Sorry if I have to be led by the hand here...

The coach walks out, says nothing to me other than asking for time, says nothing to the pitcher other than "nice job", takes the ball from her and hands it to the shortstop, who relieves her on the pitcher's plate. Coach walks back to the dugout.

Charged conference?

By the book, no notice to ump before speaking to player or conveying a "message" by taking the ball, charged conference in ASA, not NFHS.

By the book, correct, Cecil. However, keeping in mind that the purpose of the rule (I assume) is time management (avoiding delay), I may conveniently forget to record this conference, especially since the rule now requires me to ascertain the purpose of the conference, which was clearly a defensive sub, not a message.

And by the book, he of course means by the way we do it because of what they used to have in the book but now deleted and want us to pretend is still there.:rolleyes:
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Colorado Medical Marijuana

"What was that you said coach, after you requested time? Was it you are going make a defensive sub for your pitcher???" :D