ASA rules. Timed games. 75 minutes per game.

Winning team is batting with time running out. The remaining time is prominently displayed on the scoreboard.

With one minute remaining and 2 outs and 2-2 count on the batter the 3rd base coach requests time to have a conference with the batter.

The umpire disallows it and urges the game to continue. The 3rd base complains that he is requesting time to conduct an offensive conference. The umpire disallowed it and the inning ended on the next pitch, forcing an additional inning.

Between innings, the team protested the misapplication of the rules claiming that they had a RIGHT to one offensive conference per inning. The umpire allowed the protest but stated his reason for denying it was because, in his opinion, the offense was stalling.

Yet, this same umpire claimed that he *would* have allowed the defense to call time and conduct a defensive conference in the same situation.

It didn't matter since the score never changed after the additional inning.

Opinions?

David Emerling
Memphis, TN

I guess that is the problem of adding time constraints (75 minutes) to a game whose rules were written without time constraints taken into consideration.

If the offense has its one conference per inning remaining, then it should be allowed. I'm imagining that the umpire wasted more time arguing about whether the conference was or was not allowed. Especially if he allowed the conference but kept it very short.

"Sure you can have the conference [1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi...] Okay time to play ball. Batter up." :)

The umpire wouldn't permit a legal conference, but allowed a protest that, by rule, is not legal. Not very smart.

However, there is no 75 minute time limit in ASA. Hence, must be a local rule which would require local application and interpretation.