Watch Fob Hanging from MLB Pockets
 

I have frequently seen a long lanyard or fob hanging from MLB base umpire pockets. In yesterday's Cardinals/Giants game at the end of the inning the 2nd base ump had what looked to be a stop watch with a long lanyard hanging from it. I'm curious what a stopwatch might be used for by umps at that level?

Nic

Timing between innings

-Josh

Don't forget 12 seconds between pitches (no runners).

I wish.

1+

They would sell less beer though

-Josh

So just one member of the crew has the watch and is responsible for the time between innings?

Yes, only 1 umprie is needed to do this. It's a simple task that does not require a "board meeting" or "consultation". Although, I'm sure that down the road, the crews will be meeting to agree on exactly when the clock should be started and stopped. This along with every other ridiculous "board meeting" needed to get a MLB game done.

A stopwatch is used so that the game starts at the proper time (TV/radio commercials).

At other levels (NCAA for one), a stopwatch is used for enforcement of pace of play rules.

Or they can go to system that college football uses where a side judge wears a large red glove that comes up to his elbow. Most ridiculous thing I have ever seen.

That's not the Side Judge.

If it is, I want one. I was a side judge last year.

All I can do is SMH.

What is he called?

I guess I've never been to an televised NCAA game, but in the NFL he's called "orange sleeves."

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"The guy on the television crew who tells the officials when they are back from commercial and whether a TO will be 30 seconds (no ad) or 90 seconds (ad) (or whatever the times are)."

Or red sleeve, or orange sleeve.

The side judge is a game official -- one of two "deep wings"

I attend at least one Youngstown State Univ. football game a year and my wife and I have season tickets to The Univ. of Toledo football games and all of those games are on the radio and most of them are televised too and I have never (with apologies to the late J. Dallas Shirley; check with the guys on the Basketball Forum) seen a game official wearing such a glove. What I have seen is a person on the Press Box side of the field on the sideline with a headset on that gives the go ahead to the R as to when the game can be restarted.

MTD, Sr.