Taking signs off the plate

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by AtlUmpSteve

It's simple enough; LL doesn't write softball rules, or even consider the intent behind softball rules. They write baseball rules, and half-a$$ adapt them for softball; and we know baseball requires signals from the rubber (yeah, baseball has a rubber, not a pitcher's plate).

As to softball, we know why ASA doesn't simplify the rule; too many old-time traditionalists that truly believe verbiage in the rulebook came down from Mt. Sinai with those stone tablets. And if another association changes their rule first, well, that's even LESS likely to get ASA to change, because these same old-timers want to believe that ASA is still the leader, and never a follower.

So, we will continue to have baseball umpires working softball that think it is like baseball, or simply baseball for girls; and a rule not as simple as it could be to make everyone understand it.

Oh, and why is it an issue?? Because the same group of umpires that insists the pitcher must take the sign while on the pitcher's plate also will call a "balk" if pitcher's do anything (like drop the ball) BEFORE bringing the hands together; so the coaches TEACH taking the signal off the plate to avoid that. The new numbering system signals makes it even worse.

And here I was trying to stay away from disparaging the LL. And I agree that there are too many "traditionalists" with a vote in ASA. However, most of these folks have no idea, nor care what the traditional rules actually were before they became a tradition