Speeding up games from the bases
 

K, last one from this game, I promise.

So the game all these threads come, was a very very slow game. Lots of dawdling between half innings. Warm up pitches were definitely not being completed in a minute. I mentioned in the other thread waiting for the catcher before the top of the 1st.

If I were calling the plate in this game, I'd have been working with the catchers to keep things moving, lowering the number of warmups if it takes two and a half minutes to get out to the mound having the batter ready to stand in the second the last pitch leaves the catchers hand, etc.
But I've never really learned what to do as BU to speed things up. Thoughts?
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Pen Shaped Vaporizer

Get with your partner between half innings and mention something like "jeez, this game sure is dragging along, don't you think?" Something to give your partner a clue.

As BU, you could also get those fielders moving by saying something like, "here we go, now... hustle in, hustle out..." At the same time, lead by example. Make sure that you're also hustling along with them into your between-inning holding zone and your BU position (A, B or C). Players and coaches can be lemmings in that fashion. ;)

I don't want to do anything that would appear to be stepping on the PU's toes, but somebody's got to get the game moving.

Well...my first thought is, of course, if there was a mound in this game, why are you posting this question on a softball board??? :rolleyes:

There is no reason you can't remind the PU, without any attitude of course, that there is a one minute/five pitch rule. It is a rule, just like any other in the book, and needs to be enforced.

I would and have said something like "Hey brother, you've got to pick it up, this game is dragging. Chop that girl to like 3 pitches and lets get it going man." Then I might go on and on a little "Wow, this is like molasses." "Holy crap I'm dying out here." "Are we dead yet?"

My partner usually gets the hint.

When I had a beard and had a partner like this, it was nothing for me to say "Wow, I was clean shaven when we got here. Can you speed this game up a little?"

I absolutely hate this coming from umpires, base or plate. It's not your job to "hustle" the little girls along. All we can do is hustle ourselves, and be prepared when the timing mechanisms built into the rules need applied. Yelling at them to "here we go" only shows everyone else on the field that you have somewhere else to be. You're paid per game, not per minute.

What you said first - talking with your PU - is the best resolution here.

I'm not liking it, either, and I don't do it myself. Just throwing ideas out there.

Dunno where I read it, but "hustle in, hustle out" or that type of reference was actually encouraged as "small" talk as part of the job to encourage the game's pace to keep going and not become stagnant. I can't remember if it's the ASA umpires' manual (back part of our rule book) or if it was a baseball umpires' manual somewhere.

You dont need to speed em up SRW - thats what you use the top secret timers for ;)

Yes, the best course of action would be to start enforcing those timing mechanisms built into the rules and the penalties when they are not met.

Examples:

NFHS 3-6 ART.6...Only the batter, runner(s), on deck batter, coaches in the coach's box, bat/ball shaggers or one of the nine players on defense are permitted to be outside the designated dugout/bench or designated warm-up areas.

Note: Bench personnel are permitted to engage in throwing and running activities during the one minute designated for the pitcher to throw her five warm-up pitches at the beginning of each half inning.

NFHS 6-2 ART. 5...No more than one minute to deliver not more than five warm up pitches.

NFHS 6-2 Art. 3...Once the ball has been returned to the pitcher to prepare for the next pitch, she has 20 seconds to release the pitch.

NFHS 7-3 ART. 1...A batter shall not delay the game by failing to take her position in the batter's box within 10 seconds after the ball is returned to the pitcher to prepare for the next pitch, or by stepping out of the box when the pitcher is on the pitching plate.

True, but those are responsibilities of the PU, not the BU. The OP is asking about what the BU can do to get the game moving. It sounds like the PU is taking his/her sweet time counting the links in the fence (or the hot moms with this indicator).

Somewhat disagree here. To start, they are not little girls, but ballplayers and that is how the umpire should approach the game.

The umpire should encourage players and coaches to hustle during the game so the "timing mechanisms" are not necessary and the outcome will be determined solely by the play on the field, not the tick of the kitchen timer on the backstop.......if you had one of those. :rolleyes:

Agree! Its preventative to hustle them.

It prevents me from letting them waste everyone's time while they rah rah rah and whatever. You dont just start calling balls and strikes if they arent hustling - you arent doing your job if you let it get that far without taking prevetative action IMO.