Mechanics

[Rita C]

Originally Posted by HugoTafurst

Which organizations instruct umpires to walk out to F1 after a pitching change, show the number of outs to the pitcher by holding up (a closed fist, 1 or 2 fingers) and then point to any bases that may be occupied?

Is that an advanced mechanic?

If nothing else, this annoys me because it is one more delay in the game.

Oy.

Rita

[HugoTafurst]

Originally Posted by Rita C

(snip)

Oy.

Rita

Nice Rita!! Just work on the accent a little and throw in the slight toss of the head when you say it.
I'll have my mom heat up some Matzoh Ball soup.

[RadioBlue]

I'm fortunate enough to have worked with the same partner in HS ball for 19 years. However, he's one that that is in the habit of doing this while I stopped doing it years ago.
This season he asked me why I don't let the pitchers know the situation. I told him, "The coach just spent a minute in the circle with the new pitcher. If he didn't tell her, why should I? Sounds like something a coach should take care of, doesn't it?"
Guess who doesn't do it anymore.

[Sapper33]

NCAA manual specifically says not to do this.

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by Sapper33

NCAA manual specifically says not to do this.

Don't get me wrong; the topic is an absolutely hokie mechanic that has no place even in the lowest town league rec ball. Makes the hair on my neck go up any time I see it.

[Rant]

BUT, the NCAA Manual is intended to describe how to call NCAA games, and is absolutely NOT the standard to be used in all levels of softball play. No disrespect intended to those that read it, know it, live it; when calling NCAA. It just isn't the be-all end-all for softball mechanics.

Example:

You will NEVER convince me that a base umpire shouldn't tell a 10U player stealing on the pitch with her head down and ready to "slide" that it is a foul ball to save her from the high percentage injury from the unnecessary slide. College coaches don't want umpires to tell THEIR players, FINE!! Doesn't make it bad in rec ball, lower ages and levels.

Example:

You need to give the count way more often in lower levels, even if NCAA manual tells you to do it less. Sometimes even after the first pitch.

Example:

You need to verbalize and signal foul balls in lower levels, even when the NCAA manual says don't when obvious. NOTHING is obvious to some.

Just sayin'. The fallback answer about NCAA manual mechanics doesn't always mean they are better mechanics, or even necessarily "higher level" mechanics. They are simply the proper mechanics for NCAA games.

[/RANT]

[Rita C]

Originally Posted by HugoTafurst

Nice Rita!! Just work on the accent a little and throw in the slight toss of the head when you say it.
I'll have my mom heat up some Matzoh Ball soup.

I was hoping you would catch that.

I've always thought it was a great word that expresses so much!

Like how my family says, "Poh!" I'll share it with you some time.

Rita