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Real name:
Bruce MacLaren
Location:
North Bend, WA
Division:
Men's 55
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| Sept. 18, 2024 Bruce M | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Cold Softballs from coolers Agree. I'm trained to always examine the ball before it goes to the pitcher. If I feel it is too cold or has been altered, I will stop the clock. I will not entertain any discussion from any player or manager. I will not switch out that ball. I will call for a director to help examine the ball. Should we both concur that the ball has been altered, the game will be forfeited in favor of the defense. That's for an altered ball. If someone throws in something other than the approved SSUSA ball, I'll just give it back and ask for an approved softball. No penalty. |
| Sept. 18, 2024 Bruce M | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Player safety I'll opine here, not representing SSUSA. First off, I respectfully disagree with the premise of your question. In my experience, SSUSA does not draw a line between completing a game and player safety. Player safety is always the number one concern. Always. As an umpire, I have an influence on the directors if I strongly feel the situation is not playable (for any reason). I have never had a director force me to continue when I strongly felt it was unsafe. Yes, in certain situations there is some pressure to get games done, but not at the cost of safety. Yes, playing at twilight and then adapting to the lights coming on is not optimal for seniors. Playing in the elements is part of the game. There are many examples of how SSUSA demonstrates they do care a lot about player safety. Here are some: 1. controlling rosters. 2. bat testing. 3. runners must stay clear of the boxes and strike mat when running home. 4. safety base on 1st base. 5. rule allowing runners and defense to switch which bag they touch on first in certain situations. 5. confiscating bats suspected of being altered; ie someone on defense is seriously injured in the infield from a hit ball. Stiffining penalties for altered bats including holding the entire team responsible. While some of these are debated, they are no doubt attempts to protect the safety of the player and promote the fairness of the sport. |
| Aug. 26, 2024 Bruce M | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Timberworks Construction Doug - A true hall of famer! Thank you so much for what you have done for the softball community. Thank you for giving of your time and extremely valuable advice to me personally. You spent so much time with me explaining how you built and sustained the successful dynasty of Timberworks. I continue to evangelize your message. You made it so clear: "I don't care how good of a player you are. I don't care how much you think you can contribute. I care a great deal about your attitude and how you would fit into the team. I will not tolerate negativity. I will not tolerate negative criticism toward any player. You get one warning. After that, you are off the team...permanently. Every member of my team knows their contribution. The character of a team is not demonstrated through wins. It is demonstrated when the team loses." These are just some of the diamonds you shared with me. Doug, I've personally witnessed how true it is. I've seen teams collapse...not because of the talent....but because of their attitude toward each other....and their conduct on the field. I've talked to other championship teams...be it AA, AAA, major, or major plus....they all say similar things. At any level, you can find great players. However, if their work ethic or attitude stinks, they are ultimately not going to help a team with sustained success. |
| Aug. 14, 2024 Bruce M | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Batter Box Rule Again, SSUSA adopted the same rule as in USSSA. So, if you want to criticize the largest softball association in the world's rule, go for it. It is not unique to SSUSA. I am a hitter who drives off of my back foot. This causes a drag of the back foot as I stride into the ball. So, I adjusted. I now stand about six inches behind the front edge of the plate. The adjustment was easy. It also prevents any doubt of where my back foot is at the moment of striking the ball. The largest adjustment I have seen this year is for the "happy gilmore" hitters who like to travel in the box as they hit the ball. That "movement" by the batter usually triggers me as an umpire to take a look at where the feet are at ball strike. Those who plant and drive rarely catch my attention. Keep in mind, the umpire has a bad angle from behind the plate to see where the foot lands. So, it has to be really obvious (for me). I'm still seeing a lot more batters step clear out of the side of the box than in front of it. Yes, they are just as furious when I call them out. But, that isn't new. The sides of the box rule has not changed. Both feet must be in the sides of the box. The suggestion to do completely away with a batter's box brings its own advantages and challenges. It can lead to reduced batting skills. Instead of learning how to hit oppo properly, one can then stand at a 90-degree angle to the pitcher (way off the plate) and "pull" any ball, to the opposite field. Take a look at Ryan Harvey (USSSA star) or Bob O'brien (SSUSA star) hitting oppo. They can do so by staying completely within the box. Of course, there are many others...but those are two examples. |
