FED 6-2-2c

[scyguy]

This rule deals with failing to pitch or make or attempt a play within 20 seconds. But my question deals with the exception. The book says the pitcher may warm up by using not more than five throws, completed in one minute (timed from the third out of the previous half-inning). Now, there was alot of debate about the tossed glove issue. Some would choose not to enforce the two base award. Some said that the rule makes no sense to penalize the defense and that common sense should prevail. Therefore I wonder, how many of you enforce this one minute rule?? And if you do, do you carry a stop watch since wearing a wrist watch is not proper attire? If the defensive team does not warmup in one minute, what is the penalty? Do you penalize the defense when the catcher was on base to end the inning and cannot get his equipment on and out onto the field in one minute?

How do you guys deal with this?

[His High Holiness]

Originally posted by scyguy
This rule deals with failing to pitch or make or attempt a play within 20 seconds. But my question deals with the exception. The book says the pitcher may warm up by using not more than five throws, completed in one minute (timed from the third out of the previous half-inning). Now, there was alot of debate about the tossed glove issue. Some would choose not to enforce the two base award. Some said that the rule makes no sense to penalize the defense and that common sense should prevail. Therefore I wonder, how many of you enforce this one minute rule?? And if you do, do you carry a stop watch since wearing a wrist watch is not proper attire? If the defensive team does not warmup in one minute, what is the penalty? Do you penalize the defense when the catcher was on base to end the inning and cannot get his equipment on and out onto the field in one minute?

How do you guys deal with this?

I leave this alone unless I have another reason to want to antagonize someone. According to my notes, the last time I enforced this rule was 1997. (You enforce it by stopping the warmups and telling the batter to get in the box). I got two ejections out of it which is what I really wanted. It was a FED game and the whole team was having a bad day and taking it out on the umpires. I decided it was time to unload a couple of guys and I did not want it to be over one of my calls.

Normally, if they are taking a long time, talk to the coach about hurrying them along. If the catcher was the last at bat, give him all the extra time he needs. The last thing you need is a pi$$ed off catcher.

When I was a player, it irritated me when an umpire got picky about this rule whether against our team or the other team. I immediately had no respect for the umpire. I did not know this term then, but in today's language, I thought of the umpire that enforced the 1 minute rule as an OOO.

Peter

[GarthB]

Originally posted by His High Holiness

I leave this alone unless I have another reason to want to antagonize someone. According to my notes, the last time I enforced this rule was 1997. (You enforce it by stopping the warmups and telling the batter to get in the box). I got two ejections out of it which is what I really wanted. It was a FED game and the whole team was having a bad day and taking it out on the umpires. I decided it was time to unload a couple of guys and I did not want it to be over one of my calls.

Normally, if they are taking a long time, talk to the coach about hurrying them along. If the catcher was the last at bat, give him all the extra time he needs. The last thing you need is a pi$$ed off catcher.

When I was a player, it irritated me when an umpire got picky about this rule whether against our team or the other team. I immediately had no respect for the umpire. I did not know this term then, but in today's language, I thought of the umpire that enforced the 1 minute rule as an OOO.

Peter

Peter:

I'm shocked! Shocked, I say!

Tell me that you recognized a "beginner" trying to set up a mini Friday Sh!t house....this, on the heels of his over reaction to Bob Jenkins post on "stealing home."

BTW, Happy Friday.

[WindyCityBlue]

I'm shocked.

Isn't there a rule that needs to be enforced here?
Did the state interpreter make an exception or are you just winging this on on your own? I was under the impression that you enforced the rules and made fun of people who didn't. What would the Wizard say?


