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Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA
I'm being overly picky on this one looking to take the discussion a little farther. I'm playing off the wording. Figured it was my turn.
RS#9.B "It is not an offensive conference when a teamp representative confers with a batter and/or runner(s) during a defensive charged conference as long as they are ready to play when the defense is ready, or when the pitcher is putting on a warm-up jacket"
Since the pitcher/catcher discussion is not a defensive charged conference why should the coach (and for this, I'm talking about a coach who has already used that inning's OC) be allowed to go talk to the batter.
Now, the argument will be, but they did not request a suspension of play. That is true. Question: When a batter steps toward the 3B coach after a pitch and she similarly just holds up a hand instead of being verbally specific, are you going to relax, maybe call time as a preventive measure?
If you do, do you consider that an offensive conference even though the team did not specifically request it?
Yes, I'm beating around the bush. Tom pointed out the definition of a charged conference. I pointed out that what the definition is and how it is applied by rule may not be the same thing. Then I moved to the exception. That is where I was trying to go with this. The definition, rule and exception mesh well in some areas and may cause a gap in others.
Does the rule need to be specifically applied for the exception to exist or do we slide over some of this because (as Steve has pointed out a few times already) there was no delay in the game.
Yeah, my long route has definitely convoluted the attempted point. Maybe I should just give up on this one and start again at a later date.  |
In order for a conference to be charged, one of two things has to occur. Either 1) Time is requested or 2) a delay in the game has occurred. Both for the purposes of delivering a message to another team member.
If the offense has not had a conference this inning and the 3rd base coach leaves the box to talk to the batter without requesting time, what are you going to do? I'll will call time and inform the coach he's had his one conference. Why? Because he delayed the game to communicate with the batter. That's part 2 of the definition.
In the OP, the defense has caused the delay, not the offense. The offense also did not request time. The defense did. So nothing the offense did fits the definition of a charged conference. You are correct that the catcher talking to the pitcher is not a defensive conference. However, the exception in RS 9.B is simply there to say that when the defense is having a charged conference the offensive coach or team representative can also communicate with his/her players without being charged a conference. The intent of this rule is to prevent unnecessary delays. As long as the offense is ready to resume play, I have no problem with allowing them to communicate. I believe the rules and the intent support me on this.