When do you call "Time!"

[BuggBob]

An out fielder has the ball, the runner at 2nd is off the bag. The outfielder throws the ball into the pitcher, but throws it over her head. Runner advances to 3rd. Pitcher says we had time. I respond no you did not the ball was still in the out field. "Every other umpire calls time."

(Rant on with many bad words) I hate the other umpire! (rant off)

Right now as I write about this three teams are protesting and complaining to the league about my horrible call. That's right three teams two which weren't even involved in the game. So to be sure that I was not a total dork, when do the rest of you call time?

Bugg

[mcrowder]

As rarely as possible. Softball is a live-ball sport. I'll go innings sometimes without calling TIME once. "TIME!" for no apparent reason is one of my pet peeves. No need for ANY umpire to call time during the scenario presented here.

[Blu_IN]

[QUOTE=mcrowder]As rarely as possible. [QUOTE]


I agree with mcrowder here. I rarely call time.

I am also not going to call someone out for technically lifting their leg off the base while adjusting their sock and if I am plate and I see the pitcher put the ball down to adjust her hair (or something similiar), I will call time so that the catcher and batter can hear me.

I am a strong proponent of the quick time on the pick off play (as long as the ball is caught and there are no other runners going anywhere). That way, you don't that caught in a situation where a runner, who was already back to the base, either gets up and looses contact or gets pushed off the bag by a defensive player. Just got to be careful not to come up with that time and get caught with another runner trying to grab another base.

[AtlUmpSteve]

Regional 18A Qualifier held this past weekend. R1 slides into third; PU (me) hustles down to make the call, runner is safe. F5 throws the ball to F1.

Coach "Time!". PU ignores, starts back to plate area. Runner has already stood back up, and is dusting herself off.

Coach "Time". PU "Why?" Coach "Can't I have time?" PU "Time!".

Coach to player "See; I told you he had to give me time". PU "That's your conference for this inning, Coach".

Silence; didn't ask again.

[Bluefoot]

When I call ASA SP games, I almost always call time when 'all immediate play is apparently completed'. That is, I wait until runners have stopped running and are at their respective bases, and the ball is controlled by the defense in the infield, in the vicinity of the pitching rubber. (or where the circle would be) Many times, I have had the defense throw the ball away, or drop it, etc. and the runners used those opportunities to try and advance. If I had called time prior to those plays being completed, then I'd would've denied the offense those opportunities. I give both the offense and the defense the opportunity to make plays, and when they're both done, I call time loud and clear to make it clear that I consider all immediate play to have ended. This helps me to keep control of the games.

Last month, I had an R1 about 15 feet down the 3B line when the ball originally hit to right field was thrown to F4 in the infield. F4 kept calling for time, which I did not grant until the defense played the ball toward R1, who then returned to 3B. F4 could not understand why I would not give him time immediately, when he first requested it.

I had another recent game where the defense had chronic trouble getting the relay throws back in to the F1, and several runners took extra bases, as play had not ended. F1 became exasperated and swiped at one throw to him, he ended up knocking the ball away from him, resulting in still more runners advancing.

I have told teams in some games that when I am returning behind the plate and my back is to the infield, that time is 'implied' and all immediate play is considered to have been completed.

[NDblue]

At this time in my umpiring career, I only do SP. Whenever play has stopped and the defense had control of the ball (doesn't have to be in the infield or near the pitchers rubber), I call "TIME" with my hands raised above my head. Am I wrong? Not according to all clinics and schools I've attended nor by the book. I'm going to have to reread that section in the book before doing my first FP game which will be in the next few weeks.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Bluefoot

I have told teams in some games that when I am returning behind the plate and my back is to the infield, that time is 'implied' and all immediate play is considered to have been completed.

Why? In SP, you are supposed to call time. If not, you are not doing your job.

[Steve M]

When the ball is in the circle, under the control of the pitcher, and runners are on their bases. Before that, something might happen, so I don't call time.

[mcrowder]

Steve, unless you are doing slowpitch, why do you call time in the sitch you describe?

[baldgriff]

For clarification I do SP and predominately Adult leagues. I call time when the defensive team has possesion of the ball in the infield and when there are no players attempting to advance.

[noobie]

... and you're working by the 2006 ASA book with no local overrides, point at 8-4-F(2) at your protest hearing. You're on solid ground.

I've had the same thing happen, just no protests. I now warn both managers in the pre-game that I'm enforcing 8-4-F(2) [I always explain what that means]. It works very well.

PS: I've learned not to "hate" the other crewmembers, no matter how much I might disagree with them. I've gotta work with 'em sooner or later. They can run their fields they way they wanna. I'm gonna run mine my way. So goes the one-man system.

[mcrowder]

What rule are they protesting your misapplication of? Did they protest at the time of the call? Does your league require a protest fee, and if so, how many beers will it buy? If they did not protest at the time of the call (and outside teams cannot protest at all!), then they are not "protesting"... they are merely biitching and complaining, which means nothing.

[Steve M]

Originally Posted by mcrowder

Steve, unless you are doing slowpitch, why do you call time in the sitch you describe?

That's assuming that the defense has asked for time. Other than that, I won't normally call time.

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by Steve M

When the ball is in the circle, under the control of the pitcher, and runners are on their bases. Before that, something might happen, so I don't call time.

(partly for mc)
And only if needed:
- sub or CR
- charged conference
- clean plate
- injury
- catcher equip problem
- etc., not just to suspend play

But if I'm working alone, it's automatic if I turn my back on the runners.

[mcrowder]

Originally Posted by Steve M

When the ball is in the circle, under the control of the pitcher, and runners are on their bases. Before that, something might happen, so I don't call time.

Sorry if I misunderstood. Since this was your answer to the question, "When will you call time?", it sounded like you were saying that when the ball is in the circle, under the control of the pitcher, and runners are on their bases, you will call time.

Which (unless you're doing slowpitch) you shouldn't do.