ontheblack wrote:The OP was about Fall Ball - an extension of Rec ball in most cases. Those games are usually on the clock. All of my comments are in the context of umpiring a rec game, not a 7 inning ASA tournament game.
I get that many of you blues here are way above Rec ball. However, rec ball is actually for the kids, and being an ass when asked a question from a 10 yr old still very much learning the game is pathetic.
Rec, Fall, 10-U notwithstanding. No player should be allowed to carry on the way she did. However the batter was characterized with a distinct level of expertise as a slapper.
Whether the umpire in question used the right amount of bedside manner, is another issue. My momma always told me, "It's not what you say, but how you say it." Maybe the umpire was quoted verbatim, but as we well know the wonders of the message boards, interpretation/context is up for grabs.
Lines are not drawn by umpires. Batter can get set where ever she wants; the pitcher will be held up if B is not in box until B gets in box.
That being said, the one thing I do not recall seeing bantered about in this thread is the ability of PU to see it. Just a SWAG here, but OOB on slappers is probably only called about 10% of the time when a slapper was actually OOB. Reason: this is probably the most difficult call to make because PU must see the foot, out of the box AND ON THE GROUND at the time that the bat hit the ball.
If you are looking at the pitch, it is near-impossible to see the ground and vice-verse. Usually the only time I can call it is on a change up, where B is already OOB way before the pitch comes in.
It causes this poster to wonder how it was easy enough to see, especially if the lines were gone.