Granting time to walk the ball to the pitcher
 

During an off-season clinic one of the presenters said that he does not call time when an infielder requests time to walk the ball into the pitcher (with runners on base). Although this I do grant time, it does make sense not to. Any thoughts?

Don't grant "Time". Keep the ball live. Make them play the game and don't be the 10th defensive player on the field.

"Live" play moves faster than "dead" play. Players try to keep their tempo going during "live" play. If you stop play, then players tend to walk and drag the game out.

Keep it "live".

+1

+1
 

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

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. ;)

+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.:eek:

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

No one, not even LL needs TIME to throw the ball to F1. When I am asked to give TIME for this I ask them "Are you unable to make the throw or is your pitcher unable to catch? You are on your own, son, get the ball in there!"

+5

Don't call time out so often.

Really? Now they not only have trouble throwing the ball to F1, they can't even walk it there?

No, I'm not granting time for this. They need to play ball. This ain't coach pitch any more. We (I) don't call time when the play stops to get the ball back to the mound.

While working a JuCo game, player asked for time. I asked why he needed time, his reply, because the coach said I had to after every play. Needless to say, I never granted time.

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

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

This happened a few times
 

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.