[IRISHMAFIA]

June 2007

Should Umpires Call “Time” to Rotate Back to Their Basic Starting Positions After End of Playing Action? The question has been asked, should umpires who have rotated to cover a playing action call “TIME” to rotate back to their basic starting positions or should they move back one at a time while the plate umpire waits and watches for a Look Back Rule violation? Many years ago the Look Back Rule was established to help speed-up the game by stopping the pitcher and the runner from “toying” with each other when the ball was being returned to the infield after it had been put in play. The rule was not established for the offense or defense to gain an advantage through “trick plays” or by “baiting” the other side into a violation. According to Rule 8, Section 7 T, the batter-runner and / or runner(s) must return to the base or advance to the next base once the ball is returned to the pitcher in the pitcher’s circle. Once the pitcher has possession of the ball in the eight-foot circle and the runner(s) have completed their base running responsibilities or all play has ceased, the play is over. Time can now be called. On the other hand, if umpires can rotate to their next starting position without calling “time” and still maintain at least one pair of eyes on any possible action in the infield because one umpire need not rotate or move very far, they should do so when it is obvious all play has ceased. Conversely, it is sometimes necessary for all umpires to turn their backs to the runner(s) on base at the same time in order to move after all play action has ceased and thereby keep the game moving at an acceptable pace. In this case, the umpire closest to home plate should call “time” and all umpires should then rotate simultaneously, versus one umpire watching the runner(s) while one umpire at a time moves to their next position. Additionally, according to Rule 10, Section 4 B and E, the umpire will call “time” to brush off the plate or to perform other duties – rotations – not involved with a play. This keeps the game moving and the players are not subjected to waiting on the umpires to get back to their positions in order to resume play. This simple technique can pick-up the tempo of a game and keep it moving. (Rule 8, Section 7 T; Rule 10, Section 4 B and E; Rules Supplement 34)