Calling Time Out

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by Chris_Hickman

i guess it depends on my mood...haha If all "play" is over, I usually do not call time. With R3........Most of the time I do. I have a pretty good feel as to what is going on out on the field. I think its a preference thing. You can take your shots if you want......

Pretty similar for me. If R3, I call Time to clean the plate. If I am working with one or more partners, I DO NOT call Time with R1 and/or R2. That is what base umpires are for, to watch the action at the other bases. When working solo, I always call Time to clean the plate with any runners on base, because I do not have eyes in the back of my head.

Like Tim, if I just use the foot wedge to knock a bit of dirt from the corners, I don't call Time, but keep my eyes forward. I also don't grant Time to infielders for no reason, and also ask them what they need Time for, which usually they can't give an answer.

[D-Man]

WE are TOLD not to call "Time" to brush the plate. Unnecessary dead balls are vehemently discouraged. An additional bad call of "Time" is for the defense to get the ball in to the pitcher.

D

[Justme]

Originally Posted by D-Man

WE are TOLD not to call "Time" to brush the plate.

We? Not me, no one told me. I must have been absent that day.

Originally Posted by D-Man

Unnecessary dead balls are vehemently discouraged.

I fervently agree, having dead balls is not a good thing.

Originally Posted by D-Man

An additional bad call of "Time" is for the defense to get the ball in to the pitcher.

I enthusiastically agree with that statement.

[D-Man]

Justme can't be we (by definition).

Those I see are we.

Man, I gotta pee.

D

[Chris_Hickman]

Originally Posted by Tim C

I would contend that no umpire working "real" (there's that term again -- "real" -- I don't consider the Northern League or the Golden State League "real" minior league baseball) professional baseball would EVER turn his back to the infield and brush the plate without calling time . . .

I have done fill-in games at the Class A level and I have worked with minor league guys in college ball. I have seen them clean off the plate without calling time. Maybe back in the old days they did things different. Who knows. I think some people are making too big a deal of all this.

[DG]

1) Do you call time out when "fully" cleaning the plate,
2) Do you let infielders call "Time" when they complete a play and,
3) Do you call "Time" when a runner has made it safely into a base?

1) Yes, but I wait until all action has ceased, and never with a batter in the box.
2) No
3) Depends. If the defense still has a potential play I don't. Ex: runner just dived back to 1B on a pickoff. F3 is holding the ball on him, I generally tell F3 to throw the ball in and then time is not necessary.

[Tim C]

Whatever Chris, I simply disagree . . . I do not accept your comments. No minor league umpire turns his back on the field without calling "TIME!"

Call any instructor and ask . . . that's all I request. Have them e-mail their answer to me and if it supports your position I will post an apology.

BTW, I won't have to.

Regards,

[Chris_Hickman]

Tim, I am not going to e-mail guys I know to prove a point. I like to think that most of my posts consist of good common sense. But here is one. 2 man system... nobody on....trouble ball hit and base ump goes out. Plate guy takes BR into 2nd. Base ump gets back into the infield and plate guy jogs back to the plate area. I do not call time out to jog back into position unless the BR requests time to dust off or somethin'. My back is turned to the field. I see this all the time in the minors. Any thoughts?

[Tim C]

Let's step back now and take a look at this thread:

Things have been very interesting in the process of this thread.

I really thought it was asking about calling "TIME!" to dust the plate. I was simply amazed that some of the responders, and many of them people I respect, that actually think it is a delay to call time to do the plate sweep.

I am just shocked to see that any umpire, no matter how many partners, would turn their back to the field with the ball in play.

I have learned that many do. I have learn that some are even taught to do this.

Calling time to clean the plate does not cause ANY delay. You are going to clean the dish anyway "why not" protect the game by calling "TIME!"?

Since we all know there is no such thing as "implied time out." The boat don't float.

So we have three situations that we have discussed in the thread:

1) Do you call time out when "fully" cleaning the plate,
2) Do you let infielders call "Time" when they complete a play and,
3) Do you call "Time" when a runner has made it safely into a base?

These are three really interesting questions when you read the responses.

I would contend that no umpire working "real" (there's that term again -- "real" -- I don't consider the Northern League or the Golden State League "real" minior league baseball) professional baseball would EVER turn his back to the infield and brush the plate without calling time . . .

I would also contend that calling "TIME" in this situation causes no decernible delay in play and it is much more valuable to control play on the field then turn your back.

I would also contend that "great" umpires seldom allow infielders to call "TIME" without reason and,

I would also contend that umpires should consider all base running situations independantly and feel that "time" can be called at any time if it makes your situation better.

I think winter time storms cause us all to over think the most simple of items.

Regards,

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by Tim C

1) Do you call time out when "fully" cleaning the plate,
2) Do you let infielders call "Time" when they complete a play and,
3) Do you call "Time" when a runner has made it safely into a base?


Regards,

1. Yes. However, I don't attempt to do this in 5 seconds. "Time!" Remove mask and pull out brush as I move around the catcher. Make sure the batter has stepped back...ask if necessary. ( I don't like getting slammed with a practice swing.) With my back to the infield, bend over and clean the plate. Straighten up, replace brush as I step back into positon. Put mask on and, after checking for pitcher, ball, batter and catcher, point and "Play!" As I said earlier, attemting this in 5 seconds would look like a Monty Python sketch.

2. Not without damn good reason. Throwing the ball back to the pitcher or killing the offense's chance to continue the play are not good reasons.

3. Depends on what is going on. All play is over and he needs to get the dirt out of his jock strap? Sure. A team mate is off the bag at another base and a play is possible? Nope, not yet.