Leaving early and other calls

I just don't know why/how this wasn't called. This game actually was one of the most exciting games of the Super Regionals, but to have this call missed or not called really shocks me. It ended up not affecting the outcome but the potential tying run moved from 1st to 3rd on two pitches with only 1 out. Compounding the embarrassment, the ESPN crew doing the game (Pam Ward/Cheri Kempf) watched the replay multiple times, and never mentioned Gadbois leaving early.

I am not here to take a shot at the umpires who worked this game, but really looking to start an honest discussion about how/when/why you would call certain infractions? And why would you choose to enforce certain rules more/less than others? Calls like IP's, leaving early, OBS, INT, and other judgment calls that raise the hackles of coaches and fans alike are what separates the good officials from the top-rated ones in my opinion.

Let's hear from all parts of the spectrum: officials who are just beginning... all the way to those who have done more games than they can (or care to) remember.

Should have been called, have no idea why it wasnt. That is 2 full steps off the base before the pitch was released and the plate umpire is looking right at it. They cant help but see it in the background behind the pitcher.

It does show that even with more officials on the field, Not every correct call gets made.

If you watch enough games it appears that umpires have the discretion to enforce the rules of the game as they see fit. The enforcement of many rules, even when glaringly obvious is both arbitrary and capricious.

It's good to see it called, quite a few times actually. Opposite what i see in high school it's hardly ever called, games I've seen, they are not watching for it apparently,base umpire should be.

buckgeno said:

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I just don't know why/how this wasn't called. This game actually was one of the most exciting games of the Super Regionals, but to have this call missed or not called really shocks me. It ended up not affecting the outcome but the potential tying run moved from 1st to 3rd on two pitches with only 1 out. Compounding the embarrassment, the ESPN crew doing the game (Pam Ward/Cheri Kempf) watched the replay multiple times, and never mentioned Gadbois leaving early.



I am not here to take a shot at the umpires who worked this game, but really looking to start an honest discussion about how/when/why you would call certain infractions? And why would you choose to enforce certain rules more/less than others? Calls like IP's, leaving early, OBS, INT, and other judgment calls that raise the hackles of coaches and fans alike are what separates the good officials from the top-rated ones in my opinion.

Let's hear from all parts of the spectrum: officials who are just beginning... all the way to those who have done more games than they can (or care to) remember.

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If there was a blow up of the base ump, it looks like he's looking towards home? can't tell for sure

riseball said:

If you watch enough games it appears that umpires have the discretion to enforce the rules of the game as they see fit. The enforcement of many rules, even when glaringly obvious is both arbitrary and capricious.

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Now there is a voice of authority.

MTR said:

Now there is a voice of authority.

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Use all the sarcasm you want...Riseball is absolutely right. I've been in too many umpire "training" meetings where the group is told to "ignore the IP unless it's blatant"...so whose definition of "blatant" are we supposed to use? Is landing a foot outside the pitching lane "blatant" enough? How about replanting a foot in front of the pitching rubber? Is that "blatant" enough?

And how do these same umpires keep getting nationally televised games? The HP's total failure to see illegal pitches by the last Utah pitcher in game one against FSU (she was landing a FOOT outside the pitching lane with her "screwball") is an embarrassment - yet she keeps getting plum assignments (nationally and internationally).

And oh by the way - it was that Utah-FSU HP umpire that came to many ASA training sessions I attended and made the "don't call it unless it's blatant" statement referenced above. And I've forgotten how many "old timers" always bring up "she's not getting any benefit so I'm not calling it".

I am totally ready to try robots behind the plate.

I actually saw it called a couple times this weekend so that's better than most of the time, by in large the umps in general have been pretty good in the super regional but they are human and we all have super slow mo. Many coaches and teams have the philosophy of pushing the envelope until it gets called.

Not sure what is the most abused but we could start a list:

IP is a big one
Leaving early is close
OBS at the plate is terrible IMO leaving the runner the ability to slide by home and reach out with their arm does not satisfy the rule
INT or OBS on the base path never called w/o contact
Slappers out of the non existent batters box
Batters sticking their elbow pad out into the river or even the strike zone ( I am still waiting for the player with two strikes to stick her elbow out there and have the umpire ring her up on a called third strike)

These make a nice list...but I don't know what you do beside play the game the way it is called not by the book, which is sad but it's kind of like traveling in the NBA we all see it every game but we know it is simply never enforced.

P.S. One thing I will admit though is when these things do get called coaches will make the obligatory trip to talk to the umpire but never really put up much fuss and walk away knowing they got caught and not mad and upset it was a bad call.

DD caught is as well. She has been to Missouri's camps. Her response was-"game was on the line so she took a risk like she was told to do".