Warm-up Pitches

[tcannizzo]

Originally Posted by azbigdawg

Ok....youre posts are usually good....but this one is crap....

"game face on the ground?" WTH does THAT mean, and WHY would it enter into your judgement of how many pitches she gets?

A lot of pitchers have a routine...some like 2 pitches...some like 4, etc..... if they get out there they get to do their thing..... I will actually give a pitcher longer if she was the last hitter, was on base, etc. Not TOO much longer, but longer.

If they are hustling, they will be close to a minute....no problems...I would say if they arent..THEN put them on the clock a little....no need to be overly officious...

edited to ask "WTH does game face on the ground" mean? Am I missing something?

You are entitled to your opinion, and I am not put out by you referring to my post as crap.

The time it takes to put on this equipment is closer to the time it takes for 2 pitches.

I simply keep my games moving.

Been doing this for almost a full year now, and have not had a single complaint from a coach or a pitcher. Not sure why umpires would get so animated over it.

[CecilOne]

5 pitches or 1 minute is the rule.
No legit basis for reducing to 3, if under 1 minute.

Why do some umps have to play "gotcha" or worry about every second later they will get home?

"game face on the ground" - no idea what this means!

[IRISHMAFIA]

Speaking ASA

I've never seen a pitcher get the total warm-ups allowed completed in 60 seconds.

[blueump]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

"game face on the ground" - no idea what this means!

I was stumped too. Maybe this is in reference to a facemask/helmet worn by the pitcher. She leaves it on the ground during warm-up, then picks it up when its time for a batter.

If so, there is still no reason to change the rules to meet a minor "pet-peave" from an official who obviously has way too much time on his hands. No reason to reduce her amount of pitches if she is still legally within her time limit.

[tcannizzo]

Originally Posted by blueump

If so, there is still no reason to change the rules

Which rules would those be?

Originally Posted by blueump

to meet a minor "pet-peave" from an official who obviously has way too much time on his hands.

Should I be reading between the lines here?

Originally Posted by blueump

No reason to reduce her amount of pitches if she is still legally within her time limit.

Do I understand you to say that if the pitcher takes 5 pitches, then puts on her protective gear, then the entire infield huddles in the circle for a chat and a cheer, that she is "legally within her time limit?"


My point is that you have one minute between innings. You can choose to spend it however you want, either pitching or what ever else floats your boat.

[Dakota]

I view the one minute rule as a tool to stop unnecessary delay, not a precise time limit as in the time for a basketball team to bring the ball into the front court. Personally, if I notice lolly-gagging, I'll start the mental count. Sure, your games may finish a bit sooner than mine, but if I wanted to speed things up, I could always just call more time outs.

Most pitchers here only take 3 pitches after the first inning. The summer leagues have conditioned them, I think (it is a league rule there: 5 first inning, 3 thereafter.)

[mcrowder]

I think you're mixing two rules.

She gets 60 seconds or 5 pitches. Give them to her. Don't anticipate future shenanigans and deduct pitches based on your guess as to how long a future high five will take or how long it will take her to get gear on.

AFTER the 60 seconds or 5 pitches, and after you brush the plate (and no need to rush the brushing of the plate just so you can GET the pitcher), when you tell her to pitch, she has 20 seconds. If she can't get equipment on or celebrate a peprally with her team during that 25-30 seconds, then you simply call a ball.

I've found that calling a ball is FAR more effective in dealing with nonsensical time-wasting after a pitcher's warmups than trying to cut pitches out of her warmups.

And TC - I think a lot of the confusion in this thread stemmed from "GameFace" not being as known as you thought it was. I bet all but 2 of the posts above had no idea what you were talking about, and were just thinking "game face" (uncapitalized) - not getting that you were talking about equipment.

[tcannizzo]

Originally Posted by mcrowder

I think you're mixing two rules.

She gets 60 seconds or 5 pitches. Give them to her. Don't anticipate future shenanigans and deduct pitches based on your guess as to how long a future high five will take or how long it will take her to get gear on.

AFTER the 60 seconds or 5 pitches, and after you brush the plate (and no need to rush the brushing of the plate just so you can GET the pitcher), when you tell her to pitch, she has 20 seconds. If she can't get equipment on or celebrate a peprally with her team during that 25-30 seconds, then you simply call a ball.

I've found that calling a ball is FAR more effective in dealing with nonsensical time-wasting after a pitcher's warmups than trying to cut pitches out of her warmups.

And TC - I think a lot of the confusion in this thread stemmed from "GameFace" not being as known as you thought it was. I bet all but 2 of the posts above had no idea what you were talking about, and were just thinking "game face" (uncapitalized) - not getting that you were talking about equipment.

Yes, there was a lot of confusion generated by the loose use of the generic term "Game Face". There are now several other brands. It is like "kleenex" versus "tissue".

[blueump]

Originally Posted by tcannizzo

My point is that you have one minute between innings. You can choose to spend it however you want, either pitching or what ever else floats your boat.

This is not what you said in your original post. You said you decide how she's going to spend her time because you deduct one pitch from her warm-ups. Show me the rule on deducting pitches because equipment is left on the ground, and I'll shut up.

[tcannizzo]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

5 pitches or 1 minute is the rule.
No legit basis for reducing to 3, if under 1 minute.

Why do some umps have to play "gotcha" or worry about every second later they will get home?

"game face on the ground" - no idea what this means!

Multiple posts with the same question:
The Game Face is a brand name of a protective mask that pitchers and some corners will wear as a protective device.

If under 1 minutes, they get 5 pitches, no question.

I am willing to bet a steak dinner that there isn't a pitcher who out there who has taken all 5 warmup pitches AND THEN put her protective gear on in less than 61 seconds.

[mcrowder]

Originally Posted by tcannizzo

I am willing to bet a steak dinner that there isn't a pitcher who out there who has taken all 5 warmup pitches AND THEN put her protective gear on in less than 61 seconds.

As I posted a second ago ... she doesn't HAVE to.

If we are going to be hawks on the time, then she HAS to get her 5 pitches in within 60 seconds. She does NOT have to be ready to also pitch within those 60 seconds. She has to be ready to pitch within 20 seconds of you telling her to pitch. COMPLETELY different things. Don't combine them.

[tcannizzo]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

Why do some umps have to play "gotcha"

WTH is "gotcha"?

[Mountaineer]

I'd love to put a watch on some of your minutes. Doesn't the time begin from the time the last out was made? I can't see how anyone can throw 5 - they have to huddle and go through all their goofy gyrations and then they take their time throwing. I tell the catcher in the fist inning 5 in the 1st - 3 every inning afterwards uless I tell you differently. I have never ever had a coach or catcher or pitcher complain. Sometimes they only throw one and go down. I'd be willing to bet that by the time they throw 3 it's still more than a minute.