Plate Conference

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by marvin

The timer on the fence (or anywhere else it is visible to the participants) is much better than the timer hidden away somewhere.

It makes the administration of the time limit transparent, which I prefer.

I never try to 'game' the time limit. If the tourney rule is drop dead or if it is start the next inning if any time is left I enforce it the way the tourney rules are written.

I have worked with too many umpires who were willing to call game over even when time was left on the clock. The visible timer prevents this.

I love it when the time left is right up on the scoreboard, everyone knows how much time is left.

I prefer the kitchen timer to the scoreboard. When it's plain to see from anywhere and doesn't require any effort to see the time, you get a LOT more coaches trying to monkey the system for clock purposes instead of letting the game play out as it should.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

I prefer the kitchen timer to the scoreboard. When it's plain to see from anywhere and doesn't require any effort to see the time, you get a LOT more coaches trying to monkey the system for clock purposes instead of letting the game play out as it should.

Which is why I prefer a watch in the pocket and a non-mandatory "approximate" 10/15 minute heads-up.

I'm a convert to those who believe in a time limit plus one inning. Takes a lot of the BS out of the stupid coaches' game.

[marvin]

One of the tourney rules that NSA Indiana uses is to stop the timer for every team time out in the last ten minutes of a game. There are almost no unnecessary time outs taken because you can't run time off the clock that way.

It is always up to the umpires to keep the game moving and provide a consistent pace from start to finish.

[Snocatzdad]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

Surely better than the one I heard recently...

"Coaches, let me start right here. This is your warning. If I hear any crap from anyone you're gone. If you have a question call time and ask the umpire that made the call, but keep it short. You're in charge of your parents, if I hear any crap from any of them, you're gone. Now, play ball."

I got that speech nearly verbatim two years ago at a 16U summer state tournament with addition of

"I don't want to hear a da#n thing about my strike zone and your pitcher gets a warning on the first eyeroll, I'm tossing her on the second."

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by Snocatzdad

...your pitcher gets a warning on the first eyeroll, I'm tossing her on the second."

Hmmm... I may need to add this to my plate meeting "speech"...

[JefferMC]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

You actually ARE from around here, aren't ya?

Yep. Though that OBX dialect video had me scratching my head.

In ASA, the clock starts when the first pitch is thrown, not when the plate conference ends.

Someone really needs to tell some people south of "the border." What I've just outlined happened at the beginning of every ASA game I witnessed last summer including National Qualifiers, State Championships (which were in essence qualifiers) and "invitationals," in at least three different parks (but generally all overseen by the same TD and UIC).

Originally Posted by SRW

Ugh. Don't get me started on kitchen timers on the fence

I made sure I used the words "kitchen timer hanging on the backstop" just for you, SRW.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by JefferMC

...Someone really needs to tell some people south of "the border." What I've just outlined happened at the beginning of every ASA game I witnessed last summer including National Qualifiers, State Championships (which were in essence qualifiers) and "invitationals," in at least three different parks (but generally all overseen by the same TD and UIC)...

I'll bet few (or maybe even none) exactly followed the rest of the ASA timed game rule, either. These rules are frequently adjusted by TDs / leagues.

Personally, I find the "time of the first pitch" to be an unusable point in time if the PU is also the timekeeper. I use "batter up" as a reasonably close, but usable, point, unless end of the plate meeting is specified.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Snocatzdad

I got that speech nearly verbatim two years ago at a 16U summer state tournament with addition of

"I don't want to hear a da#n thing about my strike zone and your pitcher gets a warning on the first eyeroll, I'm tossing her on the second."

Wow, does your pitchers practice rolling one eye at a time? Otherwise, she's history as soon as she looks skyward

Obviously, this "umpire" isn't what I would call good, professional or, well, hell, an umpire.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by JefferMC

Someone really needs to tell some people south of "the border." What I've just outlined happened at the beginning of every ASA game I witnessed last summer including National Qualifiers, State Championships (which were in essence qualifiers) and "invitationals," in at least three different parks (but generally all overseen by the same TD and UIC).

Don't have to tell them anything other than read the first sentence of ASA 5.10.

Originally Posted by marvin

One of the tourney rules that NSA Indiana uses is to stop the timer for every team time out in the last ten minutes of a game. There are almost no unnecessary time outs taken because you can't run time off the clock that way.

Sort of defeats the purpose of having a clock in the first place.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by JefferMC

Someone really needs to tell some people south of "the border."

You mean that place just off I-95?

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

You mean that place just off I-95?

Say hi to Pedro

[JefferMC]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

You mean that place just off I-95?

Is that place still in business? That's a bit east for me.

And, Irish, I did look it up when Dave stated it was an ASA rule.

But as Dakota points out, you're going to have trouble calling that first pitch a ball or a strike while standing at the backstop pushing the button. (Can we call that the "KitchenAid stance?") I suspect one or two umpires add a minute to allow for the time it takes to get everyone on the field, but I know from observation that most of them do not.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by JefferMC

Is that place still in business? That's a bit east for me.

I think so. Wife and I drove by it in October or November when we went to Florida, and it was still open then.

Originally Posted by JefferMC

And, Irish, I did look it up when Dave stated it was an ASA rule.

But as Dakota points out, you're going to have trouble calling that first pitch a ball or a strike while standing at the backstop pushing the button. (Can we call that the "KitchenAid stance?") I suspect one or two umpires add a minute to allow for the time it takes to get everyone on the field, but I know from observation that most of them do not.

I think it's better to push the button, walk back to the catcher, signal "play" and lose a few seconds than it is to lose a couple of minutes by starting the clock after the plate conference.

Sure, some coaches will hem and haw over those precious few seconds, but if they're that concerned, hire an actual scorekeeper to keep the clock (and a legitimate book, for that matter).

[JefferMC]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

I think it's better to push the button, walk back to the catcher, signal "play" and lose a few seconds than it is to lose a couple of minutes by starting the clock after the plate conference.

Okay, now that you mention it, I have seen the rare Plate Umpire who does walk back and start the timer after the first pitch. But this is extremely rare.

Sure, some coaches will hem and haw over those precious few seconds, but if they're that concerned, hire an actual scorekeeper to keep the clock (and a legitimate book, for that matter).

Some volunteer scorekeepers are very conscientious and care about keeping a legitimate book. Granted, some are all about inflating their daughters stats and some just don't have a clue. But, there's bit of range in the quality of umpires, too.

[SRW]

We've hashed this out before. Go read all about why we don't like 'em.

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