edconner

Just curious, what was the pitching protest?

After reading all of this thread, I have a few points. First and foremost, this game is about the kids. Umpires get paid, coaches get paid, kids do not until college and beyond (yes a discounted education has a value). That leaves us with an interesting group of people remaining, the parents and fans, who actually PAY all of the above. Now this does not give them a free pass to be an idiot, but it does give them a degree of expectation. Umpires are NOT perfect and society has become more and more demanding. I expected the reaction that I have noticed in this tread from the MLB umpires when Reply was expanded, but have been pleasantly surprised that MOST have changed the call and appeared to be glad that they got it right. There is absolutely nothing wrong with making a mistake, kicking a call, we all make mistakes. What separates us is how we handle those mistakes. The strike zone has been the same for a long time, and many great umpires have enforced that zone correctly over that time. When a coach or an instructor teaches these children plate discipline, they utilize that strike zone. That means that the fans have a legitimate expectation for an umpire to enforce THAT strike zone. I personally don't agree with ever changing the zone, most run rules will prevent a long game. One thing that is often not considered is that the player who you expand the zone on is due the same opportunity as all other players, especially if he is a late game substitute who might not get as many ABs as the starters. I often hear that all we want is the same zone for both teams. The reason they have a picture of the zone in the rule book is for equality, all umpires should enforce that zone. It is really frustrating as a fan for an umpire to give 2 balls outside because that pitcher is going to a D1 school and has earned that outside pitch. An umpire should NEVER dictate the game in any way. Momentum is an absolute part of this game and an umpire can certainly control that part of any game. I have seen umpires who will signal with their hands when a borderline pitch is up, down, in or out. As a fan I appreciate that, as should a coach and a catcher and especially a batter (who can make an adjustment). A good pitcher getting 2 balls off the plate as a called strike will do what? Throw the next one 3 balls out. He is seeing what he can get away with. The best home plate umpire enforces the zone in the rule book from game one of the preseasons first pitch until the final pitch of the final game of the postseason, and he will hear less fan noise than any other umpire. I have also seen umpires who are workable by the fans, and they get what they deserve (worked by the fans all night). If you miss a 1-1 pitch and call a strike a ball, so its 2-1. You can NOT make it up on the next close pitch, which after a foul ball could be a 2-2 pitch that is actually ball three and you ring him up on a make up call. What you have done is armed the crowd and you absolutely deserve what you are fixing to get. I would have to agree that the overall quality of umpires has gone down in the last few years, and that blame most certainly belongs on the TSSAA. They have plenty of issues, but no motivation to fix those issues. If you have not seen the Limbaugh plan for the post season, you owe it to yourself to check it out. In fact go to other states and check it out. TSSAA should require ALL districts to use the same format for selecting their 2 teams for post season. Regionals should be 2 of 3 to advance, ok with one game for seeding into substate. Substate should be 2 of 3. State tournament should be 2 double elimination sides of 4 teams, followed by a 2 of 3 true championship. A little more work, a lot more money, a true team effort. I have never blasted an umpire after a game, believe me he usually knows when he leaves the field if he was not very good. I have a number of times told them good job when they deserve it. But only once have I ever felt an umpire was so good that I stopped him and told him that he was the best home plate umpire I had ever seen. It was a regional game at Cordova high school in Memphis in 2011 I think. He was not local, because I had never seen him before I have never seen him since. I think back then the TSSAA shipped umpires to other areas to prevent any favoritism. Not sure if they still do that, but it is a good idea. I also think they used to do a better job at selecting postseason umpires. I know their was a HUGE call at the Farragut/Tullahoma game last year at the state tournament. I was late arriving and heard about the play from a Siegal parent, who would have been impartial I would think. What I watched after I got there was a GREAT baseball game, it is a shamed that that had to be tarnished by a bad call. If a player swings and misses he gets a strike, if an umpire misses a call he gets yelled at. If the player doesn't want to strike out, don't miss the ball. If the umpire doesn't want to get yelled at don't miss the call. Bang Bang is gonna happen, see it, call it, own it. When the video shows you missed it, come clean like Jim Joyce, don't stick with it like Angel Hernandez. It speaks volumes which one you are. I don't go to games to yell at umpires, but I have and will. I don't go to games to criticize the players or the coaches, but I have and will. Its called being honest. Don't take it personal, grow from it. Don't ever make that mistake again. This game belongs to the FANS, especially at the MLB level, but at all levels. At the high school level we do it for the kids. Don't be jealous of the facilities that some high schools have, get out and work and you can have those facilities also. Those booster club members usually have a full time job also and they get paid a lot less than the umpires, usually 65.00 a game less from what I understand. Before you say it, I am smart enough to know that I am not good enough to umpire. Also not asking you to quit, unless you are really bad, just focus and do a good job. From ALL of us FANS, to ALL of you UMPIRES, "HAVE A GOOD GAME" the rest will take care of itself. GOOD LUCK to all teams who make the state tournament, HAVE FUN, its an experience that will last you a lifetime.

Sounds like we are on the same page, assuming the 4 team regional tournament will be double elimination. The 2 of 3 championship series will soon follow.

I do not really see what is preventing what SHOULD happen. Everyone, and I mean everyone, says that the TSSAA is all about the money. So why not go to an extra day. Extra parking, extra gate, extra concessions, all add up to extra $$$$. The current system is not horrible, but needs some adjustments. Final game (top vs. bottom) needs to be a series (win 2 of 3). I think so does sub-state and regional get in game (seed game can stay at one game) this adds a minimum of 3 games and a maximum of 6 to each teams play. Only 2 teams make it that far, other teams it adds less. It could require 0 added days minimum and 3 maximum, if those 3 game series were formatted as DH on regular day and if game next day. Yes it would require teams to have more pitching depth, but it would actually balance the field for everyone. There is a reason that the NCAA (which is where the best players in the state, on the best teams in the state, which is what should be in the state tournament, are trying to get to) plays series in each round of their playoffs. Sub state and regional sites have parents doing all of the work, no cost to TSSAA there. MTSU might cost more for that extra day, but it should be offset by the extra revenues. Just seems a little messed up to say district is double elimination, but regionals are single and sub state is single, but the state tournament is double, unless your in the finals, then it's single. With the sub state games, it is basically a 16 team state tournament ( if they were series, it's basically a 16 team double elimination tournament). Are some districts more balanced that others, of course, but every team in the state could and should be afforded 2 postseason loses before they are done. Under the current system as many as 16 teams could go home after only 1 postseason loss, yet a team could lose 4 times in the post season and still win the state title. As stated above, we have made changes over the years. I don't understand the concept of not having it both ways, why would we have to go back to 4 teams. MLB used to just have 2 teams in the playoffs, now they have 2 wild card teams from each league. If we think forward instead of backwards, we can make it better. I personally would love to see the tournament run Monday thru Friday with Saturday for the IF game and Sunday for rain day ( would also have room through the week for weather issues). I think you might just see the best 2 teams with all of their weapons in the championship series, would that be great or what.

Is it just me, or is the bottom half of this bracket loaded