[Dakota]

Personally, I don't buy any of the reasons stated for not allowing them, other than the somewhat irrational "'cause he said 'no.'"

Amongst everything else hanging from the chain link, they are not a clutter problem.

The objection that the umpire is the official time doesn't wash, either, since it is apparently based on the assumption that the umpire needs to have the authority to shave the time.

And, besides, the umpire can still keep his "official time" in his pocket and the timer on the fence is unofficial and for information only (like football officials keep the official time even though the scoreboard displays the time).

Of course, this is not an issue worth kicking against. If the UIC doesn't want them, don't use them.

I keep a countdown timer that beeps in my second ball bag. It will let me know when it expires, but it is only loud enough for me to hear, and perhaps the catcher, with all the noise at the typical ball game.