2013 CCA Umpire Manual

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by EsqUmp

Rather shamefully, there were some changes and virtually none of them made their way into the 2013 manual.

The base umpire no longer signals the closed fist on a caught third strike. Now, he only points to the ground on a dropped third strike. This was not updated in the manual.

The base umpire no longer echoes a play umpire's infield fly call. This was not updated in the manual.

An umpire who calls an infield fly no longer extends his index finger into the are, but rather uses a closed fist. This was not updated in the manual.

On checked swings, the plate umpire will always go to 1BU on right handed batters and 3BU on left handed batters, regardless of their starting positions or playing action. This was not updated in the manual.

With no runners on base, if 1BU chases, 3BU only moves to the calling position at 2nd base if a play is developing there. Otherwise, 3BU remains outside the diamond and would take BR into 3rd base staying outside rather than looking over his shoulder for the ball coming from right field.

With R1 on 1st base only, the starting distance for both 1BU and 3BU has been cut down from 6-12 feet to 6-10 feet.

Anytime 3BU starts on the line and is responsible for a runner (i.e., R2 starts on 2nd base or R3 starts on 3rd base), the starting distance has been cut down from 6-12 feet to 6-10 feet.

Maybe it's just me, but most of these changes are so petty, I just don't understand why someone felt they were necessary.

I mean, really, what the heck was wrong with signalling a caught third with a fist and an uncaught third with a finger point? Now the fist is no longer required because...?? Was it really that bad to give the fist signal? Now, the PU has to hope that no signal means a caught third, and NOT a brain cramp on the BU's part.

And what could possibly be the compelling reason to change from a max of 12 feet to a max of 10 feet when positioning on the line with a runner at their base? I just don't get it...