Time

Little Jimmy · #1 (**permalink**) Sun Apr 25, 2004, 09:20am

Doing a mid-level rec league game yesterday where the pitcher was throwing a lot in the dirt and the catcher would every so often overthrow the pitcher when she returned the ball. Pitcher throws another dirtball but catcher blocks it. Runner at second has a big lead waiting to see how the throw to the pitcher goes. Catcher still has ball when defensive coach says he wants time. I say to wait, plays not over(as I said, catcher had overthrown pitcher before). We all stood around looking at each other for 5-6 seconds before catcher finally returned the ball to pitcher and I grant time.

My question is should I have told the coach that the catcher needed to return the ball before I was calling time? Runner on second had a legitimate chance to advance given that days' history. And how about this as it applies to other situations? Ball four, runner heads for first, coach calls for time. I don't grant it but do we need to give an explanation as to why we're not doing it yet?

TexBlue · #2 (**permalink**) Sun Apr 25, 2004, 09:58am

You did it like I do it. If a potential play is about to happen, I never verbally acknowledge the coach, I just hold my hand up to him/her in the universal wait signal.. This indicates to him/her that I heard the request and will allow it soon. I don't talk to him/her, until all play is over with. I just keep my eyes where they belong, at this time, on the play.

I've seen umpires call time while plays are possible and got burned, sometimes bad. One thing about me, I try to learn from my mistakes and others. There is no way I would want to explain to a coach while they just lost the results of a play because I got a little quick with the time call.

[Edited by TexBlue on Apr 25th, 2004 at 11:35 AM]

CecilOne · #3 (**permalink**) Sun Apr 25, 2004, 10:19am

Good job, LJ.

I say "WAIT" just loud enough to be sure the coach or player heard me, sometimes pointing to the BR going to 1st but only on a walk. I don't hold up my hand, because they might think I am signaling time.

[Edited by CecilOne on Apr 25th, 2004 at 11:21 AM]

Andy · #4 (**permalink**) Mon Apr 26, 2004, 10:48am

Not much to add. If this happens to me, I say something like "as soon as the play is over, coach!" without taking my attention away from the play.

This lets the coach know that I heard him and am not ignoring him, but it also tells him that he is not going to get a free stoppage in play to prevent something that might hurt his team.