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| Dec. 18, 2009 green rocket | Topic: Product review Discussion: protection Maybe something along the lines of some of the equipment an umpire wears like the kind that fits under the shirt. It is a type of neopreme that isn't too hot during the summer months. Mobility is another issue. As far as shinguards, I have a pair of soccer style that not only protects the shin, it is padded around ankle areas and covers the leg when I wear my hi-top cleats. You can never have enough protection. Add shatterproof glasses or shades along with that mouthpiece...... |
| Dec. 18, 2009 green rocket | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: position Playing defense is just plain difficult. A heck of a lot depends on the field conditions. Some of those rock hard dirt infields gives the fielder one chance to get it right. I hate seeing bad hops in the infield (or OF). The fielder got his glove right where the ball should be and the....bam! Over the glove or much worse, hits the fielder. Outfield nowadays you need more than 4. With the fast pace of softball, you're constantly throwing to your cutoffs. It takes a toll on your arm. Some of you guys still got good reflexes, play tight on the bags, quick hands and a good hose. More power to you! |
| Dec. 16, 2009 green rocket | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Bat after the hit Looking from an umpire's standpoint again.... Overlooked but a big factor in the game is the bat after the hitter swings. Normally they drop it after the ball is struck. Some carry it a ways down the line, others flip it when they percieve a big hit or a failing out.... Then there is... a hitter/runner who carrys the bat down the line, sometimes all the way down to first? Safety rule for most sanctions could apply but some rule books have no mention of this. When I'm behind the plate I am always aware of where that bat winds up along with the play. If there's runners on and there is going to be a possible play at home, you bet one of the first things I do is kick the bat out of the way. Heck, I always get it out of play if I can. I've seen games lost because the ball hit the in-play bat on a play at the plate. Then again I've had my collarbone broken and upper femur cracked from bats released by the hitters over the years. Mix in a couple of rolled ankles. That stick is my real friend! I stand at an angle opposite side of the batter, about 4 o'clock with noon being the pitcher nowadays. I appreciate a heads up on deck batter who gets a wayward bat and stays out of the play in process. |
| Dec. 11, 2009 green rocket | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: BEST PITCH TO THROW mad dog, I will try not to diservice any teams. Will always try my best for the 6-12 that's allowed. It's your game and endevour not to take it away from you. You guys (ballplayers) are the engine, I'm just the transmission...... Sometimes its good to wear sunglasses so you guys can't see my eyes after one of those knuckle pitches (crossed). 8^) |
| Dec. 11, 2009 green rocket | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: BEST PITCH TO THROW Scrappy 6, you're a thinking man's catcher! ...and to think they sometimes put a weak link or a player with an injury back there. Not in your case! Back to umping: for me a pitcher that is consistanly high or low....I won't give him that borderline pitch because that is what I've been looking for, a constant high or low pitch. Now, if you mix it up and toss a low or high borderline pitch, chances are I'll give you the strike. ...and as I say to both teams before the game: swing the bat, we're not here to trot staton to station and I will never turn any game I officate into a walkfest. Probably the pitch out of the zone that most batters refuse to pass up on with two strikes is the inside pitch they want to turn on and drive. Also we got the instance where its an awful pitch that nobody should swing at in their right mind, yet the batter still strokes it for a nice hit. Defies logic but it happens! |
| Dec. 11, 2009 green rocket | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Prayers Everytime I'm out on that ballfield with the rest of you ballplayers, I am thankful that all of us can be out there in the first place. Life is so precious. Get well, Mr. Ernie. We're all pulling for you. |
| Dec. 11, 2009 green rocket | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: BEST PITCH TO THROW Sort of an open ended question but a good one. Coming from an umpire, I would say any pitcher who uses both ends of the strike zone, i.e. one who uses the high pitch and the low ones. A pitcher who pitches the same type of pitch over and over will sooner or later get hammered with the batter knowing whats coming next. Slow pitch, your at the mercy of the batter anyway. Now the other key is when to toss that certain pitch. Having two strikes on the batter and tossing a totally flat (and fast) pitch can fool the batter and the ump. The ump better be ready, cause if he misses calling it illegal the batter and team will be all over him for missing the call. If I were a pitcher, I'd do it. I don't blame them one bit. Some that toss that knuckle ball in a breeze gets some hellacious breaks on the lob ball at times. |
| Dec. 1, 2009 green rocket | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: ASA Pitching Arc 10' going to be some wicked line drives hit. In addition lot of ASA leagues are going to a 1 and 1 count. As long as you got a foul to work with, I guess its okay. Less pitch watching and more swinging. ASA always wants to fiddle with the rules. Remember the stealing rule a couple of years ago? Some leagues never used it and some got rid of it real quick afterwards. |
| Nov. 13, 2009 green rocket | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Why dont teams get to rate umpires ? Shane V, excellent points all the way around. I do pride myself as an umpire that hustles. Always. I try to maintain respect to all the ballplayers no matter what division I might be officating. As far as being friends to the ballplayers, that's for later on after the game. If I'm going to be around you guys in a non-officating capacity, I take off my uniform and hat so I don't look like an official anymore. With the strike zone, I tell everyone before the game, it's my strike zone: my six and my twelve. And keep it consistant! I love a pitcher who starts a game with a very high pitch. He's testing me right away to see if I call the ceiling and I love to establish it early on. Also that two strike pitch that he's trying to fool the batter and umpire at the same time. I'm ready for you! |
