Stepping on the Plate

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by MNBlue

We had a similar situation in a FP game. Bottom of 5 in a timed game. Home is down by 3 with two outs and a runner on 2B. Coach yells to R1 to step off of 2B so they can get to the next inning.

It was suggested that this would fall under the unsportsmanlike rules. I was a little ambivolent, as I 'understood' the strategy taking place.

I thought it would be a little more 'pruden't to be covert about the instruction. Maybe a signal. Maybe ask for an offensive conference and instruct the runner.

Sometimes defense is the best offense. In my case and the OP, it appears that getting to the next inning was more prudent than observing the spirit of the rules.

But, the OP, if properly called, wouldn't have done a thing to get them to the next inning.

Your case is something totally different. In your case, there WAS an infraction of the rules. i.e. the runner leaving before the release of the pitch. That results in an out being called and subsequently, a new inning.

[MNBlue]

Originally Posted by Skahtboi

But, the OP, if properly called, wouldn't have done a thing to get them to the next inning.

Your case is something totally different. In your case, there WAS an infraction of the rules. i.e. the runner leaving before the release of the pitch. That results in an out being called and subsequently, a new inning.

True. I was just suggesting that there might be a better way to get the out and the new inning other than shouting out to a player to violate a rule.

[JefferMC]

Would this be a tactic "noticeably designed to delay or to hasten the game"?

5.4.E anyone?

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by JefferMC

Would this be a tactic "noticeably designed to delay or to hasten the game"?

5.4.E anyone?

If it's SP, and we're in the bottom of 6th with only a few seconds left, chances are that the 7th would be pretty quick. I'd let it go. I might say something to the coach for hollering during the pitch, however.

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by JefferMC

Would this be a tactic "noticeably designed to delay or to hasten the game"?

5.4.E anyone?

Would what be a tactic "noticeably designed to delay or to hasten the game?"

Stepping on the plate is no tactic, period. There is no penalty for it, unless the batter makes contact with the ball. If they hit it with the bat, then we have a dead ball and an out. If it hits them, then it will be dead ball and either a strike or a ball depending on whether or not I judge it to be in the zone.

[JefferMC]

Originally Posted by Skahtboi

Would what be a tactic "noticeably designed to delay or to hasten the game?"

Stepping on the plate is no tactic, period. There is no penalty for it, unless the batter makes contact with the ball. If they hit it with the bat, then we have a dead ball and an out. If it hits them, then it will be dead ball and either a strike or a ball depending on whether or not I judge it to be in the zone.

Oh, I'd have to say that it was a tactic. Maybe not a useful or effective tactic. But not all tactics are useful or effective.

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by JefferMC

Oh, I'd have to say that it was a tactic. Maybe not a useful or effective tactic. But not all tactics are useful or effective.

Okay, it is a very poor tactic, but it certainly isn't a tactic designed to hasten or delay anything!

[BretMan]

Obviously, just stepping on the plate, in and of itself, isn't illegal. But let's change it up a bit. Suppose that in this same situation the coach instructed a player to:

- Purposely step on the plate and hit the ball- and he did.

- Purposely leave a base before the pitch reached the plate- and he did.

Now what do you do?

[okla21fan]

Originally Posted by JefferMC

Would this be a tactic "noticeably designed to delay or to hasten the game"?

5.4.E anyone?

'extending' the game does not necessarily mean "noticeably designed to delay or to hasten the game".

By stepping on the plate (FP with the pitcher toed up) or SP (stepping on the plate and making contact with the ball) or a base runner vacating a base, all in order to get an out(s) to get to the next inning is simply that, getting to the next inning. This is 'extending' the game and not 'delaying or hastening' the game as the game is still continuing, and I would simply apply the rule for the violation and play another inning. That is the nature if the beast of a 'time limit' game.

just my 2 cents

[BretMan]

Originally Posted by okla21fan

By stepping on the plate (FP with the pitcher toed up) or SP (stepping on the plate and making contact with the ball)...in order to get an out(s) to get to the next inning...

Not to get off the subject of enforcing a potential "delaying or hastening the game" situation (because it is an interesting topic), but the above quote seems to imply that you think there is a different rule about stepping on the plate for fastpitch and slow pitch.

There isn't. Both require the batter to actually contact the ball with the bat while touching the plate.

Are you maybe confusing the rule about stepping across the plate, as in switching to the other batter's box, while the pitcher is in position to pitch?

[okla21fan]

Originally Posted by BretMan

Are you maybe confusing the rule about stepping across the plate, as in switching to the other batter's box, while the pitcher is in position to pitch?

yep