Question from WCWS

[topper]

Originally Posted by DNTXUM P

It always amazes me when umpires come on here who have never experienced calling at the speed this level of softball is happening and start to criticize others based on being able to watch video clips over and over again in slow motion.

Yes, I believe the umpire missed the interference, but he made a judgement call based on what was in front of him at the time and in the position he was at on the field. A judgement call, we all make them every day.

Instead of criticizing, and talking about how badly our fellow umpires missed calls when most of us have never seen plays develop at this speed, we should be using the information to figure out what we would do and what would be a better position to take so we can get a better look and possibly make a different judgement.

Thanks for letting me get this off my chest.

This isn't a fall tournament. If he/she isn't up to it, maybe he/she shouldn't be in a group that is, presumably, the top 64 NCAA officials in the country.

There were some pretty badly kicked calls this weekend that were potential game changers. The one or possibly two in the 8th inning of the Michigan v. Louisville winners game on Saturday being probably the most egregious. And that's just in the 12 games that were nationally televised.

TV can be very revealing. I noticed ESPN isn't using K Zone this year.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by topper

There were some pretty badly kicked calls this weekend that were potential game changers. The one or possibly two in the 8th inning of the Michigan v. Louisville winners game on Saturday being probably the most egregious. And that's just in the 12 games that were nationally televised.

The one at 3B really looked bad on TV. I think if he got one more step down before the call, he might have gotten a better look.

TV can be very revealing. I noticed ESPN isn't using K Zone this year.

Did they use it for the entire tournament or just the finals? I think while it is nice and helpful, at some point it can become annoying to the viewer if overused, which I think it is when available.

[RKBUmp]

As I recall they only used the K zone at the finals. From my understanding of how it works its a petty expensive system and requires numerous camers set up at specific angles in order to track the pitch, not to mention the crews to operate it. Just to many fields going on in to many locations to have it at all the regionals.

Does ASA provide their rule books in anything other than hard copy? Sure is nice to be able to search the book on the computer.

[topper]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

The one at 3B really looked bad on TV. I think if he got one more step down before the call, he might have gotten a better look..

He was way late and short. Not sure why either. Not much else to worry about except his responsibility at 3B.

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Did they use it for the entire tournament or just the finals? I think while it is nice and helpful, at some point it can become annoying to the viewer if overused, which I think it is when available.

You and RKB are right - it was just the WCWS. Don't see ESPN hyping it this year.