| Nov. 13, 2009 green rocket | Topic: Teams looking for players Discussion: So. Cal. Mens 50 Major Team Looking... softballer, hope you get over the surgery and back on the field! Take it easy! |
| Sept. 28, 2009 green rocket | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Balls in Manteca tourney this weekend Even Northgate Park was unacceptable in my book. You guys deserved better fields than that. Would love to give Einstein one of the balls used this weekend. It would have made him appreciate the Trump ball..... somewhat. |
| May 28, 2009 green rocket | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: RENO FORMAT Dave, you do a great job given the cirumstances you have to schedule teams under and be fair about it at the same time. Reno and Sparks however, needs to get their collective minds together to accomodate the Rock N' Reno better. This tournament has been going on for several years now close to the same dates each calander year. This tournament certainly generates some good revenue to both cities and counties. To have you guys bumped due to co-rec league play is really unacceptable. Also, they need to improve or replace Rancho San Rafael, probaby the worst place to place in Reno and certainly not worthy of a tournament this caliber. |
| May 21, 2009 green rocket | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Fastpitch bat legal in slowpitch???????? mad dog, more power to you if you and your boys can hit with that FP bat. I've never seen one used outside of the lower rec leagues and don't expect to see one used in any major senior events now or in the near future. They just don't have the action a composite bat has. You can't change science. |
| May 20, 2009 green rocket | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Fastpitch bat legal in slowpitch???????? mad dog is right....as long as there is an ASA stamp on it, it's legal. Now, why would anyone would want to use a fastpitch bat in slow pitch? Sure the bat is lighter but its performance is based on hitting a ball with velocity, not a pitch that is lobbed. In my 20 years of officiating, I've never seen a fastpitch bat used in slow pitch that did anything except 'ting' and a ball that goes nowhere. Believe me, you handcuffing yourself if you use this type of bat and most fielders that are heads up will move up on you because the power generated is minimal at best. |
| April 21, 2009 green rocket | Topic: Product review Discussion: Pitching Masks discussion Caveman, there's no shame in protecting one's face and life for that matter. Officating, I took a shot off the mask from a foul tip in fast pitch some years back. It was the very first pitch of the season with the girl's 14 and under. I was bleeding out of my nose and the coach said my eyes looked like one of those slot machines twirling around. I finished the game but my bell was rung big time. Later I found out I was concussed pretty good. I wish for Ruth and everybody else a speedy recovery from a serious and ongoing occurance in today's softball play. |
| April 21, 2009 green rocket | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: whyWhy is it all offense instead of defense Slo-pitch is a hitter's game. They don't bring the bat to the plate to walk. Most teams score in the 10-20 runs per game. Defense is all about not giving the other team any extra chances to put runs on the board. You make the outs when you get the oppertunity to record them. Many good hitting teams are pasting the ball right in the 5-6 hole, not putting the ball over the fence. Then you got those pesky inside out hitters going opposite field as soon as the defense shifts to their pull alleys. It's not all about errors either. More about fundamentals of hitting that cutoff man and knowing what your going to do before the play happens and not compounding a fielding error with a throwing error. The team that makes the least amount of mistakes usually wins the game. |
| April 9, 2009 green rocket | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Hobbies You guys wear me out as an umpire. Add to that lots of bike riding with my son and having an old 50's swiming pool in the backyard.... I'm a triathlete without knowing it! Camping and fishing I enjoy lots also. You guys have quite a varied interests outside of ballplaying! 2awesome, nice to see another Eagles fan out there! |
| April 9, 2009 green rocket | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: chng of pitching height due to weather/wind Hi Softballer! As an umpire, what we don't want is a walkfest, and I know the ballplayers don't want that either. If the pitcher(s) is struggling and the wind make it impossible to toss strikes with a high arc, we bring it down. Swing the bat! ....and consistancy is what everybody is looking for. |
| March 6, 2009 green rocket | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: IN-DEPTH TEAM RATING REVIEW ANNOUNCED review Mr. einstein, I do hear you! It's the squeaky wheel thats the one that gets greased. Reminds me of the ASA a couple of years back when they instituted the stolen base in slow pitch. Needless to say they had to retract the rule fairly early in the year when so many players complained about it. Some recreation districts didn't even allow it league play. It is still early in the year, so as touraments are played and feedback is generated more players will vocal about it. Ballplayers are the engines to any association and they are the ones who eventually drive the vehicle. They can also choose to drive any vehicle that is offered to them. As an umpire, I will try my best to not have the DBO become a great factor in any game I officiate. I just pray that nobody gets hurt before this rule is eventually changed, along with the HR rule. |
| Sept. 12, 2008 green rocket | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Out at the plate Joe, the real bottom line is you are being denied a chance to play the game you love so dearly, one more time before the fall/winter comes around. Being an umpire, this is one call I'm glad I do not have to, or would wish to make. You are a fun guy and a class act. |
