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A. Following the plate conference, the home coach, following normal procedures, settled in on his bucket in foul territory to call the pitches. PU approached the coach and politely required that the coach and his bucket move just inside the dugout at the open doorway. He met the protests from the coach implacably, and moved over to the visitor's coach and (presumably) had the same conversation. I felt that PU was OOO, but admired his demeanor and control of the situation.
Soon the coach had edged the bucket partially out of the dugout. Following a foul ball, PU pointed the ball into play, and as the pitcher began his stride to the plate, PU called time. There was a chorus of "that's too late", while PU came up the base line to tell the coach to get back inside the dugout. This was very effective--the home coach didn't stray out of the dugout while on defense. The visiting coach didn't learn by example; his pitcher got the same treatment.
So PU wanted the coaches to behave in a particular way that is contrary to normal practice, and he got full compliance in less than 1 inning.
But would you use this tactic?
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The aforementioned IMO is simple. Since this is a Tournament, simply ask the TD what is accepted practice and then enforce.
Quote:
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B. PU would delay for about 1 second before verbally or orally signaling a called strike. He made no signal on balls. Soon a batter with a 3-2 count left promptly for first base on a borderline pitch, and PU rang him up.
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The aforementioned does not make any sense to me. I do not consider waiting
one second to call the pitch to be a
DELAY tactic on the part of the PU. That's what we are supposed to do. During training we are instructed not to call the pitch too quickly. Waiting a second or 2 or what's more commonly referred to in the umpire profession "a beat or 2" is perfectly acceptable.
Therefore, how is the batter
"leaving promptly for first base" if he doesn't give the PU a second or 2 to call the pitch to begin with. To me "that is showing up the umpire".
Pete Booth