| Aug. 12, 2024 Bruce M | Topic: Bats Discussion: failed bats Hi Curty - i agree safety should be the number one concern. I think there are likely various reasons why players continue to swing with them. Economics may be one. Senior bats can strain some folk's pocket books. Some players just love a particular bat and have a hard time letting it go. I'm sure there are other reasons. That doesn't mean one should continue to swing with a failed bat. I find that some folks don't understand the danger of swinging, for example, with a cracked bat. "It's only a small crack." they say. Yes, but on any given swing, that bat (which is typically made of composite materials) can shatter. I've seen the end cap sever from the bat during the swing and fly directly at a pitcher's head. I've also seen the composite shatter like a grenade, sending small particles in the air, which could potentially blind a person. |
| Aug. 8, 2024 Bruce M | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Catcher verbal obstruction 9.1 H and J speak to offensive interference. 8.4 10 describes the application. I'll even go further than the excellent info Dave provided. In my judgement, if the catcher is interfering verbally with the batter in the box by yelling, for example, "GREAT PITCH, THAT's A STRIKE" while the pitched ball is in the air, I will give the catcher a warning. By second attempt, I will deem it an obstruction. I'm often confronted with, "Am I not allowed to speak as the catcher?!" I say, sure....just don't obstruct the batter. Why? If the catcher wants to encourage the pitcher, the catcher can wait until the ball is batted or it lands. Otherwise, the idea of the catcher trying to throw off the batter is by definition, interference. |
| July 25, 2024 Bruce M | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Rule covering runner touching base Should have just said, "all collisions" |
| July 25, 2024 Bruce M | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Rule covering runner touching base This is an important rule...because of safety. SSUSA works hard to protect the defensive players from collisions which could result in serious injury. |
| July 25, 2024 Bruce M | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Rule covering runner touching base 4040Club - Good call out and important to get clarity. Rule 8.9(2) "Crossing or Touching Strike Mat or Batter's Box. The rule says, "touches or crosses over any portion of the strike mat or the batter's box.) It does not say, "near". That would be a good opportunity to ask the Umpire what he/she saw. If the umpire did not see the runner touch the batters box, I would call for a ruling from the director. I would then site that rule. If the umpire says he did see the runner touch or enter the batter's box, that is a judgement call not subject to appeal. Please keep in mind that touching any part of the batter's box (including the line of the box) would result in an out. The ball would remain live. |
| July 23, 2024 Bruce M | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: ILLEGAL PITCH I agree with mck71. I've officiated many pitches I called "Illegal." In many cases, the batter swung at the ball anyway. I've asked some if they heard me. Usually they say, "Yes!, but I loved that pitch!" I'm an opera singer. If I yelled "Illegal", the batter (and many of the players) would be very disturbed. Plus, some of the batters are hard of hearing. That is another challenge. So, I try to find the balance between informing the batter....and not disturbing their rhythm if they choose to swing anyway. |
| July 22, 2024 Bruce M | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Strike zone mat Totally agree with Dave. In Washington league play, we have mats that are plywood. They are wrapped in thin turf so they can't/won't splinter. I love them. They help. |
| July 22, 2024 Bruce M | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Rule Question My view of Rule 8.4:10A.4: (Runners are entitled to advance without liability to be put out): When a runner, while advancing or returning to a base, is obstructed by a fielder who neither has the ball nor is attempting to field a batted or thrown ball..... So, if in the judgement of the umpire, if the fielder is attempting to make a play on a thrown ball, there may not be an obstruction called. The batter-runner is not necessarily entitled to the running path. |
| July 22, 2024 Bruce M | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Pre-game warmup pitches Hi IcanRun - in addition to the advice from Senior Softball, please keep in mind the Umpire normally controls this. Most rec and all qualifiers have time limits. My goal is to see what I can do to keep the flow of the game going. I want both teams to be able to play as many innings as possible. If I allow excessive pitches, it just slows the game down. |
| July 22, 2024 Bruce M | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Rule covering runner touching base Hi Larry - in your scenario, if the runner on third base, who is forced to go home, fails to cross the scoring line, I would call a dead ball. I would call the third base runner out. The defense would remain on the field and play would continue. A walk is not subject to the "hit and sit" rule. All runners must proceed to their next available base. In the case of home plate, that place would be across the scoring line. (If the runner steps through the batter's box or touches home plate, they would be out as well.) |
