Offensive Time Out

[josephrt1]

USA/ASA - If batter calls time to talk to a baserunner does it count as the charged offensive conference for that inning? I think the rule wording is ambiguous on this act.

CHARGED CONFERENCE: When a team representative requests a suspension of play or delays the game for the purpose of delivering a message to another team member, unless the pitcher is removed from the pitching position.

5.7.A. Offensive Conference: There shall be only one charged conference between team representatives and the batter, another team representative, and/or runners in an inning. The umpire shall not permit any such conferences in excess of one in an inning. [Note: this is the same wording in the Rule Supplement section.]

In both places it states "a team representative" and someone else. It also specifically defines the someone else as a batter, runner or other team representative. I'm probably overthinking this but charged timeout needs to involve a team representative and representatives don't seem to include players. Also, we allow catcher and pitcher or other defenders to confer without being charged, so I think batter and base-runner should not be charged. Only ever happened to me once and I did not charge it.