Scyguy,

Keep your butt on the line, near the plate. Get the balls you need and a drink if you want, but let the catcher know, "Toss that fifth one down, okay?" If the pitcher is pulling a "Trachsel" (s-l-o-w) catch him as he's heading out. "let's get those five in, 4-8. Your catcher's getting warm back there." You should only need to say this once. If he's only let two fly because he's putzing about get your brush ready and tell the catcher to throw it down. If he gripes, tell him that the batter and you are ready to go, sorry that his partner isn't. If he refuses, step in front of the plate and dust it off - don't move until you've called for the batter. Keep eye contact with the catcher and he will know you mean business. I've only had to do this once. The next inning, the pitching coach practically carried the pitcher out there.

I'm editing this to add that at the younger levels, you should address the coach. I forgot that many of our members work youth baseball. At this level, we should get the coach to help us with the "housekeeping duties". In fact, yo may find yourself trying to keep hyper Harry from throwing ten warm ups!

[Edited by WindyCityBlue on Sep 17th, 2004 at 03:56 PM]

[scyguy]

Garth, think as you wish, but the question was sincere. I had a long game last night and basically did the things windy suggested. It is true I was wondering what you guys thought about the decrepency in rule enforcement, but starting a s---house was not my intent.

Garth, have you looked in the mirror lately?? What do you see?

[gordon30307]

Never look for trouble trouble will find you. This is a matter of game control. When the inning is over check the dugout. If the catcher is getting his gear on ask the coach to "get someone out here to warm up your pitcher". If the catcher is hustling out there count the pitches and at the appropriate time say going down on the next one. Never bring a watch out players aren't allowed to wear jewelry so you shouldn't have jewelry on. Never saw this rule enforced and never heard of it being enforced. If a new pitcher is starting the inning don't allow the catcher to talk to him before he warms up. Tell him once he goes down to 2 he can talk to the pitcher. By the time the infield throws the ball around 99% of the time the catcher will be walking to his position. If he's not break up the conference.

Hope this helps.

[Bob Lyle]

Originally posted by WindyCityBlue
I'm shocked.

Isn't there a rule that needs to be enforced here?
Did the state interpreter make an exception or are you just winging this on on your own? I was under the impression that you enforced the rules and made fun of people who didn't. What would the Wizard say?


Scyguy,

Keep your butt on the line, near the plate. Get the balls you need and a drink if you want, but let the catcher know, "Toss that fifth one down, okay?" If the pitcher is pulling a "Trachsel" (s-l-o-w) catch him as he's heading out. "let's get those five in, 4-8. Your catcher's getting warm back there." You should only need to say this once. If he's only let two fly because he's putzing about get your brush ready and tell the catcher to throw it down. If he gripes, tell him that the batter and you are ready to go, sorry that his partner isn't. If he refuses, step in front of the plate and dust it off - don't move until you've called for the batter. Keep eye contact with the catcher and he will know you mean business. I've only had to do this once. The next inning, the pitching coach practically carried the pitcher out there.

I'm editing this to add that at the younger levels, you should address the coach. I forgot that many of our members work youth baseball. At this level, we should get the coach to help us with the "housekeeping duties". In fact, yo may find yourself trying to keep hyper Harry from throwing ten warm ups!

[Edited by WindyCityBlue on Sep 17th, 2004 at 03:56 PM]

Have you been drinking again, Windy? Your post is barely literate. I would hate to see what it was like before you edited it.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

I have only "officially" enforced this rule once, and it was on the softball side of umpiring. I believe that we, as umpires, want to keep the game moving. I remind coaches at the pre-game to have their players hustle on and off the field between innings. There are many subtle ways for umpires to keep the game moving while "unofficially" enforcing NFHS R6-S2-A2c. I may suggest that someone warm up the pitcher if the catcher was on base when the third out of an inning was made or remind the catcher to hustle his or her teammates on or off the field. Catcthers are an umpires greatest ally in getting teams to hustle on and off the field.

But HHH put it, if you need a reason to dump someone, then go for it. By the way, during the USSSA girls' fastpitch softball game that I enforced the USSSA rule, the coach of the offending team didn't complain about my enforcement of the rule until the next half-inning when his opponent get her full allotment of warm-up throws in less than one minute.