Spazsdad wrote:Come on M, You have to admit, that for whatever reason, from 10u all the way to NCAA ball, the pitching violations are probably the worst enforced of all the rules
You are missing my point
Whether you want to agree or not, applying the pitching rules over the years has pretty much been a no win situation for the umpires. Ever notice how the opponent's pitcher is alway illegal? The IP is much like the strike zone. Depending on the team's strong point, the umpire is EXPECTED to deal with the constant whining. Many coaches will admit that they know damn well the other team is okay, but are trying to "work" the umpire.
You know what? That is a load of shit. A coach's job is to coach the players, not jerk around the officials. About now is when someone says, "Well, it's your own fault that you take it". Really? And when the umpire stops taking it, s/he is "taking the game away from the girls" and all that other bullshit.
If I had my druthers, the rules would be adjusted and the pitchers allowed to do anything they want as long as the pitcher starts from a complete stop in contact with the plate. Obviously, there are additional parameters, but that is another thread.
And whether you choose to admit it or not, coaches not only teach players how to cheat, they also teach them when to cheat. I have seen it from 12U to NCAA. The biggest is the slide forward off the plate when the umpire moved to the B or C position where they cannot see the violation. The NCAA took care of a lot of that when they added a 3rd umpire to most games. However, it is still routine in JO and HS ball.
Unfortunately, the fan/parent/coach only knows what they see from their position and MOST have no perception of the umpire's assignments, priorities and mechanics.