Plate Conference

[marvin]

Originally Posted by SRW

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

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.

[Andy]

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.

Exactly why we require the timer on the fence for our games with time limits here in AZ.

I don't know why Seattle has such an issue with it....maybe too many of their timers have been ruined by all the rain......

[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.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by SRW

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

Curious to hear why... extremely curious since our assignor (with 90-ish umpires) prefers just that. Seems to me it would be A) easier to ensure we are being fair and impartial, B) easier for coaches to trust that we're not monkeying the clock just to stay on schedule (yet another of my pet peeves from partners).

[Skahtboi]

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 love those plate conferences. The guys that use these usually ramble on for five minutes about a myriad of things.

[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"...

[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.

[Tru_in_Blu]

Originally Posted by Snocatzdad

"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."

Well, at least the guy knows he sux.