The Ethics of Softball. Your Input.

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martianr

Softball DAD
Jan 26, 2014
177
18
Whiting, Iowa
This might be the wrong title, but I think you will get my point. I don't want to sound negative but I want others perspective on what is happening to Softball today. The trend in softball lately is, to me, becoming frustrating, disheartening, discouraging, fill in the blank
We are all familiar with the attention that illegal pitchers have gotten on the website. And they are illegal.

I was at HS SB tournament yesterday. The opposing pitcher replanted(crow hopped). I informed the FU and all he said was "I'll watch". You guessed it. Nothing got done. The FU is a NAIA Assistant SB coach.

Another game. The last game of the day we played, the opposing runners(and I mean all runners) when at first never touched the base. They piled dirt next to it(RF side) used it like starting block . We never complained because there was no way the FU would be able to see that. When the game was over we showed the ump this and he just shook his head and said, "where are the ethics." We agreed.

Another game I was at the pitcher never paused when she was the rubber. She received the signal when she was off the rubber and went right into her pitching motion and pitched the ball never pausing when she was on the rubber. I voiced my opinion to the PU. Nothing got done.

As fast as SB is, I was wondering if the colleges need to use video to watch pitchers or other infraction or have more umps on the field, OR if they are pitching illegal, have a review booth to inform the Umps. I feel if it does not stop at the top, nothing will get done. And young players will be paying the price. It seems like a coach will find the line in the sand and just cross it. Than cross it a little more until it is acceptable and the rules don't apply or not enforced.

This is something that has been on my mind for a awhile, and I thought I would throw this out there to see what others thought.
I would like others to give examples on ethics leaving the game.
 
Last edited:
Jul 16, 2013
4,659
113
Pennsylvania
Regardless of what the rules may be, there will be those that will test them and take liberties. Unless they are enforced, they will just become fuzzier and fuzzier. Personally, I really don't care what the rules are. Just make them, and stick to them. And if someone is in violation, discipline them.
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
Couple things ...

DD pitches according to rules, why do you think outside force will change That? Because they do not call it I should teach her to replant so DD and me are unethical? Because I teach her is that unethical?

They know what is going on, have all the replays you want not going to be called.

(Umpire yesterday went out before game and said something to Home's P while she was warming up on field, there was some discussion which I would have liked to hear. I need one of those listening cones. :) I would love to her what coach tells DD too.)
 
Last edited:
Apr 5, 2013
2,130
83
Back on the dirt...
Nothing gets to me like illegal pitching and upours that make excuses for not calling it. (I'm talking fuming mad)

Effing call the game by the rules or change the damn rules!!


I'm all for video replay in Fastpitch. Even if it doesn't start until the regional series. ESPN promoted that ever game was televised. Use it for replay!
 
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
Nothing gets to me like illegal pitching and upours that make excuses for not calling it. (I'm talking fuming mad)

Effing call the game by the rules or change the damn rules!!


I'm all for video replay in Fastpitch. Even if it doesn't start until the regional series. ESPN promoted that ever game was televised. Use it for replay!

If college programs know that instant replay including IP enforcement will be utilized at Regionals and beyond, the IP issue will go away very quickly. After the first season or even sooner it will spread to conference play as I am sure the SEC and others will jump in fairly quickly. This will take the onus off the cowardly umpires as instant replay becomes just another part of the game. With a concrete solution for IP enforcement all the enablers will have to cling to is the misguided notion that allowing pitchers to hop, skip, and jump due to poor mechanics somehow levels the playing field and provides added opportunities. Which well all know is a big honkin' truckload of crap.
 

obbay

Banned
Aug 21, 2008
2,199
0
Boston, MA
Good Question!
in the past year or so, it has become quite clear to me that "Truth" is an arbitrary term that applies to whatever any individual chooses to believe.
so if a pitcher is not getting called for IP then she is not pitching illegally. I do not believe this, but this is the reality we are experiencing. George Costanza's famous line " It's only a lie if you don't believe it" has never been more true than it is now.

I in no way mean this as political commentary-it is a paradigm shift in society.
 

Cannonball

Ex "Expert"
Feb 25, 2009
4,854
113
It isn't just softball. You can reference the coaches in baseball teaching runners to cut across the diamond and score two on squeeze plays, cutting baseballs to get movement, ... You can also reference coaches who mess with their rosters bringing in players who may or may not be who is represented on their rosters and of the appropriate age.
 

sluggers

Super Moderator
Staff member
May 26, 2008
7,132
113
Dallas, Texas
The SEC softball coaches did not want Barnhill called for IPs...so, they didn't complain about it. I have no idea why.

By the time the playoffs came around, everyone looked the other way.

The conference hires the umpires...and if the college coaches want rules to be ignored, they can get the rules ignored. If an ump calls too many IPs, then that ump will be effectively blackballed.
 
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
It is more than just IP''s. You either call the zone that Tim wants or you do not work games in Gainesville. Sometimes to be sure you will turn what everyone knows is clearly a foul ball into a home run. SEC umpires are as unbiased as any found in WWE.
 

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