catching equipment

[Robmoz]

Originally Posted by UmpireErnie

Well..let me put it this way. After the catcher warming up the pitcher while not wearing a mask gets taken away to the hospital because she took a pitch in the face.. when you get called to a deposition for the lawsuit the parents file against the school, coach, league, umpire, and ball manufacturer and they ask you if you noticed the catcher taking pitches without equipment required by rule what are you going to say?

Obviously we are not focused that much on what happens off the field but if you see this happen, stop the game and require that the catcher wear the required equipment. Only takes a moment.

I get the point and will certainly take the moment IF i see it... but if I don't notice it, I certainly don't go looking for it either, behind the dugout, near the parking lot, or next to the porta-potee. In spite of what a previous poster says, that is not being underofficious (sp).

[Andy]

Originally Posted by Robmoz

I get the point and will certainly take the moment IF i see it... but if I don't notice it, I certainly don't go looking for it either, behind the dugout, near the parking lot, or next to the porta-potee. In spite of what a previous poster says, that is not being underofficious (sp).

This is where a BU needs to step up. Sometimes as a PU, the warm up area is behind or partially hidden by a dugout or the stands or...or...or...

From out in the field, the BU usually has a better view than the PU. If I notice a pitcher and catcher going out to warm up during the game, I will take a quick glance over there to make sure that the catcher is wearing the proper mask if necessary. If she is not, a quick word to the coach usually solves it. I don't make a big deal out of it or attempt to embarrass anybody, but I do make sure the rule is complied with.

Just to add...our area interpretation of "warming up" is if the pitcher is using her normal pitching motion, the mask needs to be on, even if the catcher is standing. If they are just tossing the ball back and forth using the overhand motion, the mask is not required. Anybody do anything different?

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by Andy

This is where a BU needs to step up. Sometimes as a PU, the warm up area is behind or partially hidden by a dugout or the stands or...or...or...

From out in the field, the BU usually has a better view than the PU. If I notice a pitcher and catcher going out to warm up during the game, I will take a quick glance over there to make sure that the catcher is wearing the proper mask if necessary. If she is not, a quick word to the coach usually solves it. I don't make a big deal out of it or attempt to embarrass anybody, but I do make sure the rule is complied with.

Just to add...our area interpretation of "warming up" is if the pitcher is using her normal pitching motion, the mask needs to be on, even if the catcher is standing. If they are just tossing the ball back and forth using the overhand motion, the mask is not required. Anybody do anything different?

Thank you for documenting what I think and do for this.

I will not propose the rule change I started with.