Calling "Time" on batters

[Rich]

I ended up having a semi-heated conversation with a coach earlier this week on this very topic.

His batter, on EVERY pitch, would hold up his hand while getting into the box so he could dig for 5+ seconds with his back foot. Finally, I told the batter to keep one foot in the box and we would not be holding up the game on every pitch. The batter didn't listen to me and I let the pitcher pitch when the kid has his hand up while digging. I made sure the batter wasn't looking down -- I'm not going to sacrifice safety -- and the batter got his hand on the bat just in time to foul the pitch off.

Naturally, the coach came out between innings and asked me what I said to his player. Naturally, I told him exactly what I told the batter.

Then the coach got annoyed. First he told me the batter could call time anytime he wanted. I told the coach, "No, he can't." Then he told me that the batter had 20 seconds between pitches and I had to hold back a laugh. I wasn't about to hold a rules clinic. I think the line I finally used (twice) was, "This is the way it's going to be today." Then I told him he needed to go back to the dugout.

I've not seen anything quite like this team (well, I did have them about 8 years ago in a regional playoff and I ended up ejecting an assistant coach) -- the catcher was openly arguing with the coach the entire game and eventually told the coach (from the plate, loud enough for all to hear) to "Stop talking. You're not helping us. Don't talk to us unless you have a play" and the coach just took this from the kid and spend the offensive innings pleading with the kid to act right, listen to him, and stop being a jerk. I almost felt sorry for the coach -- regardless of talent this kid would've been on the bench in my world.

And if the coach thinks he's going to take that from his catcher and yet be a jerk himself to me, he's got another thought coming.