Calling Time

[jicecone]

Originally posted by sdldad
I coach a Cal Ripken 10u team and I have a question about calling time. As I seem to recall from my years of playing baseball and watching MLB, an infielder may ask for time if he is within the baseline and no runner is attempting to advance his position. In that circumstance the umpire may at his discretion call time stopping play until the pitcher returns to the mound and the umpire yells play ball. Please help me in finding if this is accurate or if I have been mistaken in my history.

[Edited by sdldad on Oct 5th, 2005 at 12:26 AM]

A player may request time whenever they feel like, and wherever they are on the field. As you have already stated though, it is the umpires discretion as when he shall grant that request. So basicly, you are correct.

I realize that these players are only 10 however, most good umpires should not be granting "Time" so that a player can throw the ball back to the pitcher. If players can't properly catch and throw the ball, then any advantage the offense may gain by this, should not be taken away by the umpire. When I coached, I would have plays designed to try and draw a throw. Umpires that granted time every 2 mins really irrated me.