MTR wrote:jonriv wrote:But when was it ever called?? Most umps gave the hitter the benefit of the doubt(not that they always should have) It has long been a pet peave of mine(even in baseball) Now umps don't have to pretend they have any disgression. Right now, unless the batter is in the strike zone- an ump is not going to call anything but "take a base" and coaches are telling their players just that
It was called when it was obvious. But the issue is now different. Before the change, there was a requirement to attempt to avoid no matter where the ball was, even through the center of the box. IMO, it became harder to see the obvious as the talent in the game became diluted. All of a sudden, you had batter's @ 10U "freezing" and this became a mantra among coaches' arguments that permeated throughout softball and to the highest level as THE excuse for the player not attempting to avoid the pitch.
They take something that it is creeping up from 10U, let it flow into the college level. Then decide there are too many arguments over whether she was attempting to avoid or frozen up. Then ask for the removal of "must attempt to avoid" language to remove the arguments.
Add in that a lot of umps now think with the disappearance of the inside corner they have to give additional room for the pitcher on the outside of the plate. They have to be able to throw somewhere.
Now the game is placed from 4" to the inside middle of the plate, to 6" outside. The whole game is cantawampus.
Time for blue leadership to grow a pair, realize they made a mistake. If I were working the plate I would realize how management has made my life difficult and a a bit goofy.