In a girls 12U fastpitch game I was at tonight, a coach instructed his pitcher to call time-out after every passed ball/wild pitch. He told her to call for time-out as soon as she received the ball from the catcher - while pitcher was still in area of home-plate, before she returned to the circle. He was, of course, trying to prevent the runner on 3rd from stealing home while the pitcher walked back to circle. My question is: isn't the ball still in play until the pitcher has it in the circle? I don't know why the umpire allowed this...except that the "know-it-all coach" had a REALLY big mouth. (He convinced the umpire that a pitched ball that hit a batter was just "dead", and the batter couldn't be awarded first base because it hit the ground first - sounds like a slow pitch guy???) Anyway, his team didn't win, but what a marathon! 27-20 in 2hrs/40min.

You are correct in that the runner can advance until the pitcher, with the ball, is in the pitching circle. I don't allow time until the pitcher is there.

Of course, if a coach is aware that he can do this, why shouldn't he? If an umpire allows it, I'd be calling time every pitch too. Of course, this umpire is either new, unlerned in the game or intimidated. However you look at it, the coach is just working an angle. The next umpire probably won't allow that to happen.

In this case...at least two out of three applied!

I am assuming that this a rec-level game, 27-20 score and a 2 hr 40min game. I would also be safe in assuming you had a rec-level umpire (No insult intended here) Most of these umpires are very inexperienced or very young and can be easily intimidated by an older adult coach. It is wrong for the umpire to grant time in this situation. A more experienced blue will not allow this. Better luck in the next game!

'(He convinced the umpire that a pitched ball that hit a batter was just "dead", and the batter couldn't be awarded first base because it hit the ground first - sounds like a slow pitch guy???)'

"Coach, if the pitch gets past the catcher, then you don't want your runners to advance, right"?

Bob

Your assumption is 100% correct. Usually this town/league puts out VERY good umpires, but that was obviously not the case last night. As a former coach, I put a lot of effort into learning the rules. So, it's frustrating as a parent/spectator to observe these situations. (By the way, "my" kids won in spite of the whole mess).

Well geez ump, not the OTHER team's runners! Heck, I'm way behind already! But, can't we just make up the rules as we go along...when they're to my benefit?