Time mechanic

[umpjim]

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?

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by umpjim

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.

[umpjim]

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.

[kylejt]

I've seen it from LL to MLB.

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

No big deal, though.

[Forest Ump]

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.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by umpjim

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?

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.

[kylejt]

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.

[DonInKansas]

Originally Posted by kylejt

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.

[UmpJM]

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

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by UmpJM (nee CoachJM)

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.

[BBL8911]

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.

[SanDiegoSteve]

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

[DonInKansas]

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.

[Tim C]

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.

[GA Umpire]

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.