It's a live ball game (sure)
 

Varsity HS game last night. I'm PU Couple of runners on base 0 or 1 outs (precise details irrelevant). Hard grounder hit down 3B line. Snagged by F5 who holds the runners and makes a last second throw to 1B which is a bit wide and low. F3 makes a great stretch and lifts the ball out of the dirt just before the BR reaches 1B for the out. Partner rings up the BR. F1 runs over to 1B to congratulate F3. Runner now on 3rd starts toward home, but since F3 is still paying attention, she thinks better of it and goes back to 3rd. OK nothing too unusual here (except for the brain cramp by F1).

At the half inning break, O coach wants to ask a question. She wants to know that if the runner had scored, would I have allowed it. I'm confused (Sure, coach, why not?) She claims that all (or most) of the umprires she has had this season (we are nearing the end of the HS season now, so this is quite a few games) have been calling TIME as soon as the play is made at 1B, sometimes even while runners are still off the bags on other bases. :eek:

I'm astonished. I tell her I don't know why they would be doing that, since the ball is still live.

I'm still astonished. Maybe they are trying to speed up the game! :cool:

:D :D :D :D :D :D

Ha!!! The "underground' umpire mechanics clinics are working!!

I'll bet they brush the plate off a little more frequently when there's only 2 minutes left on the clock, too. ;)

Gee, not that *I* would ever do that. Repeatedly...

Three options:

1) Coach was exaggerating.

2) She got a lot of slo-pitch umpires instead of fastball umpires.

3) Those were slo-pitch games.

Coach was probably exaggerating a bit, but clearly this was not a one time thing with one umpire.

They may be slow pitch umpires also, but this school has all of their varsity games covered by my HS association, and most of the varsity umpires are quite experienced.

They were not slow pitch games.