Stepping on the Plate

[tmielke]

Originally Posted by AtlUmpSteve

I am calling time, before they commit the offense, and using however much time is necessary to kill the clock to explain to Coach A how that strategy violates the rule, and (oh yeah, by the way, coach), time has now expired.

I have coached, I prefer to umpire. Maybe my perspective is a bit different.

Let the players play, let the coach coach, I'll call balls, strikes and outs. I don't see any need to get involved in the outcome of the game by managing the clock for the coach.

A timed softball game is no different than any other timed gamed, clock management becomes part of the game. An umpire purposefully delaying the game because they don't like the lack of hustle of a team is a lot closer to unsportsmanlike conduct than a coach hollering at Suzie to leave early.

What makes it ok for the umpire to delay the game when it is against the rules for the participants to delay the game?

Tom

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by tmielke

I have coached, I prefer to umpire. Maybe my perspective is a bit different.

Let the players play, let the coach coach, I'll call balls, strikes and outs. I don't see any need to get involved in the outcome of the game by managing the clock for the coach.

A timed softball game is no different than any other timed gamed, clock management becomes part of the game. An umpire purposefully delaying the game because they don't like the lack of hustle of a team is a lot closer to unsportsmanlike conduct than a coach hollering at Suzie to leave early.

What makes it ok for the umpire to delay the game when it is against the rules for the participants to delay the game?

Tom

Well, unfortunately, the job of the umpire is regulate the game under the rules the teams agreed upon.

In every other "clocked" games, there are also rules which manage the manner in which a team can "use" the clock as a strategy.

However, like it or not, IMO, one of the main causes for a clock to be involved in the game of softball is because of the coaches.

When I was growing up we had this thing called "practice" and subsequently took part in "scrimmages". This is where the coaches taught players how to play the game. When we played the game, the coach coached the team through the game.

Nowadays, some coaches seem to want to coach the players throughout every step of the game, from during warm-ups to each at-bat. An umpire tries to enforce the time limitations between innings or call a strike because the batter is having a hard time reading the 20-gesture signal from the Gene Mauch wannabe at 3B and all you hear is the "let the girls play".

I can appreciate your position and readily admit my examples do not apply to the most of the coaches out there. However, the type of tactics this type of coaches use is one reason a clock has been added to what is supposed to be a non-timed game.

But I lean towards Steve's way of looking at things. The teams agreed to play with a clock, unfortunately, the umpire is saddled with the task of managing the game situations.

[tmielke]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Well, unfortunately, the job of the umpire is regulate the game under the rules the teams agreed upon.

Absolutely

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

In every other "clocked" games, there are also rules which manage the manner in which a team can "use" the clock as a strategy.

However, like it or not, IMO, one of the main causes for a clock to be involved in the game of softball is because of the coaches.

My experience is that the clock is there to keep lower level play from going on forever and to keep tournaments on schedule.

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

When I was growing up we had this thing called "practice" and subsequently took part in "scrimmages". This is where the coaches taught players how to play the game. When we played the game, the coach coached the team through the game.


Nowadays, some coaches seem to want to coach the players throughout every step of the game, from during warm-ups to each at-bat. An umpire tries to enforce the time limitations between innings or call a strike because the batter is having a hard time reading the 20-gesture signal from the Gene Mauch wannabe at 3B and all you hear is the "let the girls play".

I am with you here as well. Enforce the rules and keep game moving at the pace it is supposed to be played. If Gene doesn't like it, too bad.

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

But I lean towards Steve's way of looking at things. The teams agreed to play with a clock, unfortunately, the umpire is saddled with the task of managing the game situations.

I don't have any problem with the umpire managing the game. If managing the game means counting the warm up pitches, keeping the time between innings to a minute, getting the batter back in the box, etc. I also don't have any problem with a coach working within the rules to give his girls the best chance to win. If the coach thinks that getting to the next inning before the game times out will give the team the best chance to win, I don't care. I do have a problem with an umpire that thinks he/she can decide when the game should be over and delay it to fit their definition of when enough is enough. Once the timer is going, why would the umpire pay any attention to it until the beeper goes off? Let the coaches worry about how much time is left!

I have coached on both sides of the clock. When my team was up, we take our full warm up time. When we are down and need the innings, no warm up. When I call a game I don't impose what I think is right or wrong on one of the teams, I just call the game and keep it moving. My objection to an umpire taking his time to run out the clock is that it helps a team.

Tom

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by tmielke

I have coached on both sides of the clock. When my team was up, we take our full warm up time.

I guarantee your team has never used less than the alloted time to warm up.

When we are down and need the innings, no warm up. When I call a game I don't impose what I think is right or wrong on one of the teams, I just call the game and keep it moving. My objection to an umpire taking his time to run out the clock is that it helps a team.

And Steve's point is that God helps those who help themselves.

[tmielke]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

I guarantee your team has never used less than the alloted time to warm up.

You are correct here. When my team warms up, the pitcher takes three pitches and the balls come in. I have never had an umpire cut us short, nor have I ever cut a team short because they took to much time to get on the field when I am behind the plate.

I have had my team go on the field with no balls for warm up, the pitcher goes to the circle picks up the ball and stands there, I tell the umpire we are ready to go. This takes 15-20 seconds. They get a batter in the box and we get going.

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

And Steve's point is that God helps those who help themselves.

I guess my point is I don't care for umpires that think they are God!

There have been a few comments in this thread that advocate the umpire managing the clock to fit their definition of what they think should happen.

I have asked two questions that haven't been answered.

Once the timer is going, why would the umpire pay any attention to it, until the beeper goes off? I should add besides mother nature and injury.

and

What makes it ok for the umpire to delay the game when it is against the rules for the participants to delay the game?

Any comments on these questions?

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by tmielke

I guess my point is I don't care for umpires that think they are God!

I didn't say any were. Steve noted that those who hustle will get the benefit of any doubt, not that the umpire thinks they are God.

[ronald]

Defense may be ready to go in 15-20 seconds but this does not mean the offense has to put a batter in there in that time frame.

Now if I am mistaken, it will get cleared up.

Offense gets its minute and as a ump you should ensure this is followed also.

Correct? thoughts?