Softball Observation

[sthomas13100]

First off, I only umpire HS baseball and don't know much about softball.  Watched Oklahoma State and OU this past weekend......

1st question:  Is it normal for the batter to step out of the batters box after every pitch and ask for time coming in?

2nd question:  Does every catcher pull pitches and hold them?  And do you say anything to them?

Serious questions

Edited May 24, 2021 by sthomas13100
misspelled

[SH0102]

Just now, sthomas13100 said:

First off, I only umpire HS baseball and don't know much about softball.  Watched Oklahoma State and OU this past weekend......

1st question:  Is it normal for the batter to step out of the batters box after every pitch and ask for time coming in?

2nd question:  Does every catcher pull pitchers and hold them?  And do you say anything to them?

Serious questions

I too don't know a ton about softball, but I will take a stab.

1)  Pace of play in softball is not an issue.  They have no lead offs, no pick offs, and usually no offense.  Games are over pretty quick, so the stepping out of the box may not be as much of an issue as it is in baseball.

2)  Did you mean pull "pitches"?  If so, have you watched baseball?  Good lord, watch an MLB game when they replay a pitch.  The catchers glove will go from entirely outside the K box to completely in the middle of it.

I would surmise framing is as rampant in softball as it is in baseball.

[sthomas13100]

Yes, i changed it to pull pitches

I know, it seems like we have coaches teaching catcher to pull pitches(baseball included), but holding it afterward would not be tolerated around my part of the woods.

[SH0102]

17 minutes ago, sthomas13100 said:

Yes, i changed it to pull pitches

I know, it seems like we have coaches teaching catcher to pull pitches(baseball included), but holding it afterward would not be tolerated around my part of the woods.

I am okay with sticking it and holding it until I make the call, but if I say "ball" and they still keep it there, yeah, the catcher and I will have a conversation.

[LRZ]

The fun part begins when a pre-teen catcher brings in a pitch 18 inches out of the zone and then holds it. "Yes, son, you certainly fooled me!"

[Senor Azul]

2020-2021 NCAA softball rules

11.2.2 The batter shall not leave her position within the batter’s box when the pitcher is in pitching position in contact with the pitcher’s plate unless permission is granted by the umpire.

EFFECT—The batter leaves the batter’s box at the risk of having a strike delivered, unless she requests and is granted a suspension of play from the plate umpire. If the plate umpire does not suspend play as requested by the batter and the pitcher legally delivers the pitch, it shall be called a ball or strike, depending upon the location of the pitch. The ball remains live.

11.2.4 Once the pitcher has taken (or appeared to take) a signal, both hands have touched in view of the plate umpire and the hands have separated, she must deliver the pitch, and the batter shall not leave her position in the batter’s box.

EFFECT—If the batter steps out of the box, holds up her hand or uses any other action as if requesting time and the pitcher legally delivers the ball, it shall be called a ball or strike, depending upon the location of the pitch. The ball remains live. If the pitcher stops or hesitates in her delivery as a result of the batter stepping out of the box, holding up her hand or using any other action as if requesting time, it shall not be an illegal pitch. Since both the pitcher and batter have violated the rule, “No pitch” shall be declared. If the umpire judges the batter’s action to be a deliberate attempt to create an illegal pitch, the ball is dead, “No pitch” is called, and all subsequent action on that pitch is canceled. A warning shall be issued to the batter and to the offending team. A repeat of this type of act by any member of the team warned shall result in the offender being ejected from the game. (Behavioral ejection; see Rule 13.2.1.)

[beerguy55]

20 hours ago, sthomas13100 said:

1st question:  Is it normal for the batter to step out of the batters box after every pitch and ask for time coming in?

 

No, but this would be entirely up to the umpire and what they do and do allow from a game management perspective.  By rule, the "one foot" mandate applies to softball just like baseball.  You may see it a bit more in softball with "running slappers" who end up out of the box whether they offer or not.  The putting the hand up is more a force of habit - pitchers move more quickly because they don't have to worry about leadoffs, so there's more of an awareness all around to let the batter get ready if they did come out of the box...as well, with those running slappers, many of them are right-handed batters...they run/slap left-handed until they get two strikes and then go to the other side of the plate...if the pitcher is on the rubber the batter can't cross the plate unless time is called...so it becomes a habit...even though in most cases the umpire isn't really granting "time"....with the pitcher on the plate, not much else can happen...if the runners leave the base they're out.

 

20 hours ago, sthomas13100 said:

2nd question:  Does every catcher pull pitches and hold them?  And do you say anything to them?

No more than you see in baseball.   My catchers rarely pulled when framing...they either stuck the pitch (even six inches off the plate)...or mildly turned the glove to show the ump the ball.

[The Man in Blue]

Not framing ... 🤬