Putting the ball in play

[KJUmp]

Originally Posted by Tru_in_Blu

But as a previous post asked, what if a runner steps off a base or the pitcher does something in that time between the foul ball and the batter being set in the box. If you've not signaled, can you call a violation. Or maybe worse, ignore one?

Ted

Which is why my preference is to indicate "play" with a signal&verbal. Nothing 'over the top' with the signal or verbal, just a crisp clear point that can be seen and a verbal that is heard by the batter and catcher.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

I have umpired H.S. (NFHS) baseball and fast pitch softball since 1993 and only started umpiring ASA and USSSA girls'fast pitch softball in 2007 because the last year I officiated AAU and YBOA boys' and girls' national basketball tournaments was 2005 and my summers were basketball oriented to the point that I didn't even umpire summer baseball until 2007. Mark, Jr., started umpiring H.S. (NFHS) baseball and ASA and USSSA girls'fast pitch softball in 2008, and started H.S. (NFHS) fast pitch softall this Spring. Therefore you could say we are baseball umpires traveling in a strange land with regard to fast pitch softball.

I guess it is the baseball umpire in us, but we put the ball into play after every dead ball no matter whether the game is baseball or fast pitch softball. As an engineer, I don't like to assume (even though as a structural engineer, I made a living making assumptions based upon educated guesses, ) anything. The first time you don't put the ball back into play is the time that all heck breaks loose because something unusual happens. Junior and I use KUmp's approach in putting the ball back into play.

That is my two cents. Our season in Ohio and Michigan starts Monday, and I hope the trend of the temperature getting warmer continues.

Go KU! Rock Chalk Jayhawk! Kaaaaayyyyy! Uuuuuu!

MTD, Sr.