Ballgame!!!!

mcrowder · #1 (**permalink**) Mon Mar 05, 2007, 04:01pm

How many of you still yell "BALLGAME!" the instant an apparent winning run crosses the plate?

Scrimmage game this weekend, and a training event for my newer guys.

6-6 game, 0 out, ladies on 2nd and 3rd. DEEP DEEP fly to center, caught and the runner scampers home. Runner on 2nd rounds 3rd and is about halfway home when PU (rookie) yells "BALLGAME!" as the ball is coming in and even steps in front of R2, who veers off and heads for the dugout to cheer.

Luckily for them, defense is not paying attention at all, as I (and rookie BU - kudos, kiddo) notice that R1 was at least a yard off third as she watched the ball get caught, and then runs straight home.

BU asked me some rookie questions (should I have called her out? etc), but then asked a good one - what would we have done if the defense ended up appealing. I explained the timing of appeals to them, but then also explained that we (the umpiring crew) would have been up a creek as it was EXTREMELY clear that R2 would have scored (and easily) had PU not intervened. So correcting the appeal situation would have been unfair to an offense that still would have scored the winning run had the umpire not jumped the gun.

So --- how many of you stop and yell ballgame? Personally, I've always just let play finish before yelling or doing anything to end the game. I didn't have this sitch in mind, but I have always felt that telling some players to stop playing when others may not know it's over is just asking for someone to take off a helmet and get clocked by a thrown ball, or some such. But this play was a great example why we should let play finish before calling a game over.

Dakota · #2 (**permalink**) Mon Mar 05, 2007, 04:23pm

I don't yell anything (except for the call on the play, if there is one).

IRISHMAFIA · #3 (**permalink**) Mon Mar 05, 2007, 04:50pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcrowder

How many of you still yell "BALLGAME!" the instant an apparent winning run crosses the plate?

Never have, doubt I ever will as there is no purpose for it, nor is it part of any prescribed mechanic. It is not the umpire's position to declare a game over unless forfeited or ends due to a runs ahead rule.

For that matter, even when I know the came is over, I usually wait and let the teams tell me the game has ended.

CecilOne · #4 (**permalink**) Mon Mar 05, 2007, 05:12pm

I generally pay minimal attention to the score and make no announcements that might imply favoritism or being glad the game is over.

archangel · #5 (**permalink**) Mon Mar 05, 2007, 05:25pm

Both teams know who's ahead and behind when the game legally ends- I dont have to tell them...

SRW · #6 (**permalink**) Mon Mar 05, 2007, 06:49pm

So the thread less than a year ago apparantly didn't clarify this topic...?

Dakota · #7 (**permalink**) Mon Mar 05, 2007, 09:59pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by SRW

So the thread less than a year ago apparantly didn't clarify this topic...?

Are you trying to ruin this for everyone?

CLBuffalo · #8 (**permalink**) Mon Mar 05, 2007, 10:33pm

As PU I will call "Ball game" a) when it is a drop dead timed game and all play has stopped and b) when the Run Ahead rule has been properly reached and all play has stopped.

CecilOne · #9 (**permalink**) Tue Mar 06, 2007, 08:52am

Quote:

Originally Posted by CLBuffalo

As PU I will call "Ball game" a) when it is a drop dead timed game and all play has stopped and b) when the Run Ahead rule has been properly reached and all play has stopped.

In both cases, I verify the criteria with the losing coach, maybe both and then quietly say "that's it" or "no more time" or ...
I do announce the remaining time when we start an inning I suspect will be the last.