Granting time to walk the ball to the pitcher

[Tim C]

When an infielder requests time in this situation I ask: "Why?"

They never have an answer.

It is a baseball skill to return the ball to the mound. It is not an umpire protect me plan.

Do NOT call time.

T

[mbyron]

If you should happen on a reflective fielder, who answers Tee's question with, "because he might run," you can reply:
"Don't you want to be able to throw him out?"

I know I want him to.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by mbyron

If you should happen on a reflective fielder, who answers Tee's question with, "because he might run," you can reply:
"Don't you want to be able to throw him out?"

I know I want him to.

MB:

I like that one. May MTD, Jr., and I steal it this season?

I had a player request TO and I asked him why? He told me that his coach told his players to request a TO when runners are on base so that can not advance. I told the player that this was not a men's slow pitch softball league and if he wanted to stop the runners from advancing he should get the ball into the pitcher quicer. After the inning was over the coach comes out and wants to know why his players can not have a TO to stop the runners from advancing because they do that in men's slow pitch softball. I did not know whether to laugh or cry.

MTD, Sr.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

MB:

I like that one. May MTD, Jr., and I steal it this season?

Of course. If I had wanted to keep it to myself, I didn't go about that very well.

[Kevin Finnerty]

+1+

I adopted that exact procedure that Tim C. just described during my first season, when this one shortstop called time, trotted toward the pitcher, flipped him the ball and continued running toward his own dugout. Once there, he grabbed a cup of Gatorade, downed it and trotted back to shortstop and thanked me.

I was flabbergasted. I looked at his coach as if to tell him that was really a major stretch, and he looked at me with a million dollar expression on his face, so I knew he'd handle it. He did.

[GA Umpire]

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

+1+

I adopted that exact procedure that Tim C. just described during my first season, when this one shortstop called time, trotted toward the pitcher, flipped him the ball and continued running toward his own dugout. Once there, he grabbed a cup of Gatorade, downed it and trotted back to shortstop and thanked me.

I was flabbergasted. I looked at his coach as if to tell him that was really a major stretch, and he looked at me with a million dollar expression on his face, so I knew he'd handle it. He did.

If that happened to me, I'd be tempted to force a substitution if I could get away with it. Or, turn it into a trip to the mound or something. Just to teach a lesson the hard way. I'd even think about an EJ just so he can waste someone else's time. Unbelievable.

[Umpmazza]

Originally Posted by Tim C

When an infielder requests time in this situation I ask: "Why?"

They never have an answer.

It is a baseball skill to return the ball to the mound. It is not an umpire protect me plan.

Do NOT call time.

T

I will do the same thing... "why" so I dont overthrow the ball to the pitcher" and I will say... sorry...

[johnnyg08]

Sometimes I will say "We're keeping it live guys." "You have to make the throw."

[Rcichon]

last season. Every time I asked why but only one catcher had an appropriate response:


"I need to talk to the pitcher".

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by Rcichon

last season. Every time I asked why but only one catcher had an appropriate response:


"I need to talk to the pitcher".

Catchers' are not held to the same standard as other defensive players. Unless they are clearly abusing the privilege, they get time pretty much whenever they ask.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by MrUmpire

Catchers' are not held to the same standard as other defensive players. Unless they are clearly abusing the privilege, they get time pretty much whenever they ask.

But I still won't grant time, even to a catcher, if I feel the only reason for the request is to avoid having a fielder throw the ball away, possibly allowing runners to advance. I guess that would be the "abusing the privilege" part.

[dannyboy]

Early on I got yelled at in a JV game, where runner on third, catcher not paying attention, trying to communicate with F1 just jogs out to him (didnt ask for time) about half way- kids steals home, defensive coach loses his mind on his player AND the other coach and finally on me-. My evaluator was watching and was quick to tell me in the future let catchers know if they want time, just ask- prevents lots of issues...run scored-bad on defense, and the whole thing took literally seconds to happen.

if they dont call time...oh well. I agree that catchers get latitude on stuff, long as they dont abuse it, and as a catcher, I worked officials every chance I had

[dash_riprock]

Originally Posted by dannyboy

Early on I got burned in a JV game, where runner on third, catcher not paying attention, trying to communicate with F1 just jogs out to him about half way- kids steals home, defensive coach loses his mind on his player AND the other coach and finally on me-. My evaluator was watching and was quick to tell me in the future let catchers know if they want time, just ask- prevents lots of issues...

if they dont...oh well. I agree that catchers get latitude on stuff, heck they are protecting us.

There's nothing wrong with calling time without a request if you deem it appropriate.

[Steven Tyler]

Originally Posted by dash_riprock

There's nothing wrong with calling time without a request if you deem it appropriate.

Yeah, if you're dealing with an injury. I don't agree you should call time just because the catcher didn't give you a verbal request for a timeout. They could be pulling the old hidden ball trick if the infield decides to come. While the catcher would leave home plate uncovered in this situation is beyond me.