Foul ball coming in

[bob jenkins]

I agree with Carl -- time is out when the umpire is doing something other than watching the game. That applies when s/he's cleaning the plate, catchig foul balls that are being thrown back in, returning from the infield to the plate when doing single-person umpiring, ...

One thing that I do to make this clearer is to overtly call "time" the first couple of times the situation arises during the game. It's not too loud -- just loud enough for the closest players to hear. And, it's accompanied not by the two-handed "touchdown" signal, but by a one-handed "stop sign" signal.

After the first couple of times, I just revert to a more non-chalant version of the signal. When asked, I can claim that I've been calling time on these situations since the beginning of the game.

[Art Hager]

I tossed this into the thread about putting your hand up, but I think the conversation swept by it. Or maybe everyone just ignored it. I'll try again:

Someone has retrieved a foul ball or two, and is ready to throw it/them in to you or the catcher. In a live ball situation (maybe B1 has just walked), suppose a ball is coming in from the sidelines, you and maybe the catcher are looking over that way, the ball is thrown to you, or to the catcher who hands it to you, and while this is going on, something fun happens on the field, maybe in the worst case a steal of home. Maybe the catcher still has the game ball, maybe the pitcher. Is time automatically out anywhere in this sequence of events, or should you bark out "time!" when it gets started? In general, how do you prevent a problem from developing in this situation? A little like brushing off the plate, but more likely to happen unexpectedly (yeh, I know, I shouldn't brush the plate unexpectedly).

[Carl Childress]

quote:

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Originally posted by Art Hager:
I tossed this into the thread about putting your hand up, but I think the conversation swept by it. Or maybe everyone just ignored it. I'll try again:

Someone has retrieved a foul ball or two, and is ready to throw it/them in to you or the catcher. In a live ball situation (maybe B1 has just walked), suppose a ball is coming in from the sidelines, you and maybe the catcher are looking over that way, the ball is thrown to you, or to the catcher who hands it to you, and while this is going on, something fun happens on the field, maybe in the worst case a steal of home. Maybe the catcher still has the game ball, maybe the pitcher. Is time automatically out anywhere in this sequence of events, or should you bark out "time!" when it gets started? In general, how do you prevent a problem from developing in this situation? A little like brushing off the plate, but more likely to happen unexpectedly (yeh, I know, I shouldn't brush the plate unexpectedly).

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+++++++++++
In over 3100 games I never had a problem with this.

If I had a live ball, I called time out when someone intended to throw a ball back in.
In my experience, though, baseballs generally come in during a dead ball.

I believe most players and coaches would consider the ball automatically dead when the umpire turned away to receive baseballs. (Now that's not always the case in the big leagues, where they have a ball ball who brings them to the plate umpire.

Look at it this way: If something happens while you're handling your housekeeping duties, just say: "What's going on? I called time."

Who could say you didn't?



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Papa C
Editor, eUmpire

[rex]

OK so you've both read it.


I never call time when there's a "balls in" situation. I won't let the ball come in.

Who ever has the out of play ball will always (dangerous word) get someone's attention before throwing the thing over the fence or handing to someone on the field.

When they holler hay blue/catcher ball in. Ya just holler back hold on to if for a minute.

If you have a live ball out there and let's say it's the only one you have left. You don't need another until the one that is alive goes away. A pouch full of game balls is not a security blanket. When the only game ball you have goes away it's gonna be a dead ball situation any way you look at it. That’s when you ask for the balls in.

If the game ball doesn't go away sooner or later there will be another HAPPENING that will cause the ball to go dead, then you can get that wayward ball(s).

Should you let that ball come in when there is a batter in the box and call time, he's gonna step out yadata-yadata-yadata.

Should it be a dug out player/shag situation that ball can be run in just like the BB's do in the pros when there is a lull.

Now then if the ball comes in when your not expecting it, ya gotta call time, then you get to chew butt on whoever threw that ball in while the game was going on.


That ball coming in can add another minute to the game if you call time.

I just love it when after a game some parent comes up to me and says they enjoyed the games and that I just kept it moving along, They have idea as to why it moved along so will. But I know why, I don't call time unless my back is up against it.

Our housekeeping should not effect the game.

rex

[Jim Porter]

quote:

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Originally posted by rex:
OK so you've both read it.


I never call time when there's a "balls in" situation. I won't let the ball come in.

Who ever has the out of play ball will always (dangerous word) get someone's attention before throwing the thing over the fence or handing to someone on the field.

When they holler hay blue/catcher ball in. Ya just holler back hold on to if for a minute.

If you have a live ball out there and let's say it's the only one you have left. You don't need another until the one that is alive goes away. A pouch full of game balls is not a security blanket. When the only game ball you have goes away it's gonna be a dead ball situation any way you look at it. That’s when you ask for the balls in.

If the game ball doesn't go away sooner or later there will be another HAPPENING that will cause the ball to go dead, then you can get that wayward ball(s).

Should you let that ball come in when there is a batter in the box and call time, he's gonna step out yadata-yadata-yadata.

Should it be a dug out player/shag situation that ball can be run in just like the BB's do in the pros when there is a lull.

Now then if the ball comes in when your not expecting it, ya gotta call time, then you get to chew butt on whoever threw that ball in while the game was going on.


That ball coming in can add another minute to the game if you call time.

I just love it when after a game some parent comes up to me and says they enjoyed the games and that I just kept it moving along, They have idea as to why it moved along so will. But I know why, I don't call time unless my back is up against it.

Our housekeeping should not effect the game.

rex

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Rex,

You and I have similar views regarding this matter. Some umpires around here waste a ton of time on foul balls and extra balls. They make the catcher chase fouls to the screen and passed balls with no runners on base. They wait while the left fielder chases down a foul ball in the poison ivy and bull briars. They stop the game so a little kid can toss a ball he retrieved over the fence.

When I work, the on-deck batters are ready to retrieve those meaningless balls to the screen. I never look at a person trying to give a ball to me until there's an appropriate stop in the action. If they're calling my name I usually just send an index finger in their general direction and tell them to hold on for a moment. I always holler, "Let it go," to a fielder trying to retrieve a foul ball that is farther away than 15 feet, and one that is of no consequence to playing action.

Let players wearing helmets go and retrieve those balls. Of course, in Little League this is a different matter. The size of the diamond makes the above recommendations impossible sometimes. But on the big field, there's no need to hold up the game for a ball that is easily retrievable by another player not involved in the game.

It can be the difference between a 2-1/2 hour game and a 2 hour game.

Sincerely,
Jim Porter

[blarson]

Jim,

In my first year back in LL Districts I worked w/ a guy threw back on these occasions and I liked the way it moved the game. It did take a a few innings for the kids to get used to though. I'm going to try to incorporate this next year. I didn't want to make a change in the tourney.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Jim Porter:

"They make the catcher chase fouls to the screen and passed balls with no runners on base.

[Jim Porter]

quote:

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Originally posted by blarson:
Jim,

In my first year back in LL Districts I worked w/ a guy threw back on these occasions and I liked the way it moved the game. It did take a a few innings for the kids to get used to though. I'm going to try to incorporate this next year. I didn't want to make a change in the tourney.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Jim Porter:

"They make the catcher chase fouls to the screen and passed balls with no runners on base.

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Heck, Bob, I haven't worked a single 60-foot diamond all-star game that lasted more than 1-1/2 hours in over three years.

Our District Final this year was 1 hour and 5 minutes long. The previous game lasted for only 58 minutes.

I would say all-stars can retrieve those balls themselves. We've got to do something to slow the game down!

Sincerely,
Jim Porter