Umpire Baiting Coach - Delay of Game?

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by Dukat

It is ASA. My point is if there is no force then how can I be against the delay of game rule by not running a girl that is not legally obligated to run? Once I got bases loaded after 2 more batters I ran her home as she was required to do.

Irish - There could be and was only one more run scored as once I ran the girl home when forced the game was called.

Several points:

1) ASA does not allow restricting a coach to the dugout. Maybe your local league does.

2) I, also, have no problem in general with your coaching tactic in this situation. HOWEVER, since your admitted use of the tactic was to delay the completion of the game, it was illegal. As noted above, the rule against delaying the game does not state that the tactics must be in and of themselves illegal. Only that they be noticeably designed to delay the game. Normally, when I see coaches go to station-to-station running, it is to limit the scoring (limit the damage in a blowout), not to avoid hitting the mercy rule. They have long since hit the mercy rule in number of runs; they are just trying to get to through the innings required.

3) I think your desire to delay the game in order to give a couple of more kids some at-bats was a questionable motive.