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Online now: 0 members ; 10 anonymousDiscussion: ILLEGAL PITCH
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| July 8 Double Dee 30 posts | ILLEGAL PITCH Question. When a pitcher throws a pitch deemed "illegal" (too high or too flat) is there any responsibility from the umpire to call the pitch illegal, loudly, while the pitch is still in the air? Some umpires loudly tell you it's illegal before you start your swing (extremely helpful on a border line height) and other's don't, or just hold their arm to the side which the batter can't see. I ask because I was watching a game recently and the batter had 1 strike and the next pitch was illegal, but the ump didn't make a sound. Batter swung and missed, then told the umpire "you have to be louder and faster with that call". The umpire said he wasn't required to say anything. I respect the umps, as I would never umpire a game myself. Thoughts please? |
| July 8 GMCinCOS 11 posts | ILLEGAL PITCH According to the rulebook: 6.14. Illegal pitch. The umpire should call an illegal pitch when the ball is at its highest point less than 6' or over 12' above the playing surface. |
| July 8 Double Dee 30 posts | ILLEGAL PITCH Let's add "Loudly" to that rule! :) |
| July 9 johnnyQ 1 posts | ILLEGAL PITCH I always pointed at the ball at the point it was illegal and said "ILLEGAL" loud enough the batter and catcher would hear. Then after make my hand signal for all the players to see. |
| July 10 stick8 1997 posts | ILLEGAL PITCH Left arm out. Yell out “illegal” while pitch is in tne air. If the batter swings at it then it’s game on. |
| July 10 JohnO28 Men's 50 154 posts | ILLEGAL PITCH What association were you watching? NSA for example rules state the Ump doesn't have to notify the batter it's an illegal pitch verbally. He just has to raise his arm. I've argued for years that the rule is the spirit of the rule is to help the batter and he's the only player on the field that doesn't know it was called illegal if the ump just holds their hand up. |
| July 12 mck71 Men's 60 352 posts | ILLEGAL PITCH I am a very loud umpire and noticed when I "yelled" illegal or flat, I would startle the batter (flat comes out faster on those low hot ones some guys try and get away with, me included! lol) Now I do what JohnnyQ stated, arm out so pitcher and everyone else knows but say illegal or flat so only the batter and catcher will hear, seems to be a better solution for when I am calling games and if an umpire does it that way when I am playing, I very much appreciate that as well. Agree with JohnO28, just an arm out or up does nothing to help the batter unless guy on deck or baserunner is watching and letting batter know. |
| July 16 garyheifner 653 posts | ILLEGAL PITCH I have experienced umps who have choked on yelling out Illegal. Wish the rule would be simply say call high or flat. |
| July 16 Nancy Allen Men's 55 1440 posts | ILLEGAL PITCH Oh, this is always a fun one. First if a player got in my face like you described, the results may be unpredictable. I have a friend that is a great umpire but hooks them if use the word You because said that they just got personal. Me, I would be having a nice little talk and hope that they listened and did not try to escalate further. Yes, we should call illegal on the pitch at its highest point. Now that is much easier for a high pitch than a low one which comes in pretty fast. I am pretty vocal on my calls but have been yelled at because am loud by the batter because were committed to hitting it and felt messed them up...can't win. It just means Swing at your own risk. The other issue in senior tournaments is that the calling of an illegal height comes from USA Softball (formerly ASA). So those umpires are used to it. Anymore there are so many other softball associations, and none of them do that. So this will always be an issue when go to various locations with umpires that do not do seniors regularly. I have been doing it for years and am to enforce rules, not judge, omit, etc, but my personal opinion (only) is that umpires need less things to get them in trouble and not more. Yes, the umpire's response was wrong if this was a SSUSA tournament which am assuming was since posted here. |
