Granting time to walk the ball to the pitcher

[Forest Ump]

Originally Posted by ozzy6900

Let me ask you this, are you the umpire or are you the 10th defensive player for both teams?

I'm not working for the offense either. They always want time after they slide. Hey, stand up and dust yourself off and don't get put out while doing it. What's so hard about that?

[johnnyg08]

Originally Posted by Forest Ump

Hey, stand up and dust yourself off and don't get put out while doing it. What's so hard about that?

Gosh, that's a great example too...I forget to bring that up. Brush yourself off on the base...let's play ball.

[SanDiegoSteve]

I disagree. The runner, unlike the infielder who is chicken sh*t to throw the ball to his pitcher, has actually accomplished something, not just stood around with his thumb up his butt. He has slid hard into a base, and may need some time to compose himself and dust himself off. I have no problem granting Time to such a base runner. And often there is a fielder holding him down with the tag in hopes that his tootsie will come off the base for a cheap out that the defense didn't earn the first time by actually retiring the runner. OTOH, if the runner for example has just advanced to second base on a walk and asks for Time, I am going to ask why, and I would be unlikely to grant it.

[Steven Tyler]

Why would an infielder be scared to throw the ball back to the pitcher? They field it and throw to a base.

What's the difference if he throws the ball to the pitcher and then calls time and runs to the mound? Do you not grant time then?

It makes me wonder why a few seconds are so precious. Makes me think you don't want to be there in the first place. Games vary, so what. I'll bet some will crap their pants if the game goes extra innings.

I have never had a problem with excessive timeouts. When they start playing with a clock and giving each team a certain amount of timeouts, then I will worry more about it.

[dash_riprock]

Originally Posted by Steven Tyler

It makes me wonder why a few seconds are so precious. Makes me think you don't want to be there in the first place. Games vary, so what. I'll bet some will crap their pants if the game goes extra innings.

I have never had a problem with excessive timeouts. When they start playing with a clock and giving each team a certain amount of timeouts, then I will worry more about it.

I believe you're all alone on this one. Pace of play is frequently a point of emphasis for all levels high school and above. NCAA and FED have repeatedly maintained that delays in game action are distractions from what is an enjoyable and exciting game to watch. Professional baseball is no different.

We are constantly directed to improve pace of play by enforcing rules already in the books regarding time limits on delivering a pitch, not allowing a batter to repeatedly step out of the box, managing offensive and defensive conferences, reducing the time taken for pitching changes and the BS between innings.

Those "precious seconds" add up. Not only do they detract from the enjoyment of the game, they can adversely affect the outcome. How many times have you terminated a close game due to darkness before playing the full number of innings?

Improving pace of play has nothing to do with getting out of there as quickly as possible. It has everything to do with replacing BS with baseball, and I'm all for that.

[cviverito]

Harrumpff!

[GA Umpire]

Originally Posted by Steven Tyler

Why would an infielder be scared to throw the ball back to the pitcher? They field it and throw to a base.

What's the difference if he throws the ball to the pitcher and then calls time and runs to the mound? Do you not grant time then?

It makes me wonder why a few seconds are so precious. Makes me think you don't want to be there in the first place. Games vary, so what. I'll bet some will crap their pants if the game goes extra innings.

I have never had a problem with excessive timeouts. When they start playing with a clock and giving each team a certain amount of timeouts, then I will worry more about it.

It has nothing to do with "not wanting to be there in the first place". However, it does have everything to do with not wanting a marathon when there is no time limit.

Also, the game's tempo is better if the game moves along. The defense makes more plays and the offense hits the ball more. If you ever move a game along instead of taking your marathons, you will notice the level of play is slightly better in many cases. Teams just play better when they keep their momentum going.

[PeteBooth]

Originally Posted by GA Umpire

.

I am NOT speaking for Steve but IMO I think he was referring to the following:

F2 says "Pete can I have TIME"

Me ok TIME. F2 trots out to talk to F1. Perhaps he was "crossed-up" on a pitch etc.

Therefore, if we grant F2 TIME why not the "other fielders" I agree I will not call TIME so that the players can "freeze" the runners or throw the ball back to F1 BUT there are certain situations in which fielders need to talk to F1.

Here's an example: F4/F6 notices that R2 is "stealing" signs. F4/F6 requests TIME so that he can convey this to F1 and therefore, change pitching signals. Also, F4/F6 notices that R2 is taking a BIG lead and they want to put a play on.

