UmpSteve wrote:Realistically, I think it's foolish/short-sighted to suggest that college umpires don't call illegal pitches because they may not recognize them or understand the rules sufficiently. For the vast majority at that level, that simply isn't true. In rec ball, sure; somewhat even in travel ball. But college umpires know.
So why aren't all perceived illegal pitches called? It's pretty simple; very few umpires are so overwhelming perceived as being at the top of the game that they would survive the $hit-storm that follows. College coaches do not want all illegal pitches called; I honestly don't believe those of you that posted here that you want all illegal pitches called. Every one of you really only want illegal pitches called on the OTHER team's pitcher. It's "let the girls play!!" when it's on your team, or the one you follow.
When Arizona pitcher was leaping, Candrea only complained that it was called; never once said it wasn't, never once accepted blame for his staff not getting fixed, Same story when Florida pitcher was called; Walton blames umpires for calling it. Same thing when it was USF with Team USA coach (chairman of the NCAA Rules Committe) and his Team USA pitcher, Didn't Washington coach Tarr recently get ejected for arguing/complaining about illegal pitch calls??
They complain when it's called, but their complaint is it isn't always called despite them knowing what their pitcher is doing. They complain it slows the game down. They complain that TV games look bad when the illegal pitches are called. They come out and argue what is absolutely black and white when it is called. They don't want it called on THEIR PITCHER, and the umpires know that, in most cases, the umpire coordinators that schedule them will stop scheduling them when enough high profile coaches complain about them.
We aren't assigned by the NCAA. Did you know that? We are assigned by conference coordinators, hired/selected by the conferences, not elected or selected or even responsive to the umpires that they choose to assign. In effect, they work for the conference, and the conference staff works for and answers to the schools and the coaches. If someone not feeling particularly supported by that coordinator, or is marginally on that staff, they aren't going to make waves and have the coaches complain about them.
Does the NCAA really think they should all be called? Then they should make it illegal to argue about illegal pitch calls, just like balks cannot be discussed in baseball, and ball/strike judgment cannot be argued in either baseball or softball. And they should publicly support the calling of illegal pitches; they did once several years ago, for a few weeks, and then stepped back and used words like "consider all pitches legal until they are overwhelmingly and absolutely illegal" because umpires did actually start calling all the illegal pitches (and the coaches complained, so they backed off).
And yes, I agree with PDad that, at least at lower levels, more umpires would call illegal pitches if the only penalty/consequence was a ball, not both a ball and base awards. And if they were called at younger ages, then pitchers would learn how to pitch legally. Instead of whining if it is a good rule, it would just be fixed and not an issue.
Just wanted to add one more point. Does anyone think it is ironic or strange that illegal pitches are called more notably during NCAA Regional, Super Regional, and WCWS games?? And why the coaches get so much more upset at that point??
Yes, it's a bigger stage; yes, each game means a great deal. But, here's my point; those games are when the umpires DO work directly for the NCAA, not their conference. So the coaches lose their main weapon, the sword they wield, that they can pressure their coordinator to keep that umpire from working their games. It's easier to do what you know is right when 1) the incessant and repetitive replays will show your call was accurate and based on the rule, so the offending coach can't claim you were wrong to make the call (even if Michelle Smith keeps botching the rule and claims it gains no advantage, anyway), and 2) the coach can't keep you from working future games for doing the right thing instead of having to think up reasons not to make the call.
So that's when the coaches use that stage to berate the calls they didn't want made earlier. I liken that argument to telling the judge he can't rule you guilty for speeding because you drive that speed every day and haven't gotten a ticket every day.