Warm-up Pitches

[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".

[jimpiano]

Originally Posted by tcannizzo

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".

I think you missed a great career in overseeing air line schedules.

Frankly, I have never seen any pitcher use 60 seconds to deliver a meager 5 warm up pitches.

[mcrowder]

Originally Posted by jimpiano

I think you missed a great career in overseeing air line schedules.

Frankly, I have never seen any pitcher use 60 seconds to deliver a meager 5 warm up pitches.

I see the smiley ... but the next time you umpire, bring a stopwatch. Have someone start it when the 3rd out is made. Have them stop it when you direct her to pitch. Don't time it yourself, or you'll hurry them along. Then check it after - you'll be shocked. My bet - over 2 minutes.

Then have this person time it each half inning - see if you EVER get close to 1 minute without dropping a pitch. I bet you don't - even if you hurry them.

[azbigdawg]

Originally Posted by tcannizzo

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".

Let me first apologize to Tony.... I had no idea what he was refering to, and no clue that it was equipment, So I apologize for refering to his post as "crap"

I still STRONGLY disagree with him being so tight with the time limit....if the girls are hustling...Im giving 5 pitches..... that number will decrease if they huddle before coming out. 5 pitches and tossing the ball around might take over a minute, but as long as its not getting ugly,I will allow it...

[tcannizzo]

Darrell,
Apology not necessary, but accepted. No harm - no foul...


Our association is persnickety about this subject. We have been strictly adhering to this rule both ASA and High School. However, the Game Face thing is mine, and mine only.

I also want to be clear about how I do this. When I say that I automatically deduct a pitch, it is purely mental in my head (thanks Yogi). I do not tell pitchers that I am docking pitches. And A B S O L U T E L Y !!! If she can deliver her pitches and then get her equipment on in one minute, she gets five pitches.

I have waited almost a full year before I shared this concept with anyone, in order not to shoot my mouth too soon. Based on my experience, I haven't had a pitcher that could get to five and do the head gear in the prescribed time frame.

Yes, it is pre-concieved in my head when I see the equipment laying on the ground. And the steak dinner offer is still on the table. Any takers? I like eating steak, especially on other people's money.

P.S. To the poster who felt that I just wanted to get home earlier, I am getting home at the same time as you. The wide majority of my games are timed. So the question becomes: How many innings do YOU get in? 3 1/2, 4, OK 5? My preference is 6 or 7. And the teams like it too.