Getting playoff experience

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by Dakota

First, 99 times out of 100, the proper call here is NO PITCH (for the quick pitch), not IP. That would be my first action to slow her down...

"NO PITCH" (me, hands raised, stepping out from behind the plate). "Pitcher, wait until everyone is set." 9 times out of 10, with a high school age pitcher, this will be the end of the QPs.

But, if it isn't, I might do the "no pitch" a time or two more, and if she still does not get the message, she is getting the stop sign from me on every pitch, probably exaggerated at first, accompanied with "the look". Gradually doing away with it, but if the QP's resume, (which it never has in my experience), further action would be warranted, including IP's, and maybe it just might happen that the first of these is with a runner on base.

I really don't know if my approach to this is "proper" with the NUS, NFHS, etc., but it does work.

I think there is a difference between a "quick pitch", when the batter isn't set, and failure to "pause with hands separated to take or simulate taking a signal". I agree with Tom in the first case; slow them down with your game mangement skills.

I don't see a "no pitch" as appropriate in the second case; either make the IP call, or try to fix it with the catcher messenger. After that, as others have said, you make the call. Personally, I look to make that call early, with no runners, sending the message that it will be enforced. After that, let the chips fall when the pitcher violates.