[greymule]

There seems to be an unwritten rule that once the ball is back in the infield and no runners are doing anything, the umpire should grant time when asked for it. In that case, I have usually called time. But why should we routinely protect the fielder from a bad throw after play has stopped? With a runner on 3B, do we allow the catcher to ask for time after every pitch to protect himself from a bad throw back to the mound? I think this year I'm going to start asking "why?"

Interesting that in fast-pitch softball, we definitely DO NOT grant that automatic time, as the ball in the pitcher's possession in the 16-foot circle has special significance, and runners often try to advance on a throw to the pitcher.