Question on Darkness
 

Some of you may think this is a stupid question, but here goes anyway...and I expect some smart### answers, but that's ok, too! Laughter is good for the soul!

What determing factors do you look for when calling a game due to darkness...other then the obvious? Also do you inform both coaches that "this is the last inning because we're calling it due to darkness". Or do you just, when the time is right, say that' is, no more due to darkness.

Partially smartass answer, but true: I call for darkness when it becomes apparent that the lights will not turn on. Honestly - I've never had an afternoon/evening game at a field that didn't have lights. I guess I'm jaded. I have occasionally paused a game waiting for lights to come on, and I suppose my standard for that is about what would answer your question.

To answer your question, however, I think that I would be rather strict if I was on a field without lights, as you certainly don't want the lack of light to affect the game. If I can't see the sun (or where the sun is behind the clouds), then it's probably too dark.

The moment I have a difficult time seeing the ball in flight.
Managers will usually ask that question soon after the sun dips below the horizon. I won't stop a game just because I 'think' we won't finish the inning. I'll just advise the manager to 'keep your players hustling' and I'll do the same for myself.

Some Managers will request to stop the game but most will push their players to keep playing. Those would be the same Managers to point at you after Junior gets his new braces knocked down his throat.

If I have a hard time seeing the ball, so does everyone else.

First let me say I love games played on fields without lights. :D

Usually I won't call the game unless I can no longer follow the ball but if my BU comes to me and says "I can't follow the ball" I'll probably call it.

Darkness
 

Careful with the ability to see the ball language less you invite a smart *** comment :p

I also look to activation of street lights and if I see 3 cars in a row with headlights on its too dark. I adjusted this from two with the expansion of daytime running lights.

I would stay away from telling coaches anything as that can get you into more problems then it's worth. You NEVER know if you have a quick 1,2,3 inning and you just told the coaches "Last inning" and there is still plenty of light left. You and your partner make that call - Do not involve coaches.

First and foremost, the coaches / players KNOW that the field doesn't have lights so they should be hustling every inning.

Here's what I have done and IMO it works best. Whenever you stop the game you will always hear complaints anyway but my rule of thumb is this.

Let's say you have 6 completed innings and it's getting to be "that time" I recommend stopping the game right then and there because at least from my experience when you start the 7th "holy hell" can break loose. Remember if the VT is leading the HT still needs to get their at bats so you have to judge how long an inning will take and if it's Borderline simply stop the game at the end of 6. Each team had an equal number of at bats so you are not cheating anyone and as i mentioned the particpants knew the conditions before the game started.

My response when I "hear it" is: "Skip either start the game earlier (that's your call not the umpires or you have to do is notify the assignor) or play on a field that has lights"

Also there are Legitimate stall tactics that a manger can use when it's getting dark. Ie; Change pitchers. He has every right to change his F1 and the new F1 gets 8 warm-up throws. All this takes time therefore, as mentioned when you get to the bottom of 6 and it's borderline - Stop the game.

Pete Booth

I would answer the question, "How dark is too dark?", about the same way I would answer the question, "How wet is too wet when it begins to rain?".

When the playing conditions prevent the players from routinely and safely handling the simple tasks of playing the game, then it is time to call it. Slipping, sliding, losing the grip on the ball and having trouble tracking the ball are all signs that the conditions are not conductive to the playing of baseball.

As the UIC for this game, it is entirely up to my judgement when that criteria is met. Most of the time "you know it when you see it"- or, in the case of darkness, when you can't see it!

Thankfully, with the new Daylight Savings Time date going into effect, darkness should no longer be an issue for early season games in these parts. In past years you could always count on darkness being an issue in a game or two during the first couple weeks of the season, until DST kicked in.

Had an early spring game last year, PU and I talking about the coming darkness between half innings, decided to finish out the inning with agreements from both coaches. Runner on 2nd, I'm in C, next batter hits a liner that I only heard go past my ear....that ended that.....

You do not need agreements from both coaches and I would strongly recommend getting coaches involved. Before the umpires arrive it is normally the home coach who decides if the playing conditions are safe.

Once the game is in Blues hands, it is now Blues responsibility. Do not need concurence from coaches.

Pete Booth

Pete,

You are right...normally the home coach does have the decision...However, I've handled this "problem" too.

Coach or (desperate minor league GM): "We can play today, blue. Its not too bad."

Me: "Skip, if you don't want to call it off, that's fine. But the second I get the line-up cards at the Plate meeting, we're done."

Manager/Coach: "You can't do that."

Me: "I just did. Now if you guys want to hold off on announcing the cancelation to the PA announcer to give you a chance to make money at the food stands, that's fine. But we're not playing."

Manager: "This is *&(*^."

Me: "See ya tomorrow, skip."

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Good point and it really "irks" them when they have to pay another game FEE.

You cannot be Mr. Nice guy even if you do try and save them some money.

I do not know about your association but in our contracts, the scheduler or coach has until 2 hours before game time to make a decision. The assignor needs that time to call the umpires and the umpires also need that time because travel may be involved. If they do not cancel the game we get at the very minimum a Travel Fee which is equal to 1/2 FEE

This one particlar day it was pouring all around the area. EVERY game was cancelled except you guessed it Mine. Before I left I gave a call to the assignor just to make sure. he said no pete they haven't called so off i went.

When I got to the game site the field was like "pea soup". I told the coach

ME: Skip right now it will cost you a travel Fee and we go home.

Skip: just as in your case "Blue it's not too bad"

Me: Ok skip it's your call

We now take the field, have the plate conference and get paid a FULL game FEE. When we get the line-up cards and After we get paid it's as you said See ya Tomorrow skip.

Now you return the next day and get another FULL game FEE. Ain't life grand.

It's amazing even when you try and save them some money they will not listen. Then of course you hear the standard "How can you sleep tonight blue" etc. etc. I will sleep just fine.

Pete Booth

The only game I have every called due to darkness was called with bases loaded and 2 out in bottom of the 7th. The visiting team was up about 7 runs at the beginning of the inning and when I called it they were still up by 4but it had been a 20 minute half inning with a pitching change. The sun had been down about 10 minutes or so. The pitch came, the catcher caught it so he saw it, I called the pitch so I saw it, but the batter turned to me and said I can't see the pitch. GAME OVER! Nobody said a word.

I had a game last year in a town about 30 miles away. It was raining where i was so I called the school and they said there was light drizzle but they planned to play. I go, and as I arrive it was raining more than a drizzle. My partner comes up to me and asks what I think. I think we need to go find out if the coach wants to pay a full game fee for nothing or a half game fee for nothing. I walk out to F6 position and it's slick, but not puddling. I go over to the dugout and coach says "what do you think?" I say "if it would stop raining and the sun come hard and hot for about 2 hours I think it would be playable" He agreed.

Darkness
 

First of all, thanks to all who contributed to my question, even those with the "humorus" ones! I like the three headlights in a row thing. The streetlight thing I've used before. I'm in St. Louis area, Illinois side, and my first game is Tuesday. They even pushed the game BACK 30-minutes becuase of Day Light Savings Time. Go figure!

I had a similar one to this last year in HS ball, with the added situation that the home team rallied to the point that they were ahead in the bottom of the sixth, but it was to the point of being ridiculously dark. We called the game (and got no argument with the decision from either team as it was getting dangerous), and score reverted back to the previous inning with the home team now losing the game. Had to go back to the same field two days later...home coach made sure his team hustled a LOT more between innings, and we finished 7 innings with daylight to spare.

If home team was ahead on bottom of 6th and game was called, why revert back to 5th? Home team wins