Visit To Mound And Other things

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by bobbybanaduck

so, under this logic, you would allow the coach to go to the mound at the start of each inning and let him chat with his pitcher during warmups, provided he's out of there before delaying the start of the inning?

if you can find me an OBR passage that supoports that then i'll buy it. until then, whenever he goes to the mound, provided they haven't invited me along for an injury session, i'm charging them with a trip.

There is nothing in OBR, JEA, J/R, MLBUM, or NAPBL manuals which confirm or deny this practice. The closest thing is that you can't make a 2nd trip while the same batter is at bat without removing the pitcher. This infers that the first trip was made while the batter was at bat, and not prior to him being announced. Batters are not considered announced until after the pitcher has completed his preparatory pitches.

I have read no language that considers a pre-inning conference to be a trip to the mound, so I allow it. If the coach delays the pitcher from completing his warm ups, I go by the one-minute rule and tell the catcher to send it down. Then if the coach squawks, I hit him with a trip and then he can have a real conference.

[bobbybanaduck]

i think there's no language because a trip is a trip is a trip. no matter what the circumstances are of when he goes, by going out there he has met the requirements of what defines a trip.

[NIump50]

Originally Posted by bobbybanaduck

i think there's no language because a trip is a trip is a trip. no matter what the circumstances are of when he goes, by going out there he has met the requirements of what defines a trip.

So at the end of the inning the 3rd base coach walking across the diamond towards his first base dugout, stops picks up the ball, hands it to his pitcher who has hustled out to the mound and says "Remember to keep the proper arm slot" and proceeds to the dugout.
You're charging him with a visit?

[SanDiegoSteve]

JM,

Thanks for finding that, I had the BRD right in front of me for another question, and didn't even think to look there. I have to remember to use that tool when looking for pro interps.

[johnnyg08]

If you charge a coach a trip for that, you're getting yourself into big trouble for the rest of the game...for something that's not illegal...think of a 3rd base coach crossing the diamond into the first base dugout...he can be out there until the cather yells "2" or whatever they yell before they throw it down...be careful what you choose to enforce...especially when it's not written in the rules...not that big of a deal....let it ride man.

[NIump50]

Originally Posted by johnnyg08

If you charge a coach a trip for that, you're getting yourself into big trouble for the rest of the game...for something that's not illegal...think of a 3rd base coach crossing the diamond into the first base dugout...he can be out there until the cather yells "2" or whatever they yell before they throw it down...be careful what you choose to enforce...especially when it's not written in the rules...not that big of a deal....let it ride man.

Of course I'm not charging a visit. It was a question to Bobby.
In his post he said

"i think there's no language because a trip is a trip is a trip. no matter what the circumstances are of when he goes, by going out there he has met the requirements of what defines a trip."

That sounds pretty black and white and I was just wonderin' if that is what he really meant.

[johnnyg08]

NI ump...i agree with you...my post was in response to the original question about charging the coach a trip...happy umping...

[NIump50]

Originally Posted by johnnyg08

NI ump...i agree with you...my post was in response to the original question about charging the coach a trip...happy umping...

Sorry!!!!.

[SanDiegoSteve]

NIump50, I don't think johnnyg08 was directing his post to you, I think he was agreeing with us, and was actually addressing BobbyB.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Well, then.......never mind.

[DG]

A first base coach walking by the mound to have brief talk with pitcher is not a trip. A coach coming out of the dugout should also not be a trip, as long as the pitcher gets his warmups in the alloted time.

I might add I have never seen a coach come out of the dugout to talk with the pitcher for warmups. He could do that in the dugout before the pitcher went out.

[UmpJM]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

There is nothing in OBR, JEA, J/R, MLBUM, or NAPBL manuals which confirm or deny this practice. The closest thing is that you can't make a 2nd trip while the same batter is at bat without removing the pitcher. This infers that the first trip was made while the batter was at bat, and not prior to him being announced. Batters are not considered announced until after the pitcher has completed his preparatory pitches.

I have read no language that considers a pre-inning conference to be a trip to the mound, so I allow it. If the coach delays the pitcher from completing his warm ups, I go by the one-minute rule and tell the catcher to send it down. Then if the coach squawks, I hit him with a trip and then he can have a real conference.

bobby and Steve,

The only thing I have been able to find is the BRD #144 CONFERENCES: CHARGED TO DEFENSE: BETWEEN HALF INNINGS. Carl C. references a communication with the late Barney Deary from 12/85:

Deary: If such a "conference" delays the game: Following the first delay, the umpire should warn the coach that on the next delay he will be charged with a trip to the mound. A team must be warned once per game before the penalty is invoked.

Carl also references a FED ruling that says it is allowed if there is no delay and that NCAA provides "no provisions".

On the "different colored socks" question, Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger seem to offer conflicting opinions, so I don't know what to think.

JM