| July 16 yankeesfan12 42 posts | ILLEGAL PITCH 90% of the umpires I've had over the years are verbal with "BALL, FLAT, STRIKE, or BALL" and call "ILLEGAL" with a verbal 25 to 50% of the time or they put the right arm out parallel to the ground and then we relied on the on deck batter to help you out. Not a big deal!!!! I never played in a double hitter league or any league to just walk. LOL LOL Championship games are another story weather there in town or out of town. |
| July 17 B.J. 1126 posts | ILLEGAL PITCH an illegal pitch should be called loud enough for the batter and catcher to hear.. also the LEFT arm should be raised to the side about chest high |
| July 17 JohnO28 Men's 50 154 posts | ILLEGAL PITCH Yankeesfan12, There is no chance that relying on the on deck batter is a viable option. Half the time the umps are so late calling it by time the gesture its an illegal pitch and the on deck batter relays it that ball is already past you. |
| July 18 B.J. 1126 posts | ILLEGAL PITCH yankeefan.. 2 things.. if the batter has 2 strikes on him and the on deck batter calls out illegal and you don't swing but the HP umpire does not judge the pitch to be illegal and it hits the strike mat.. have a nice walk back to your dugout.. 2) the right arm of an umpire should only be raised for strikes calls, out calls, foul balls and for safe calls and never for telling a player he is #1 .. lol |
| July 18 B.J. 1126 posts | ILLEGAL PITCH oooops for got time out calls |
| July 18 Webbie25 Men's 70 2417 posts | ILLEGAL PITCH I am a veteran and suffer from the high frequency hearing loss of a lot of veterans have but the effect affects my entire hearing. I do not hear umpires call illegal a lot of times. It's just a fact of life I live with. But I compensate by swinging at any close pitch with two strikes. It sure beats taking that third strike. |
| July 18 yankeesfan12 42 posts | ILLEGAL PITCH BJ....On deck batter only says or yells illegal" IF" the umpire puts out his arm but is not verbal with the illegal call. It docent take a rocket scientist to figure that out. |
| July 18 yankeesfan12 42 posts | ILLEGAL PITCH BJ.... Are you one of those old seniors that carries a rule book in your back pocket?? |
| July 19 B.J. 1126 posts | ILLEGAL PITCH yankeefan.. part of your last post is correct (old senior)and I hope to be able to keep saying that for many more years .. and no need for the rule book I've been umpiring and giving umpire clinics for the biggest senior softball program in the country for senior softball over 20 yrs. .. my next clinic is in late Aug. hope you can make it |
| July 19 DaveDowell Men's 70 4432 posts | ILLEGAL PITCH yankeesfan12 ... B.J. is a very modest professional who avoids self-promotion ... He's pretty high up the food-chain in The Villages U.I.C. hierarchy, is a frequent knowledgeable off-the-record source for me on complex issues and, maybe equally important, pokes fun at me hilariously from time to time! ... B.J. is one of the "good guys", but don't tell him I said so ... |
| July 19 B.J. 1126 posts | ILLEGAL PITCH DD.. THX.. BUT it's a little early in the morning especially for you on the west coast to be drinking.. lol |
| July 19 DaveDowell Men's 70 4432 posts | ILLEGAL PITCH I'm up early to time-zone adjust for tomorrow's dreaded 5:50 AM first-flight-of-the-day start to head East for the Eastern National's next week in Loudoun County ... |
| July 19 stick8 1997 posts | ILLEGAL PITCH JohnO28, I’m referring to ssusa. If the pitch is above or below the arc limit umpire puts left arm out and yells out “illegal”. In fact, those that know can correct me but I’m pretty certain that’s across all associations of senior softball. |
| July 22 Flava 21 Men's 50 7 posts | ILLEGAL PITCH We had an umpire and it's on FB live call illegal if he deemed the pitch was too high after it hit the mat and a ball if it didn't. I questioned him and he threaten to throw me out. Oh it get's better or worst depending on how you see it. This dude called the final out of the game at third base a force out because the runner didn't slide. All the defender did is catch the ball at third at almost the same time the runner arrived with his back to the runner and the glove made absolutely within clear vision no contact. We have to do better for $700 and $800 tournaments. Shelbyville struggled. Word on the street they were getting 3 sec pump fakes in Columbus so I would have really lost it. |
| July 23 Bruce M Men's 55 140 posts | 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. |
