nobody called timeout!!!

Originally Posted by LDUB

You've got it backwards, change 'Smitty's' and 'most umpires' and it would be correct.

LOL....I got so freakin' mad that I posted before I seen this.

Originally Posted by bobbybanaduck

my partner will keep an eye on them.

Amen...

Originally Posted by LDUB

So you guys who insist on calling time when the plate is cleaned, do you also call time when the PU has to return to the plate area after having moved somewhere during a play? In both situations the PU's back is turned away from everyone for a couple of seconds. What is the difference?

This is one of those big "giveaways" that a guy is new and inexperienced.

Originally Posted by kylejt

The pitcher raises the baseball, and shakes it, the universal sign that he'd like a new one. You reach in your ball ball, and toss him a new one as the old one is tossed back to the catcher. R1 steals second as both balls in are midflight.

Do you allow it, or is time implied?

Why would you not call time before changing balls? This is TOTALLY a different scenario.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

Agreed. But, you (and I) work only HS varsity and above -- and a runner would be "stupid" to try to advance on this type of play.

Someone above posted something like "when I coached youth ball, we taught the runners to do this" -- at the 12U level, it's probably "good" offense to try to advance here.

so, the "right" answer might depend on the game being played.

A very reasonable and appropriate response, Bob. Sometimes I do only think about the games I work, I guess. I certainly don't want a runner sliding into the plate while I'm cleaning it

[Daryl H. Long]

Originally Posted by rei

Really? I quit calling time to clean the plate years ago! I see no reason to do so! My partner can handle the bases for a few seconds without my assistance! I consider guys that DO call time every time to be "Smitty's" because it seems that only a Smitty feels the need to kill the ball to do a bit of sweeping UNLESS he is working by himself. In that case, indeed, it would be very prudent to call time to clean the plate, although truthfully, I probably still wouldn't.

The play DOES stand. I have never seen anything anywhere that requires the umpire to call time to clean the plate. If the defense is not situation aware, that is not my problem.

Did you not read my post #30. I gave proof in umpires manual and rule book.

Now. Show me one paragragh in the umpires manual or rule book that says DO NOT call time when cleaning the plate.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by rei

This is one of those big "giveaways" that a guy is new and inexperienced.

I'll only do this if I have a courtesy runner ready to come out or I have to change baseballs or something -- in other words, if I'll have to call time anyway once I get to the plate, I may as well do it and not have to concern myself with any runners on the trip.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Daryl H. Long

Did you not read my post #30. I gave proof in umpires manual and rule book.

Now. Show me one paragragh in the umpires manual or rule book that says DO NOT call time when cleaning the plate.

What umpire's manual? The NFHS one?

Tell me you cover third on a bases empty triple as the PU, too.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Daryl H. Long

2007-08 Umpire Manual. Page 19, #26 refers to the time when the umpire cleans the plate as "stopping play". A synonym of that phrase would be "suspending play".

Rule 2-1f. Time shall be called by the umpire and play is suspended when...the umpire suspends play for any other cause, including an award of a base after an infraction, or for inspection of the ball.

For any other cause includes cleaning the plate.

And the rule is clear...time shall be called. It is not an option

This is not clear, Daryl. I am not suspending play. I am merely clearing the plate.

Before you come back with something like "would you let the pitcher pitch," let me say that the answer is no, just like when I'm clearing a bat or waiting for a batter to get set in the box. Good umpires don't hold their hands up and suspend play while a batter is digging in. Why is this different?

For any other cause could include 200 other things that I want to make up, too. It's a catch all that provides support for the umpire to call time IF HE WANTS TO. It certainly doesn't say that it's required to do it if play isn't suspended. Cause a 2 second sweep of the plate is not suspending play, not in my world.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by rei

Really? I quit calling time to clean the plate years ago! I see no reason to do so! My partner can handle the bases for a few seconds without my assistance! I consider guys that DO call time every time to be "Smitty's" because it seems that only a Smitty feels the need to kill the ball to do a bit of sweeping UNLESS he is working by himself. In that case, indeed, it would be very prudent to call time to clean the plate, although truthfully, I probably still wouldn't.

The play DOES stand. I have never seen anything anywhere that requires the umpire to call time to clean the plate. If the defense is not situation aware, that is not my problem.

rei:

If I am your partner and I am the BU, you can be sure that no base runner will be advancing because the ball is DEAD!! And if the offensive coach wants to have a conference with a runner he is going to have to request a TIMEOUT from either me or you. I am not going to let any play be made while you are cleaning the plate.

MTD, Sr.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

This is not clear, Daryl. I am not suspending play. I am merely clearing the plate.

Before you come back with something like "would you let the pitcher pitch," let me say that the answer is no, just like when I'm clearing a bat or waiting for a batter to get set in the box. Good umpires don't hold their hands up and suspend play while a batter is digging in. Why is this different?

For any other cause could include 200 other things that I want to make up, too. It's a catch all that provides support for the umpire to call time IF HE WANTS TO. It certainly doesn't say that it's required to do it if play isn't suspended. Cause a 2 second sweep of the plate is not suspending play, not in my world.

Cleaning the plate is most definitely a suspension of play, because the defensive team cannot pitch the ball.

MTD, Sr.

[papablue]

Originally Posted by ozzy6900

If I see my partner going to dust off the plate, I am going to make sure that nothing, NOTHING happens on the bases! Where the hell was this guy's partner? Then to allow the play to stand? Yeah, just a couple of Smitties here!

Bullseye. If I see that my partner has not called time before dusting off the plate, I will right away.


John

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

rei:

If I am your partner and I am the BU, you can be sure that no base runner will be advancing because the ball is DEAD!! And if the offensive coach wants to have a conference with a runner he is going to have to request a TIMEOUT from either me or you. I am not going to let any play be made while you are cleaning the plate.

MTD, Sr.

That is great! And around these parts, if we had the situation described, and you dealt with it like that, it would be the last time we would be working together, and that wouldn't be a good thing for you! I would imagine that after the call to the commissioner about how you sent a runner back, WHO LEGALLY STOLE A BASE WHILE THE BALL WAS LIVE, you would be doing a lot of JV ball.

And by the way, our commissioner here is a 40 year umpire veteran, past PAC-10 umpires, and current PAC-10 evaluator, and is the one that told me years ago "Don't kill the ball to clean the plate numbnutz. Let your partner keep an eye on things".

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by rei

That is great! And around these parts, if we had the situation described, and you dealt with it like that, it would be the last time we would be working together, and that wouldn't be a good thing for you! I would imagine that after the call to the commissioner about how you sent a runner back, WHO LEGALLY STOLE A BASE WHILE THE BALL WAS LIVE, you would be doing a lot of JV ball.

rei:

Let me get this straight, R1 is on third and you get out in front of home plate with your tuchus facing the F1. R1 comes running home and touches home while you are cleaning the plate. F1 just stands there on the mound with the ball in his hand because he does not want to drill you in the tuchus. Oh boy, I do not know if I want to be around for that fun the ensues after you tell F1's coach the that run counts. Then again, I just might tell F1 to go ahead an pitch so you truely will be a numb nuts.

MTD, Sr.