Charge a Conference?
 

Today, after the batter walks, catcher calls time.
AC takes a few steps out of the dugout and tells the catcher some code words for the defense. "Now go tell them", he says.
Catcher then goes to the mound and is joined by the infielders to confer for about 15 seconds.

Would you charge this as a defensive conference? I didn't but it got me to wonder.

No

By definition, yes.

If he yelled from the dugout instead of taking a step out would you charge a conference?

He's just giving signs verbally. He's not delaying because F2 already is at the mound and that in itself isn't a cionference.

No

It is specifically stated that if the manager speaks with a player, and that player then speaks with the pitcher, it's a visit.

OBR, at least.

You mean this:

Rule 8.06 Comment: If the manager or coach goes to the catcher or infielder and that player then goes to the mound or the pitcher comes to him at his position before there is an intervening play (a pitch or other play) that will be the same as the manager or coach going to the mound.
Any attempt to evade or circumvent this rule by the manager or coach going to the catcher or an infielder and then that player going to the mound to confer with the pitcher shall constitute a trip to the mound.

It's not just speaking. There needs to be traveling. There was no "going to" by the manager and the players were already on the mound. The conditions were not met. Not a conference/visit.

If you adhered to your "speaks to" thought you'd charge a visit every time the manager or coach yelled something to the players from the bench. Not gonna happen.

So anytime a manager/coach yells from the dugout, by rule/definition, you are going to charge a conference? Wow, that will game will almost be as quiet as when I used to do California School for the Deaf games.

Not much different than the 3rd base coach sending signals to the batter.

If the coach and F2 met, then F2 went to the mound, then this would be charged.

Where does the OP say that he shouted from the dugout? OP says TELLS, which to me, implied some sort of private conversation. Obviously, if he's yelling things out that the defense can hear, it's not a conference, and I was not replying to that situation. (In fact, when Rich asked if I'd consider it a conference if the coach yelled, I would not consider it a conference).

"Tells" isn't the requirement. "Goes to" is the requirement.

Hey Bob...Remember what they used to say about using the infield fly sign at that school?

Yep, we never did use that signal there. I once made a close call at the plate and the HC (who was deaf) wanted to discuss the play through his interpreter (who signed him what I was saying). I always wondered if I had to eject, would I eject the HC or the guy who actually cussed at me?

Sounds like a "two-fer". :D

I see where the confusion lies. I took it as though the coach just stepped out of the dugout and yelled vs came out of the dugout and conferred with the catcher. The OP was a little vague, but from the other responses we took it differently than you.

Wow! That's classic!