TIME, revisited...

[chris s]

How many of you see a cut-off man, after a base hit to the outfield, ask for time to throw the ball back to F1? I am talking a "no on" simple base hit.
Talking with a friend that has worked pro ball and FED, he had a problem yesterday with his BU. Kid asked for time to throw ball to F1, BU told him it "was against the rules"(wrong), kid went to dugout and ratted on ump. Coach(former pro player and real , well, I won't say my opinion) then hammers on BU, then goes to PU and asks what is up???Why no time?
My opinion, no time, keep it live. I have usually asked kid wanting time, "why?" or, "keep it moving, lets go" without granting time. If cutoff can't throw to F1 without screwing up.......
My friends opinion....Just say , "yea, ok". Do not announce a TIME. I sez, "the first errant throw, you look like ****". He sez, "nah, just say, I got time,time"(if, in fact you got an errant throw)
NOW, according to the NFHS umpire manual, TIME does not need to be announnced so everybody hears or acknowledges, just the nearby players, in some instances.
Comments and suggestions, or maybe a concensus)

[JJ]

They can ASK for time, but we don't HAVE to grant it. If a player asks for time in your instance for no other reason than to protect a potential bad throw, I just say, "Nah, you don't need it here". If he asks why not, just say, "If that runner takes off you want to be able to get an easy out, don't you?" It's a different story if he wants to confer with the pitcher, or tie his shoe, etc. If the coach wants to get silly, just tell him you want to keep the game moving and you're got going to grant time in this case. Period.

[bluezebra]

This asking for time, and granting it, in these situations is a slo-pitch mechanic. All the SP I worked, as soon as the ball was returned to an infielder, and there was no action on the bases, time was called. In baseball and fast pitch softball, no. "What's the matter short, can't you throw the ball back to the pitcher". It's just a defensive move to freeze the runners in case of a sloppy throw, or bad catch.

Keep the ball live, and keep the game moving.

Bob

[greymule]

There seems to be an unwritten rule that once the ball is back in the infield and no runners are doing anything, the umpire should grant time when asked for it. In that case, I have usually called time. But why should we routinely protect the fielder from a bad throw after play has stopped? With a runner on 3B, do we allow the catcher to ask for time after every pitch to protect himself from a bad throw back to the mound? I think this year I'm going to start asking "why?"

Interesting that in fast-pitch softball, we definitely DO NOT grant that automatic time, as the ball in the pitcher's possession in the 16-foot circle has special significance, and runners often try to advance on a throw to the pitcher.

[BlueGhost_Scout]

I have had more than one heated discussion regarding this situatuion. The simple question of "Why?" normally solves the whole thing. If the manager has told them to request time in order to stop any unexpected action, you will ususally hear from him at the next half inning. "Why wouldn't you call time when my fielder wanted it?" The Why question is still the best. "Why did he want time coaach?" If you start to explain the rules, and that you don't have to grant time to assist his team, he will immediately think you are picking on his team. So when I ask the coach why he wanted time, he is completely lost and it will end the discussion.

[joemoore]

If you want to force the infielders to make a good throw, that's a valid reason to not grant time. But to keep the game moving, granting time seems the best way.

I only see this in LL and equivalent. Kids throw to pitcher, runner leads and dances. It takes forever to get the game moving. If you grant time, runner can't do anything.

In softball, we had rules that girls couldn't steal home, but on an overthrow to the pitcher, they could go home. We'd have catchers run from the backstop (they never actually caught the ball) all the way to the mound to hand the ball to the pitcher on every pitch.

I agree that making them throw is part of the game, but it does not keep the game moving.

[PeteBooth]

Originally posted by chris s

How many of you see a cut-off man, after a base hit to the outfield, ask for time to throw the ball back to F1? I am talking a "no on" simple base hit.
Talking with a friend that has worked pro ball and FED, he had a problem yesterday with his BU. Kid asked for time to throw ball to F1, BU told him it "was against the rules"(wrong),

In a way the BU was not wrong. Here is OBR 5.10

The ball becomes dead when an umpire calls "Time." The umpire in chief shall call "Time"_
(a) When in his judgment weather, darkness or similar conditions make immediate further play impossible;
(b) When light failure makes it difficult or impossible for the umpires to follow the play; NOTE: A league may adopt its own regulations governing games interrupted by light failure.
(c) When an accident incapacitates a player or an umpire;
(1) If an accident to a runner is such as to prevent him from proceeding to a base to which he is entitled, as on a home run hit out of the playing field, or an award of one or more bases, a substitute runner shall be permitted to complete the play.
(d) When a manager requests "Time" for a substitution, or for a conference with one of his players.
(e) When the umpire wishes to examine the ball, to consult with either manager, or for any similar cause.
(f) When a fielder, after catching a fly ball, falls into a bench or stand, or falls across ropes into a crowd when spectators are on the field. As pertains to runners, the provisions of 7.04 (c) shall prevail. If a fielder after making a catch steps into a bench, but does not fall, the ball is in play and runners may advance at their own peril.
(g) When an umpire orders a player or any other person removed from the playing field.
(h) Except in the cases stated in paragraphs (b) and (c) (1) of this rule, no umpire shall call "Time" while a play is in progress

As you can see nothing on this list says an umpire MUST call Time when F4 has the ball and wants to throw ball back to F1. So technically speaking the BU was right. Calling Time for no reason other than the one's stated above is against the rules.

FED is similar look at FED rule 5-2-1.

One of the umpires main duties is to keep the gain moving and calling time just so the defense doesn't risk the possible overthrow by the infield isn't one of those reasons.

Also, even though this might seem minute, every time an umpire calls TIME, the ball must be made live again. Do not Grant Time just for the sake of granting TIME. Keep the game moving.

Pete Booth

[Ump20]

Originally posted by JJ
They can ASK for time, but we don't HAVE to grant it. If a player asks for time in your instance for no other reason than to protect a potential bad throw, I just say, "Nah, you don't need it here". If he asks why not, just say, "If that runner takes off you want to be able to get an easy out, don't you?" It's a different story if he wants to confer with the pitcher, or tie his shoe, etc. If the coach wants to get silly, just tell him you want to keep the game moving and you're got going to grant time in this case. Period.

When I'm BU I usually grant Time when infielder first asks for it. When I see him simply toss the ball back to the pitcher I'll say someting to the effect "Next time I think you better need a significant chat with the pitcher. I'm not going to kill the ball just for you to get it back to the pitcher." If coaches question it I tell them that in baseball we keep the ball "live" whenever we can. Jim/NYC

[Patrick Szalapski]

I agree with most of the above--when a player asks for time for no apparent reason, I say, "why"? I don't get much argument and it keeps the game moving.

P-Sz