In summary: I agree if the fielder simply wants to call TIME to "freeze' runners or simply throw the ball back to F1 I will NOT grant it, BUT if a fielder requests TIME to talk to F1 I will most likely grant it because I do NOT know what the fielder wants to talk about with F1.

Common guys remember when we played. I once requested TIME simply to tell my buddy who was pithcing " Hey Tim did you see the blond in the second row".

Pete Booth

[Steven Tyler]

Originally Posted by GA Umpire

It has nothing to do with "not wanting to be there in the first place". However, it does have everything to do with not wanting a marathon when there is no time limit.

Also, the game's tempo is better if the game moves along. The defense makes more plays and the offense hits the ball more. If you ever move a game along instead of taking your marathons, you will notice the level of play is slightly better in many cases. Teams just play better when they keep their momentum going.

Being around a ballfield for almost fifty years, I have a pretty good clue how a ballgame is run. FYI, I don't have marathons, but I don't get my panties in a wad about the length or time of a game.

On the broad average, my typical game will run between 1:30 and 2:00 hours. What happens during the game for the most part dictates how long a game will take. An umpire can only do so much.

I'll tell you what I will do though. I have only broken up one mound meeting in the last five years. Haven't had a problem with coaches abusing their time on the mound. While I don't use the MLB rule of thumb here, I figure a few extra seconds to get his pitcher to possibly throw more strikes is a plus for me. Also, I always ask if the pitcher needs more than the allotted number of pitches on a cold day or night.

FWIW, I don't recall a time when an infielder asked for time to throw the ball back to the pitcher. I don't work Little League or adult ball. Don't even in all my years remember where an umpire has taken issue with timeouts.

Perhaps someone should get with the MLB umpires that work a Yankees-Red Sox game. Their games almost always go four hours.

[Skarecrow]

Originally Posted by Steven Tyler

Why would an infielder be scared to throw the ball back to the pitcher? They field it and throw to a base.

What's the difference if he throws the ball to the pitcher and then calls time and runs to the mound? Do you not grant time then?

It makes me wonder why a few seconds are so precious. Makes me think you don't want to be there in the first place. Games vary, so what. I'll bet some will crap their pants if the game goes extra innings.

I have never had a problem with excessive timeouts. When they start playing with a clock and giving each team a certain amount of timeouts, then I will worry more about it.

Another reason why we don't kill it for defense, is that we are thus killing it for the offense...we have all seen the VERY aggressive runner or team, with a runner at third, that loves to time their run to take advantage of a lazy or unaware team that is slow bringing the ball in....they often bolt for home....keep the ball alive for the offense, it's their game too......

[MrUmpire]

A related issue:

How observant are you of F6 or F4 sneaking towards second with R2 when a batter requests time?

[GA Umpire]

Originally Posted by MrUmpire

A related issue:

How observant are you of F6 or F4 sneaking towards second with R2 when a batter requests time?

They are of no concern as long as PU feels sufficient amount of time has passed to warrant "Time" being called for the batter.

If it takes that long for a play to develop, then F6 or F4 need to learn to work quicker. This is the opposite. Still don't want to be the 10th defensive person on the field.

Also, that is a completely different issue. Now, we are talking about a safety issue. Especially, if the pitcher decides to deliver the ball with an unsuspecting batter or catcher. Not even close to a related issue.

One involves safety and the other involves not gaining an unfair advantage.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Originally Posted by MrUmpire

A related issue:

How observant are you of F6 or F4 sneaking towards second with R2 when a batter requests time?

The batter is in peril and if he calls time, it should virtually always be granted immediately. Seldom is a batter's request of time an act of protection of a runner, whose chance of being picked off second is generally rather slim.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by Steven Tyler

Why would an infielder be scared to throw the ball back to the pitcher? They field it and throw to a base.

What's the difference if he throws the ball to the pitcher and then calls time and runs to the mound? Do you not grant time then?

It makes me wonder why a few seconds are so precious. Makes me think you don't want to be there in the first place. Games vary, so what. I'll bet some will crap their pants if the game goes extra innings.

I have never had a problem with excessive timeouts. When they start playing with a clock and giving each team a certain amount of timeouts, then I will worry more about it.

Why post still up? Me want know.

[SethPDX]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

Why post still up? Me want know.

I didn't see the timing of it as coincidental either.