yep

As the last 3 posts, I say "NO" or "WAIT" or both to any request for time by player or coach until play is over (runner(s) on base(s), ball with pitcher in circle.
Even in SP, I would not call time with a runner off 3rd and HP not covered.

This is a situation where I think we as game manager's must manage.

If you don't shout out "time out", then there's no time out. If you did, you did it in the middle of a play, albeit the offense's play.

Catcher walking back to pitcher while batter/runner is moving past 1B then batter/runner is live and play is on. It's on even when ball is handed back to pitcher. Batter/runner has to do something, right? That goes for runner at 3rd also. She's live meat no matter what she does. To me the play started when the batter/runner "started" to first base and the play continues until you make a call and you sure as heck shouldn't call time out in the middle of it. You didn't call time out before the batter/runner got to first because that's in the middle of the action as well, it's just slower.

If runner on 3rd is tagged out while talking to coach...shame on her. It'll drive home the point that "the ump didn't grant time" so time isn't assumed when players "think" it should.

Hope I'm clear cuz I am in my own mind.

The catcher asked for time; if she did so with hopes of baiting in the offense and they all stop playing, dmc because I'm then granting time. If the offense doesn't stop playing and something good happens, dmc because I didn't grant time. If the offense doesn't stop playing and something bad happens, neither side was disadvantaged because the offense didn't stop playing. I agree though that if the batter-runner or some other runner is not in the vicinity of the base that they can't stop playing.
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Katinna live