Having lived in either TX Panhandle/South Plains and AZ, I know that you CAN have games where you don't clean the bases (first, second and third) if you can still see them. However, up here in the PNW there are more than a few umpires who eat up many minutes a game brushing them clean, flattening dirt, building roads and dams with Tonka trucks and whatever else. Of course when I don't jump on the lily white base bandwagon I have hell to pay.

My thoughts: too many folks are calling time out too damned often. Fastpitch is a live ball game, especially with two or more umpires.(One man, if I turn my back, I call timeout first. I also know how to backpedal.)

Was this supposed to be in the other thread?

John,

It does not take long to clean a base. Clean them, if they need it.

Actually today I saw someone do this for the 1st time.

He was doing during the defenses warm up, so it didn't waste any time.

Is there anything against having an Ump out there during D's warm-up?

This is adult rec league.

And while we're cleaning the bases off, sweep the pitching rubber too !. More & more however we're just getting a chalk line.

Good Point.

That is the prescribed procedure. Then if during the inning of play
the base becomes covered, call time, sweep it again. I always do the
pitcher's slab first, then any other base that requires it. By the
time you finish, teams should be ready to play; unless college, they
take longer.

Not to argue on this one, I really don't care if you do or don't clean off bases, but why would you not?

That might be a bit embarrassing and painful. Why not clean the pitcher's plate instead. ;)

Thanks
 

I was going to put this in the other thread, but decided to break it out into a new one. Just wanted to generate some feedback...

I believe bases should be cleaned, but IMHO some folks (and not just up here) are taking too much time being janitors instead of umpires.

It's not just in the PNW, either.

Home plate, different issue: keep it clean.

Bases: if you want to clean them, clean them during a break in play or between innings. If it's buried after a runner slides into the base, then by all means call time and clean it...

Pitcher's plate: if I'm doing bases in two man, it gets swept every half inning whether it needs it or not.

LOL!

One other thought
 

I agree if someone slides in with a scoopshovel for a foot and covers a base quickly sweep it off.

But another reason to call time and sweep a base off, did a player get hurt, not bad enough to call a coach out but she needs a second to rub an ankle or catch her breath?

Or most importantly in a game last night PU got hit in a new piece of equipment that he really didn't want to test (you know even though the name implies it you can't drink out of it). 1st BU calls time and sweeps off 1st base which was for all intents clean, but this gave PU a few seconds to catch his breath without causing a scene. Only the umpires standing around (JV game was over early) and the ones on the field knew why it was important to clean that base at that moment. Ok to be honest the 1st basewoman knew too actually asked BU "Do you want me to kick some more dirt on the base to give him an extra second?"

I Sir have no recollection of this event ever happening! :)

I cannot belive you went there.
http://smilies.sofrayt.com/%5E/d0/suck.gif
or there
http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/1/1_4_103.gif

[Edited by rhsc on Apr 23rd, 2005 at 02:00 AM]

Clean them when they are dirty.
We have a lot of sand on the fields here (to help with drainage during the rainy times) and often the lights aren't the greatest. So a little cleaning when they get covered up might help you see a little better (YEAH RIGHT) but the coaches think it does.
I call it preventive officiating.
Actally, it helps to stop the runners from getting a bad start as the push off and keeps them from oversliding too much.
You would be amaazed how much trouble aa little bit of sand can cause.

Plus I do it because in almost all of the Nationals I have done, the UIC wanted it done.

It looks purdy! Thats pretty for people like Mike who live in the foreign wastelands of Delaware. HEHE