| July 3, 2024 Bruce M | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Infield fly rule Hi Nvjimmymac - The answer is found in 1.41 of the rule book: When it becomes apparent that a batted ball will be an infield fly, the umpire shall immediately declare, "infield fly - batter is out", to aid the runners...Failure of the umpire to call "infield fly," does not negate the infield fly. If the error is discovered prior to the next pitch, the infield fly rule may still be called. |
| June 27, 2024 Bruce M | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Underhanded pitch Yes, Michael - I think I may know the pitcher of which you are speaking. I've officiated his pitching before. He a great guy and I've had no issues with him. I'll go with Donna's USA interpretation, which is safe...because she has a ton of expertise! He (and others) occasionally try to push the limit between what is underhand and what is side arm. When the barrier is breached, it usually manifests itself in a pitch with excessive speed. If it goes too far in my opinion, I call it an illegal pitch. If (and this usually doesn't happen) upon multiple warnings, the pitcher still wishes to argue, and thereby slows down the game, I'll caution them that upon the next discussion over the matter, I'll remove them from the mound. Same thing goes with the opposing manager. I'll have one discussion and explain it, but I also have to try to keep the flow of the game going. So, usually I'll try to have such discussions between innings (with managers) to avoid burning time on the clock. |
| May 16, 2024 Bruce M | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Am i wrong to think this way There is more than one way to alter a bat's performance. Shaving is one. Rolling a bat is another. Harmless? Good for folks who don't do BP? Wrong. It is still cheating. Rolling will break in a bat faster. It will also break it in evenly on all sides of the barrel. And....it is still cheating aka. rolled bats are altered bats = life-time ban/loss of TOC births....no Worlds. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGEsXK9GPOw There is a guy who makes money off of cheating. He doesn't call it cheating. He calls it, "Victory Through Innovation" You can put lip stick on a pig. It's still a pig. |
| March 4, 2024 Bruce M | Topic: Women's softball Discussion: Looking to play Senior Ball Hey Jody - perhaps these tips might help you: 1. Search this site for teams in your state or area that are at your level of ability. 2. Find out who the managers of those teams are. 3. Contact that managers and let them know your interest. 4. Don't "tell them" about your skills alone. Offer to work out with the team or to go out and hit with them" Anyone can say they are a great on offense and defense....the proof is in the pudding. A live work out is better than a video.. But a video of your hitting and fielding is better than just a phone conversation. 5. Ask the manager about his/her style of coaching. As them about the culture of the team. See if that is something that might be interesting for you. 6. Be flexible. If they don't have a spot on their roster, are they willing to look at you anyway? Are they willing to use you as a sub in a rec tournament? A great manager is not just looking for skills and talent. Just as important is whether or not you will fit into the culture of the team. Hope that helps you... |
| Jan. 8, 2024 Bruce M | Topic: Bats Discussion: Shaved Bats Hi Gary - Is it possible? Well, anything is possible. However, that is not the way composite bats are made today. Please view this, courtesy Dave Valasquez: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rt-z96nLXNs&t=4s It will give you an idea of how composite bats are made. I don't think the overall process has changed that much. I'm certainly not an expert, though. |
| Jan. 5, 2024 Bruce M | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Bell Park (Legacy Cares) gets new life As many know, Legacy Cares Park in Mesa Arizona filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy just 16 months after opening. "Mismanagement" was one of the causes claimed in the court filing. Blame was being tossed back and forth a lot. Looks like the park has now been sold. The new owner, AZ Athletic Associates LLC, a company founded by San Francisco-based private equity firm Burke Operating Partners LLC and Rocky Mountain Resources, closed its $25.8 million acquisition of the park on Dec. 14, 2023. With the transaction complete, the park has been renamed and rebranded as Arizona Athletic Grounds at Mesa Campus, or AAG. (Apparently, they wanted to keep the "Bell Park" name, but the bank no longer wanted its name associated with the failed enterprise). It would be interesting to know the root causes for the failure. I'm hoping other investors can learn from the mistakes that were made. Looks like a great park. I'm hoping to play there one day. It appears to have 2 Quads of Softball/Baseball including a stadium. The astroturf was intended to be state of the art. It's reported the park has reservations through 2030. I'm rooting for its success. |
