Hidden Ball Trick

[truspartan]

Originally Posted by Welpe

You'd be surprised then as we do have a few coaches that frequent this forum. So long as you're not here to dump on the umpires from your last game and have an interest in trying to better learn the rules, then I say welcome.

That's exactly why I'm here ... ours is a small independent league that's growing and our umpires are high school kids so I don't expect them to have the rule book memorized, but more common areas of contention they should know about I think ... like what comprises a balk, what's the infield fly rule, when can a batter run on a dropped 3rd strike, etc.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by truspartan

Sometimes the ump gives it too early to a requesting coach and that really peeves me...but what can you do other than politely ask that they wait until the play is stopped/over/etc

Funny you say this. One thing that irks me is how often after a walk, the coach yells time and just starts walking toward the pitcher. Nevermind that the ball is live, runners can run, etc.

[truspartan]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

Funny you say this. One thing that irks me is how often after a walk, the coach yells time and just starts walking toward the pitcher. Nevermind that the ball is live, runners can run, etc.

As a coach, I always make sure I GET time before I do anything (like walk on to the field). The incidents where the ump called time early I was sending my runner (who had just got walked) to 2B, but time was called by the ump, stopping my runner at 1B.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by truspartan

As a coach, I always make sure I GET time before I do anything (like walk on to the field). The incidents where the ump called time early I was sending my runner (who had just got walked) to 2B, but time was called by the ump, stopping my runner at 1B.

I would have them keep running. perhaps that would drill the idea of not calling time into the umpire's head.

I make a habit of putting up the stop sign when I hear time before play is obviously over - but a great many coaches walk right through it.

[truspartan]

But if the ump calls time, everything stops, correct? No sense in sending my runner and tipping my hand

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

Funny you say this. One thing that irks me is how often after a walk, the coach yells time and just starts walking toward the pitcher. Nevermind that the ball is live, runners can run, etc.

At the higher levels they won't run and everyone knows it so it doesn't matter. I've seen MLB umpires do a ball exchange with the catcher before the runner is even halfway to first.

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by truspartan

But if the ump calls time, everything stops, correct? No sense in sending my runner and tipping my hand

How else will you train the umpire?

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by truspartan

But if the ump calls time, everything stops, correct? No sense in sending my runner and tipping my hand

Well ... not sure it can be tipping your hand as to what you might do later, if you'll never be able to do it later...