had forgotton that they had put rules in to speed up the game. I did not do any girls last year in Houston Area. Called games in N Va in late summer. Most games were 1:30 time limit here.

Do you remember the girls that used to step out after each pitch and take 2 or 3 practice swings? Thought we had the yankee batters at times in our games.

[bluezebra]

"I will not call the black and will cover it up if possible when I do a game."

I always did the opposite. And that's for fast pitch, slo pitch, and baseball. I made a show of cleaning the black at the top and bottom of the first inning. That showed the catchers and pitchers I was giving it to them. If they didn't pick up on that, that was their problem.

I guess that you enjoy working three hour games.

Bob

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally posted by Elaine "Lady Blue"
In reference to Mike, I did call a lot of strikes in SP, especially Men's, and I did remain upright until the pitch reached the top of the arc, went to my plate set position, made the verbal call, and came upright. I still say that Men's SP has a bunch of guys that 'wait on THEIR pitch' and continue to have 3-2 counts and then walk! The only time that this doesn't happen is in the upper levels of Men's SP. It ALWAYS happens in league, church, etc.

Elaine

Let them wait. They'll be waiting on the bench for their next at bat

And, of course, you know I was referring to umpires who stand erect through the pitch.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally posted by ronald
Mike,

I'm confused. You say Asa clinicians say it is part of the plate but the rule book says it is 17" and with black it is more than that. In addition, then you cite the clinicians guide and it says in parenthesis to empasize that black is not part of the plate but then it goes on to instruct umps to assume if it passed the black part that it passed the white part. Why assume that? It is possible that it didn't.

The clinic guide says it is not part of the plate, but is to be considered part of the plate for the purpose of the rules.

I will not call the black and will cover it up if possible when I do a game.

I am glad when I go onto a field and the black is not showing. If during a game some of it becomes exposed. I brush dirt over it when I clean the plate so it is not.

I find this as counter productive. If it's there and the sanctioning body instructs you to use it, you should use it.

The black rim should be buried or ASA should rewrite its rule so it takes that extra measurement into account. There's no point to say the plate is 17" and then say oh well lets add the black to it which then makes the specification obsolete. What happens to a manager who protests an ump. What is the ump going to base his decision on? How can you interpret 17 inches to mean 17 3/4 or whatever it is?
I understand that not all grounds crews maintain fields as well as others and so you might have to be flexible in how you call it but I will go to my grave saying black is not part of 17". That is one I can read and it does not seem to be one that allows for middling on its interpretation. It's either 17 inches or not.

A. ASA does not do field maintenance.
B. The point of considering it part of the plate is because it is easier, and obvious to all, to determine if the ball touched any part of the plate or just the black. Any umpire whose sight is good enough to reliably do so should be working for NASA so they can retire the Hubble.
C. Home plates are not manufactured to a standard. Some are beveled more acutely than others which means the width of the safety rim can vary. I've seen plates which include a white beveled portion within the 17" and I've seen plates with safety rims which are wider than an inch on each side.
D. Any UIC who has done their homework will disallow the protest.

These bases are not manufactured equally, there is no standard installation, so how would you expect anyone to produce a specific rule to encompass all? Though sometimes shown on other issues, ASA is not that arrogant or stupid enough to think they can dictate such standards involving a non-safety issue to the manufacturers and complex owners. You want a reason a sanctioning body loses participants, that would be a method to quick extinction.

You need to recognize the difference between a piece of equipment (tangible) and the interpretation of a rule (intangible).

I can see the epitaph now, "He wouldn't call the black"

Besides, isn't "Middling" down the road a piece?

[Elaine "Lady Blue"]

I'm with Mike, if it crosses black or hits black, it crosses and hits white. Merle and all of his staff have gone over this time and time again in all the clinics and schools that I attended. Cover up the black? Naw, you're just calling attention to it and could cause yourself some trouble.
Just like the Kellerumps say "don't go looking for trouble, plenty of it finds us". No offense, but talking black part of the plate is like beating a dead horse.

[ronald]

Mike,

thanks for the information and interpretaton insight you provided. I'll have to reassess my thinking and c make changes where needed. However, I prefer the black to be buried.

My wife has already beat you to the epitaph "ser o estar lo mato"

By the way, there are two people who can see whether it hit the black and white or just the black and they don't work for NASA.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally posted by ronald
Mike,

thanks for the information and interpretaton insight you provided. I'll have to reassess my thinking and c make changes where needed. However, I prefer the black to be buried.

My wife has already beat you to the epitaph "ser o estar lo mato"

By the way, there are two people who can see whether it hit the black and white or just the black and they don't work for NASA.

Are you working for DCASA?

[ronald]

Mike,

I have not figured that out yet. In some aspect, I will end up working for them or GWASA since they are closer to my home than Northern Va.

I've been in contact with Kerry Joseph and I understand that there are two associations for the DC wide area: The DC and the GWASA. I have to figure out which one does more games in my area and go with them and try to become an associate with the others. In Texas, many associations allowed another ump to join their association for a $10 fee. I have not seen or heard about that here though.

Are you with DC or does the D in DASA stand for Delaware?

[Steve M]

Mike,
That reference in Sonny's school about the Delaware strikes must have been in Bernie's group - he had all the SP guys. I was in Bob's group with the FP guys.

As to length of games, I rarely see men's game done in less than 60 minutes - but almost just as rarely in over 90 minutes. I had a college game last year that took just over 40 minutes. Most of the better high school games are over in 70-75 minutes.

Steve M

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally posted by ronald
Mike,

I have not figured that out yet. In some aspect, I will end up working for them or GWASA since they are closer to my home than Northern Va.

I've been in contact with Kerry Joseph and I understand that there are two associations for the DC wide area: The DC and the GWASA. I have to figure out which one does more games in my area and go with them and try to become an associate with the others. In Texas, many associations allowed another ump to join their association for a $10 fee. I have not seen or heard about that here though.

Are you with DC or does the D in DASA stand for Delaware?

I'm in Delaware, but I am familiar with the folks in your area. There are a lot of good umpires in the DC area with some guys who can really offer a good clinic.

[whiskers_ump]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by ronald




"I've been in contact with Kerry Joseph."

ronald,

Tell Kerry, Glen said hello. Have worked three Nationals
with him. He came in from DC/Maryland year before last to
work the Nationals that were in Beaumont, Texas. Really
a good umpire and great guy. He got me to wearing the Bolle'
Vigilante sunglasses. Never call without them now.


glen

[Elaine "Lady Blue"]

I wish I could have been in the FP clinic just to see Bob Savoie. He was my UIC at 4 Nationals, I just love the guy!

[ronald]

Whiskers,

Will do. Rarely worn sun glasses while umpire and for that matter at any time.

Hope you had fun in the cold.

[Skahtboi]

Originally posted by IRISHMAFIA
Besides, isn't "Middling" down the road a piece?

I guess this speaks to my southern upbringing, but I always thought "middling" was a state of being.

Mike: "So Scott, how are you?"

Me: "Fair to middlin', Mike. You?"

Scott