Overwatch wrote:Arguing balls and strikes is not an option...got it!
But, we had an umpire that was calling pitches (one foot off the plate) strikes. I questioned the umpire and he said HIS strike zone was "anything between the lines." We are talking 18U softball (tournament championship game), not 8U recreation softball.
If this umpire had said his perception was that the balls were crossing the plate, there's not much to be said. But, where in the ASA rule book (or any rule book) does it say the strike zone is "anything between the white lines" or that the umpire gets to make-up his own strike zone definition? In fact, isn't the ASA strike zone DEFINED as "the area over home plate from the batter's armpits to the top of the knees, when the batter assumes a natural batting stance?" His PERCEPTION may be off, but the DEFINITION never changes.
Doesn't his stated DEFINITION of the strike zone raise an appeal issue? He's not saying those pitches were strikes in his judgement. He's saying those pitches were strikes based on an incorrect strike zone. Let's say he said the strike zone was from the top of the batter's head to her shoelaces and two feet off the plate (even if it goes behind the batter). That's an incorrect DEFINITION of the strike zone...no? Wouldn't that be up for appeal?
An appeal is a defined term meaning something very different than what you are asking. Generally, you can get more consideration with proper terminology, while quickly dismissed when asking the wrong question. Simple answer you would get is, no, not an appeal, ever. So let's talk about a protest, instead.
So, you want to protest a misapplication of the rule. What can/will you accomplish? Most likely results; pick from:
1) UIC tells umpire "don't say that".
2) Umpire changes terminology to "in my judgment it hit the corner of the plate".
3) Umpire decides you showed him up so his zone with corners is there for their pitcher, your pitcher has to throw it on the white.
4) Your next comment is your ejection. If you got to stay that long; you may not survive before the UIC even arrives.
There is also an obvious disconnect somewhere; you say a foot off the plate, but he's calling anything within the lines? There is 6" from white of the plate to white of the batter's box, and exactly 2.18" of that is not a rule-book strike (but common everywhere not called SEC or PAC#). Which is it?
Don't get me wrong. If an umpire is actually calling strikes a foot off the plate, the best options you have are:
1) Get the UIC and ask him to look at what you are getting called. He should either a) attempt to correct the umpire between innings, b) not use him again, but there isn't any fixing it now, or c) tell you he sees nothing wrong with what is being called.
2) If there is no UIC, don't go back to that sanction again. If you get c) above and you can't live with it, don't go back to that sanction again. If a) or b) above, thank the UIC, thank the TD for getting a UIC that knows his job, and accept what you got for now. Umpire calls are as much a part of the game as bad coaching decisions and mental and physical errors by the players.