Ball Four, in the dirt

[David Emerling]

Originally Posted by mbyron

Not possible.

MLB is different from LL.

What I mean by "caught cleanly" is that it doesn't ricochet away. It just skips into the dirt and is caught. It's not a loose ball. Actually, even that is irrelevant. Even if the ball skips away from the catcher a few inches, I've seen they change baseballs before the batter is even halfway down the line.

I would think you would have to wait to change baseballs once the batter reaches 1st and is clearly making no attempt to advance. It's sort of analogous as to when a batter walks and the defensive manager wants to call time immediately to talk to his pitcher. He has to WAIT until the BR reaches first - then he can have time.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by David Emerling

What I mean by "caught cleanly" is that it doesn't ricochet away. It just skips into the dirt and is caught. It's not a loose ball. Actually, even that is irrelevant. Even if the ball skips away from the catcher a few inches, I've seen they change baseballs before the batter is even halfway down the line.

I would think you would have to wait to change baseballs once the batter reaches 1st and is clearly making no attempt to advance. It's sort of analogous as to when a batter walks and the defensive manager wants to call time immediately to talk to his pitcher. He has to WAIT until the BR reaches first - then he can have time.

Maybe in your games. I grant time immediately at the HS and college level or wherever kids can actually play.

[David Emerling]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

Maybe in your games. I grant time immediately at the HS and college level or wherever kids can actually play.

No you don't! Because you don't have over 100 baseballs to work with.

And, if you do swap balls every time it touches the ground (especially in a HS game) - I'll bet you continue using that ball 99% of the time. At worst, you slip it into the bag just to reemerge one foul ball later. Hell, half the time you don't have more than three at time to work with after about dozen foul balls into the woods.

Unless it's wet, hits the backstop, or is noticeably discolored or damaged - in a HS game - keep using it, for crissakes.

You call "time" every time the ball touches the ground?

[Ump153]

Originally Posted by David Emerling

No you don't! Because you don't have over 100 baseballs to work with.

.......

You call "time" every time the ball touches the ground?

Apparently reading is a skill you haven't acquired. The man never said he changed balls every time the ball hit the dirt.

And, I believe he was commenting on calling time on a base on balls.

[David Emerling]

Originally Posted by Ump153

Apparently reading is a skill you haven't acquired. The man never said he changed balls every time the ball hit the dirt.

And, I believe he was commenting on calling time on a base on balls.

Even then, calling time every time the ball touches the ground in a HS game is silly, in my opinion.

Just what is it you expect to see? A little scuff? A grass stain? Now what - throw the ball out? Pfft!

The coaches around here would be very pissed about that - that I do know.

I can hear it now:

Coach: "Blue, what's wrong with this ball?"

Ump: "It has a small scuff mark on it, coach."

Coach: "Yeah, well, we're gonna play with it anyway unless you want to donate $200 to our booster club."

[Rich]

Originally Posted by David Emerling

Even then, calling time every time the ball touches the ground in a HS game is silly, in my opinion.

Just what is it you expect to see? A little scuff? A grass stain? Now what - throw the ball out? Pfft!

The coaches around here would be very pissed about that - that I do know.

I can hear it now:

Coach: "Blue, what's wrong with this ball?"

Ump: "It has a small scuff mark on it, coach."

Coach: "Yeah, well, we're gonna play with it anyway unless you want to donate $200 to our booster club."

There's one school here where I get the minimum 3 balls to start a game. Last year in about the 3rd inning, I noticed a nice cut on the ball and told the home team to throw that one out. I got the whole "what kind of budget do you think I have" routine...

[johnnyg08]

In high school baseball, I pretty much keep all of the baseballs in play even if they're bad...like you said, typically I only get three...and it's like pulling teeth to get more baseballs, so unless they're really bad or a player complains about a baseball, then I swap it out...but for the sake of keeping the game moving, I play with what they give me.

[Ump153]

Originally Posted by David Emerling

Even then, calling time every time the ball touches the ground in a HS game is silly, in my opinion.

Just what is it you expect to see? A little scuff? A grass stain? Now what - throw the ball out? Pfft!

The coaches around here would be very pissed about that - that I do know.

I can hear it now:

Coach: "Blue, what's wrong with this ball?"

Ump: "It has a small scuff mark on it, coach."

Coach: "Yeah, well, we're gonna play with it anyway unless you want to donate $200 to our booster club."

Again...reading is apparently not your strong suit. Why do you make this stuff up....are you a coach? This is not what the man is saying.

And regards your little league scenario...I have NEVER had a high school coach or college skipper question why I threw a ball out of play.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by Ump153

Again...reading is apparently not your strong suit. Why do you make this stuff up....are you a coach? This is not what the man is saying.

And regards your little league scenario...I have NEVER had a high school coach or college skipper question why I threw a ball out of play.

Bingo. I'm just a little disappointed that it took you till post 29 to divine that.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Originally Posted by Ump153

Wow. You disagree that something happens that in reality happens nearly every day in one MLB game or another.

This thread has now reached the absurd.

Apparently, reading comprehension is not a strong suit of yours, as you drive home once again with your condescending remarks on this thread. The irony is that while showing poor comprehension, you're downing this guy for his comprehension.

A new high.

Originally Posted by Ump153

Again...reading is apparently not your strong suit. Why do you make this stuff up....are you a coach? This is not what the man is saying.

Apparently, comprehending humor is not your strong suit.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by David Emerling

No you don't! Because you don't have over 100 baseballs to work with.

And, if you do swap balls every time it touches the ground (especially in a HS game) - I'll bet you continue using that ball 99% of the time. At worst, you slip it into the bag just to reemerge one foul ball later. Hell, half the time you don't have more than three at time to work with after about dozen foul balls into the woods.

Unless it's wet, hits the backstop, or is noticeably discolored or damaged - in a HS game - keep using it, for crissakes.

You call "time" every time the ball touches the ground?

I mean I call time as soon as the defensive coach asks for time. I don't do the "wait until the batter gets to fir.....OK, TIME" nonsense.

[David Emerling]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

I mean I call time as soon as the defensive coach asks for time. I don't do the "wait until the batter gets to fir.....OK, TIME" nonsense.

This doesn't have to be made into a big scene. It usually isn't. There doesn't need to be any melodramatic and overly officious attempt to embarrass the coach. I realize sometimes they get so excited that they want to burst out onto the field. A simple, subtle, and silent hand gesture usually conveys the message and the coach will generally slow down as he is walking out onto the field, giving the BR time to reach 1st. I subtly raise my index finger in the "just wait a sec" position and all is solved. They get it.

I'm not so anal as to require him to remain in the dugout but I do expect him to remain off the infield before the batter gets to 1st. In any case, the coach should know better. Most experienced coaches already know this and no intervention on the part of the umpire is usually required.