Time mechanic
 

This is new to me. I've seen it recently. Ump calls time on request of batter or catcher and then points to the requestor to show who asked for it. What's the reason for it? Should I be doing it?

Who is doing it? Where did you see it?

I have pointed to who asked for Time, but only because it was a very strange and not obvious request which had everyone confused as to why play was stopping. Maybe that's why the umpire pointed it out.

I saw it in a well called HS playoff game and then I saw it in an indy league game. Never seen it before. If you were watching the game it was obvious why time was called.

I've seen it from LL to MLB.

There's no need for it, other than "It wasn't me!"

No big deal, though.

That's how they teach it in my HS association. Batter ask for time, call "time", step to the right or the left and point at the batter. Same for the catcher.

I first saw it (or recognized it) in MLB about 6-8 years ago. Just gives more information to the participants about who requested the time, especially when the oral requests can't always be heard by all.

But why does it make any difference?

And do you point to yourself, when you call it?

Again, I don't see the need for it. I mean, it's not like football, where you only have three per half.

Maybe they're guys/gals that do football as well.:p

If a catcher asks me for time after his pitcher comes set, I will point at the catcher after calling time.

I don't recall ever pointing at a batter after granting him time.

JM

This has been done in both MLB and MiLB for quite some time now and has found its way to college and HS ball. As in giving the reason for a balk call when calling the balk, it explains your call without waiting for a question.

I believe it's a good mechanic.

I picked this up a few years ago from a partner who came from Wisconsin. He said it's the acceptable practice there and it's taught in his JUCO conference, and as of this past season, it made its way to our high school unit and is now being stressed there as well.

It's not always necessary, but it's a good mechanic.

I've always found it necessary not for my benefit but for the teams. A batter calling time after the pitcher has come set sends a message. He has reasons and motives relating to strategy for calling time there. That should be obvious to the teams who called for it. The message sent is different when a catcher does it to his own pitcher.

Okay then, I have a new mechanic to add to the arsenal.

I see it both ways. Most of the time, you can tell who called time. When it's the catcher, he's usually going out to the pitcher to talk about signs. If it's the batter, he quickly steps out.

In Oregon
 

We teach to agressively call "TIME!" and take two large cross over steps to the batter's open side. As we do this we point to whomever called the "time".

As soon as we are clear of the catcher we then teach to IMMEDIATELY return to your place behind the catcher with one hand up in the "stop sign".

As soon as things are back on the same page we point and say "PLAY".

We feel that by identifing the person that called "time" it prevents any miscommunication and keeps the game management issue clear of who is in charge.

And we DO feel it is necessary.

I think it is necessary to tell everyone who did it.

Let's say F1 is coming set to prepare a pickoff but his F2 wants to change the sign. Now, by pointing at F2, F1 knows where to direct his frustration at.

Or, OM puts on a timing play based on F1's movement. As soon as the play is supposed to happen, batter calls "Time" and the play is tipped off by the runner. Now, the OM knows who to be upset at.

I think it just tells them that the umpire is not the one who is calling "Time" and further adamantly shows to stop play instead of just putting up a hand and hoping F1 sees it before he throws an 85 mph fastball at an unsuspecting F2 or batter.

as previously stated it's just to let everyone know who did what in case anyone wants to know. as NOT previously stated, in pro ball it is also for the radio and tv guys. it's not asked for by them, and i don't know if all of them take advantage of it, but some that i have talked to in my travels have brought it up and thanked me for it as it gives them a little xtra information to give to their viewers/listeners.

"time asked for by the catcher."

"they probably weren't on the same page and want to avoid a cross up."

or

"time granted to the batter."

"the pitcher took a little too long there. batter's don't like to wait around for that long and he wanted the opportunity to step out and get reset."

as opposed to

"time called at the plate."

There's the problem.

The correct way to call time is two hands straight out, and two crossover steps away from the batter.

If you do that, THEN feel the need to point out who requested time, feel free.

The reason has been laid out before you. Accept it or reject it, life will go on.

I don't know about others, because I've seen it happen too often with some partners, but I have never held up my hand to call Time. I always step out from behind the plate and yell "Time" while holding up both arms.

A long time back under FED rules, there was a "Do Not Pitch" signal, wherein the ball was still alive while you held up your right hand in a "stop sign" fashion. They finally changed it to the OBR way which automatically kills the ball when a stop sign is given. After this was changed, the only time I put up a stop sign is to signal that the ball is not ready to put back in play, followed by the point at the pitcher and announcing "Play."

I never point to the party who requested "Time". Never saw a need for it, plus there's that "old dog, new trick" thing that figures in for me...
It's acceptable either way, but I might suggest doing it the way your supervisor wants you to do it.

JJ

I just saw Brian Runge do it when the Cubs catcher asked for Time in the middle of the pitcher's windup. He sprang from behind the catcher to the opposite side, called Time and immediately pointed at the catcher. Funny how you don't notice stuff until someone mentions it, then you see it all the time.

Great game, boring Cubs announcers. Give me Harrelson the Homer any day over these stiffs.

I saw him bail out on a time out and never pointed to either the catcher or batter. Announcers didn't know who called time. They even mentioned it on the air that an umpire will point to either the batter or catcher, but that it wasn't done in this instance. You must have saw something I didn't.

Perhaps it was a different time. In this case, it was the Cubs catcher who wanted time, and the announcers said there was some commotion in the center field bleachers that prompted the catcher's request. It was in the bottom of the eighth, I believe.

I'd rather listen to Harold Reynolds, Tim McCarver, Joe Buck, Joe Morgan, and Jon Miller all in the same booth than anything involving Ken Harrelson.

And with the exception of the Cubs broadcasters, I feel the same way.:rolleyes:

So when the head coach comes out to call time, do we point to him also?

How about the runner after a slide, that calls time to dust hisself off? Heck it could of been the defensive player that called the time, I am sure EVERYONE wants to know exactly who called time. ???????????????

I guess if it works for you and your association.