Hustling out to positions

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by BigGuy

It's good practice to tell the players to hustle out, especially when there are time limits. At that level, be reasonable. As far as the HC harping on you about it, the second time I'd probably tell him to knock it off. That's not his job. If he continues, give him a warning. I know it sounds trite, but as umpire you don't need to hear it every inning.

That's not his job.

It's not your job either.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

That's not his job.

It's not your job either.

I had a game where the pitcher didn't bother to come out for a while for no good reason. I told the catcher to throw the first one down. The pitcher said he was guaranteed five pitches and I told him he used four of them in the dugout.

I will not, will not, WILL NOT tell players to hustle, but I will not play on their clock, either.

[mcrowder]

Originally Posted by Rich Fronheiser

I had a game where the pitcher didn't bother to come out for a while for no good reason. I told the catcher to throw the first one down. The pitcher said he was guaranteed five pitches and I told him he used four of them in the dugout.

I will not, will not, WILL NOT tell players to hustle, but I will not play on their clock, either.

True - had a tourney game 2 days ago where the pitcher got NO pitches twice in a row, and almost got a ball called on them the 2nd time. First time was a returning pitcher, 2nd time was a new pitcher. They were NOT pleased - but they got the message and were out there timely the rest of the tourney.

[RPatrino]

He may get 5 pitches, he may get 1. Regardless, they only get a minute. It's their choice what they do during that minute, not mine. They can have a hot dog if they want.

You would think that if the game is played under a time limit it would be in their best interest to hustle. I don't care if they play 2 innings or 7.

[johnnyg08]

I had a game last summer where I didn't allow the catcher to "throw down" boy did I hear about it...but he was taking "forever" and giving me attitude the entire game...it was time for me to enforce some rules that I typically don't enforce.

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

That's not his job.

It's not your job either.

Read SanDiegoSteve's post again. It isn't my job. It's up to the players and coaches. I don't do it all the time. I don't have to do it for HS games. For lower levels where kids are constantly being moved around, it helps to move the game along so that I don't have to stand there waiting and waiting.

I do it as a courtesy. For those who don't, fine.

[tibear]

Our games around here start @ 6:30 PM, so I kind of enjoy the first month when I know neither team has had their infield and I walk onto the field at 6:25 PM and call for the plate meeting.

Coaches typically give you the, "But we didn't get an infield." or "They had an infield and we didn't". I tell them, "Game starts @ 6:30 and plate meeting happens @ 6:25 PM. Next time show up earlier and make sure you get your infield if you really want one."

I typically show up 30 minutes before the game and walk around the field. When the coaches see me, it doesn't take long for them to get their infields going!!!

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by BigGuy

Read SanDiegoSteve's post again. It isn't my job. It's up to the players and coaches. I don't do it all the time. I don't have to do it for HS games. For lower levels where kids are constantly being moved around, it helps to move the game along so that I don't have to stand there waiting and waiting.

I do it as a courtesy. For those who don't, fine.

Well, I've never heard before that saying "hustle in and out" was bush league. It's the first I've ever heard about it. I guess I never got the memo. Most top level umpires I have worked with, including former MiLB guys, even use it as the teams are switching sides. Some say, "bounce out" or "who's walkin'?" or "nobody walks but the mailman" or some variation, but they do say something when necessary.

At higher levels (varsity +) it is usually unnecessary to say anything, because the big boys hustle out as a general rule. It is at the lower levels that it helps move the game along. There are a lot of primadonnas out here who just don't show any kind of interest in playing baseball.

I don't care what they do between innings in the dugout, but once they hit the field, I want them running out to the outfield, not dragging their feet, hanging their heads, and acting like they don't want to be there. I resent their lack of hustle mostly because I show up on time, dressed neat as a pin, and hustle my a$$ off while I'm there, and I expect them to do the same.

No, it's not my job to tell them to hustle, but I sure don't want to listen to them whine that they didn't get to warm up properly either. It cuts into my game time when they take longer than one minute between half innings.

[johnnyg08]

I agreee SDS...teams get furious when an umpire is 5 minutes late for a game (I agree, 5 mins late for gametime is totally unacceptable) but let me go with this...but I consistently show up 30 even 45 mins to an hour early sometimes and nothing annoys me more than when we end up starting the game 10 minutes late (no game before, no waiting on grounds crew)...what do you guys do/say to make sure the game starts on time without giving the impression that you're on a power trip?? What do you tell the visiting teams who show up too late and then whine about not getting an infield...I would refer this question to adult league games...typically my FED/American Legion games are on time...

[tibear]

Originally Posted by johnnyg08

I agreee SDS...teams get furious when an umpire is 5 minutes late for a game (I agree, 5 mins late for gametime is totally unacceptable) but let me go with this...but I consistently show up 30 even 45 mins to an hour early sometimes and nothing annoys me more than when we end up starting the game 10 minutes late (no game before, no waiting on grounds crew)...what do you guys do/say to make sure the game starts on time without giving the impression that you're on a power trip?? What do you tell the visiting teams who show up too late and then whine about not getting an infield...I would refer this question to adult league games...typically my FED/American Legion games are on time...

As indicated in my post, the game starts at time X, I show up for plate meeting at X- 5 minutes. End of infield, outfields, etc. Time for lineup exchange and plate meeting. If they cry about not having infields etc, I tell them to show up earlier next time. It works like a charm.

[johnnyg08]

so they run out to take infield and pretend not to hear you...do you play tough guy here? hasn't happened to me yet...but I could imagine that it could...

[tibear]

Originally Posted by johnnyg08

so they run out to take infield and pretend not to hear you...do you play tough guy here? hasn't happened to me yet...but I could imagine that it could...

If I'm standing three feet infront of him saying, "Coach, infield is over. Time for the lineups." He's going to hear me.