UH, Coach You Are Home Team!

[whiskers_ump]

In the loser's bracket final, winner to meet the undefeated team
for championship. [No IF game]

Home batting, UP 1-0. Home Team Coach asked how much time is left.
I respond, "two minutes coach." She is batting with one out. Does nothing.
Next batter hits first pitch for a ground out. Still nothing from coach.
Next batter hits first pitch foul pop to 1B. Inning over, 1 min and seconds left,
We start a new inning.

You guessed it, visitors score 3, lead 3-1, win 3-1.

In this association, [Yes, Tom, that one] offensives and defensives are allowed
two times outs per 1/2 inning. She is driving home with both of hers still unused.
All she needed to use was one and have batter take a couple of
pitches.

[mcrowder]

Would you not consider calling the timeouts right after asking you how much time was left an attempt to stall or delay? Is this not illegal in your assoc?

[tcannizzo]

Illegal or not it is bush to take a time out. Telling each batter to take a few pitches is a classier way to run the four corners.

I once saw a team where the home team was running the clock. So the defensive coach called a full team huddle in the circle. Players went back to their positions and faced center field.

[whiskers_ump]

Originally posted by mcrowder
Would you not consider calling the timeouts right after asking you how much time was left an attempt to stall or delay? Is this not illegal in your assoc?

Why would it be illegal? Her actions would have been within the
rules. It would not have been the same as tying shoes, fixing hair,or
players calling time to visit pitcher. I cannot see not allowing a
coach to visit her pitcher. Now, if she is taking too long, that is
a different story. The opposing coach was amazed that she did not utilize
her timeouts. [and glad she did not]

[Dakota]

There is a line between managing the clock (which in my moments of idealism I'd like to see done away with - the clock, that is) and "tactics noticeably designed to delay" (or hasten). The former is legal. The latter will garner a warning from me, reminding the coach of the ultimate penalty.

I would consider routine defensive conferences to be managing the clock.

I would consider a sudden outbreak of untied shoes, a sudden need to give long and elaborate signals, a sudden need to work out those shoulder cramps with lots of practice swings, etc., to be "tactics..."

I would also consider a change in pitchers followed by 5 warm up pitches followed by another change in pitchers to be "tactics..." but apparently the UIC at an ASA National a few years ago did not.

Maybe it's not a line between clock management and "tactics..." - maybe it's a DMZ!