Call Time or Allow Timing Violation?

[Manny A]

In NCAA play, the pitcher has ten seconds from when she gets onto the plate with her hands separated to take or simulate taking the signal, and putting her hands together. If she delays longer than ten seconds, the batter is awarded a ball.

So as the pitcher shakes off a couple of signals, the ten-second clock is close to running down. But then the batter requests Time as this delay continues. Do you:

1. Grant Time immediately since the batter requested it well before the pitcher was ready to deliver the pitch?

2. Not grant it and then penalize the pitcher with the ten-second violation if that happens; otherwise, leave the ball live?

3. Wait to grant it to see if there is going to be a violation, and then go ahead and grant it the moment the pitcher brings her hands together before the ten seconds elapse?

[MD Longhorn]

No one is replying...

To me, this is not baseball. Timing rules are there to prevent the stepping out stepping in nonsense. I can't remember the last time I had someone stepping out after getting in ... it just doesn't happen anymore, at least locally.

But if it did, I'd remain ready for the pitch, and call the violation on the pitcher when it happens. If the batter stepped out and caused the violation, I'd call time, gently remind the batter that we don't do that, and move on.

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

No one is replying...

Perhaps I didn't make myself very clear in what I was looking for.

In NCAA softball (unlike baseball), there is a finite time that the pitcher is allowed to stand there with hands apart, receiving the sign. So why should we grant a batter Time when she asks for it, knowing that if we just wait a couple more seconds, the pitcher is going to violate a rule and be assessed with a Ball to the batter?

I did that probably four or five times this weekend in college play. I was getting to 7-8 seconds in my mind as the pitcher looked in while the catcher received the signal from the dugout, referred to her wrist band for the pitch, then gave the signal to the pitcher who, in turn, would shake it off. Then the batter would ask for time, and instinctively I would grant it without hesitation. Afterward, I wondered why I didn't just ignore the Time request, and see if the pitcher would finally beat the 10-second clock or not. I felt I was being too willing to grant the batter Time.

[MD Longhorn]

You were clear.

You shouldn't grant time. That's what I was saying.

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

You shouldn't grant time. That's what I was saying.

Why??
Batter is being disadvantaged by the battery, or might have an unrelated reason.

I would not grant the defense time to avoid the penalty, however.

[MD Longhorn]

How is the batter disadvantaged by the battery taking the time they are legally allowed to take? Those rules are in place SPECIFICALLY to stop the pitcher from taking longer than the rulesmakers think is reasonable - and to keep the batter in the box during that time.