Taking signs off the Rubber

[Carl Childress]

Originally posted by orioles35
The intent of the rule about taking signs off the rubber is to prevent a pitcher from doing so, quickly stepping on the rubber, coming set and throwing a pitch. Doing so does not allow any runners from being able to get their leads. It is NOT a balk. Rule book says to warn the pitcher, then if he continues to do so, eject him. I have yet to eject a pitcher for this, however I have called time and asked the pitcher to take his signals from the rubber and notified the coach of what was happening. 99/100 the pitcher just doesn't know what he's doing, but that one other time...

I'm sorry, but the intent was not to prevent a quick pitch. The intent was to prevent delay. Of course, it is technically a ball/balk in FED and NCAA. Only in OBR is it a "Don't do that."

BTW: The OBR rule book says nothing about giving a warning. Here's the entire material dealing with taking signs off the rubber: "Pitchers shall take signs from the catcher while standing on the rubber." (8.01) Your idea that the regulation prevents pitchers from quick pitching is relevant only after the pitcher disengages the rubber after taking his signs: "Pitchers may disengage the rubber after taking their signs but may not step quickly onto the rubber and pitch. This may be judged a quick pitch by the umpire."

[Jim Porter]

Papa C, of course, is absolutely correct. I do want to add, however, that the way the rule avoids that delay is by establishing uniformity in taking signs in all of baseball. It was an effort to speed up the preparation process between pitchers and batters by defining a guideline for what the batter can expect from the pitcher.

When the pitcher toes the rubber, he looks in for his sign. It has become routine in baseball. The batter can expect a certain amount of time between the pitcher taking the rubber and the delivery of the pitch. If, after taking his signs, the pitcher takes an unreasonable amount of time in delivering the ball, the batter can be granted a time out and it all starts over again.

As is the case with many of the rules of baseball, this one was intended to help the hitters.

[Dixie Blue]

Dixie plays by OBR with a few minor changes which are
listed in a small book they publish. They used to have all of the rules published in their book but they failed to get permission from MLB and were told to stop printing their rules. Speaking of this I was calling with a fellow
blue just last Tuesday who told me the day before had been
calling a Dixie State Tournament and balked in the winning
run in the bottom of the 7th because the pitcher took his
signs from the catcher off the rubber. I was shocked, and
of course he argued he made the right call.

[David B]

Originally posted by Dixie Blue
Dixie plays by OBR with a few minor changes which are
listed in a small book they publish. They used to have all of the rules published in their book but they failed to get permission from MLB and were told to stop printing their rules. Speaking of this I was calling with a fellow
blue just last Tuesday who told me the day before had been
calling a Dixie State Tournament and balked in the winning
run in the bottom of the 7th because the pitcher took his
signs from the catcher off the rubber. I was shocked, and
of course he argued he made the right call.

The umpire should be ashamed of himself for making such a call in the 7th inning.

If the pitcher did it in the 7th then he also did it earlier in the game and if he wants to booger pick do it then.

Don't wait until a game ending situation and make such a stupid call.

Sorry but that's very very poor umpiring.

Thanks
David

[teacherspit]

Can a pitcher take signals directly from a coach?

[Rich]

Originally posted by teacherspit
Can a pitcher take signals directly from a coach?

Sure, as long as he simulates taking signs from the catcher to meet the requirements of the rules. I don't worry about where the signs come from as long as the catcher knows what's coming.

[teacherspit]

Ok,
But could not leave a door open for other than taking signals to instructions?

[LDUB]

Originally posted by teacherspit
Ok,
But could not leave a door open for other than taking signals to instructions?

Coaches give instructions to defensive players all the time. They bring the infield in, or shift the outfielders around depending on the situtation.

[teacherspit]

Originally posted by LDUB

Coaches give instructions to defensive players all the time. They bring the infield in, or shift the outfielders around depending on the situtation.

Yes I agree.
But what about giving instructions to the pitcher. When would one count a trip against a coach? Is it not a trip if the coach calls his catcher over, tells him something. Then the catcher goes to the pitcher?

[LDUB]

Originally posted by teacherspit
Yes I agree.
But what about giving instructions to the pitcher. When would one count a trip against a coach? Is it not a trip if the coach calls his catcher over, tells him something. Then the catcher goes to the pitcher?

You would serioulsy charge a trip to the manager when he yells something out of the dugout between pitches to the pitcher? I'm not talking about F1 going to the dugout, but when he is in the field.

[teacherspit]

Originally posted by LDUB

You would serioulsy charge a trip to the manager when he yells something out of the dugout between pitches to the pitcher? I'm not talking about F1 going to the dugout, but when he is in the field.

I'm not either talking about F1 going to the dugout. Wouldn't it be a trip if the coach while giving signals, decided he gave the wrong signal and yelled for the pitcher to step off and give another signal?

[cbfoulds]

Originally posted by teacherspit
I'm not either talking about F1 going to the dugout. Wouldn't it be a trip if the coach while giving signals, decided he gave the wrong signal and yelled for the pitcher to step off and give another signal?

WHAT RULE makes this a trip??
And don't tell me 9.01(c); there are numerous rules which define when a trip is to be charged.
What is so darn hard about officiating the game based on the actual rules, so that you feel compelled to make up these dumba$$ "rules"??

[Rich]

Originally posted by teacherspit

I'm not either talking about F1 going to the dugout. Wouldn't it be a trip if the coach while giving signals, decided he gave the wrong signal and yelled for the pitcher to step off and give another signal?

Here's a tip. Let the game come to you. Don't go looking for stuff.

[teacherspit]

Originally posted by cbfoulds

WHAT RULE makes this a trip??
And don't tell me 9.01(c); there are numerous rules which define when a trip is to be charged.
What is so darn hard about officiating the game based on the actual rules, so that you feel compelled to make up these dumba$$ "rules"??

Sir,
I was asking a question not making a statement.

[Atl Blue]

The answer then, is a resounding NO.