Putting the ball in play
 

Just curious:

Do you all put the ball in play after every dead ball? With a signal at least?

Rita

With runners on base always without runners on base about 90% of the time

I do....just a habit. Never been dinged for it either.

Joel

Always in baseball, hardly ever in softball.

Seriously, when I chose the red pill and joined the softball umpiring ranks, I was told in clinics that play is assumed when everyone is set, and there's no need for us to actually signal and say play. The only time I do put the ball in play is when I give the hold sign as the batter gets situated in the box, and then she's ready. At that point, I give the pitcher a "bring it" signal.

Oh, I also signal and say play at the very start of the game.

Only if it is obviously necessary. Usually when someone is waiting for an indication all is ready or when I've been holding an eager pitcher. Signal, rarely, if ever, a verbal.

To start the game, "Play ball"; to start a half inning, "Play". After that, only when necessary, or to indicate I am tired of waiting and am starting a "time between pitches" count.

It is necessary in baseball, to indicate runners are now in jeopardy, and ability to start an appeal. Neither exists in softball (well, someone could stupidly want a live ball appeal after the ball has been dead, but really??), so, unless the batter is being surprised or quick-pitched, let them play.

Had that happen last week in FED game. Had a fly ball to right with a runner tagging at 2nd. After play coach called time and went out to talk to his pitcher, I knew what was coming but he never said a word to me. Walked off the field, my partner put ball back in play then coach told pitcher to step off and throw to 2nd for the appeal. Between innings I approached the coach and told him all he needed to do was call time and tell me he was appealing the runner leaving early. "Really? When did they change that rule?"

Not surprising. Some of our FED coaches played and/or coached baseball, and that's all they remember about appeals.

Maybe because I started in baseball......it is just a habit with me......as I noted earlier.....I have never been dinged for it though......

Joel

Always.....when starting the game, when starting a half inning, and with runners on base; signal and verbal.
Other times, only when necessary to get things moving.

I don't think anyone would ding you since there's nothing technically wrong about it. I've just been told it's not really necessary to do it in softball for the reasons Steve mentioned.

It's kinda like signalling and verbalizing Foul on obvious foul balls that go over the backstop or the fences down the lines.

This discussion does raise a question, though. For those of you who don't put the ball in Play consistently, when is Play assumed? In baseball, we wait until the pitcher gets on the plate, the catcher gets ready to receive the pitch, and the batter gets ready in the box before we signal and say Play. In softball, the only criterion is that the pitcher has the ball on the plate.

Here's why I ask. Suppose after Play was killed for whatever reason, the pitcher gets on the pitcher's plate with her hands together, and then separates them as she gets settled to take her sign. Do you call the IP? Or do you cut her slack since you probably would not have signaled Play Ball at that point?

Actually, if I'm not mistaken, ASA used to have the same appeal process back in the 80's. Pitcher steps on the rubber, umpire says "play", pitcher steps off the rubber and makes the appeal. Ball is live and runners can advance at their own risk. I hated this process!!!

That's why I'll continue to put it in play with a signal. I do both baseball and softball.

Rita

I've asked this question at both ASA and NFHS clinics. Unfortunately, the answers I've received appear to be more opinion than rule based.

I was dinged in an NFHS evaluation for not signalling after EVERY foul ball. Most of the ASA veterans are more of the 1 play ball declaration at the start of the game, and that's it.

Many express the opinion that if the batter is in the batter's box, we're good to go, and the assumption is that the ball is in play at that point.

But as a previous post asked, what if a runner steps off a base or the pitcher does something in that time between the foul ball and the batter being set in the box. If you've not signaled, can you call a violation. Or maybe worse, ignore one?

Ted

Which is why my preference is to indicate "play" with a signal&verbal. Nothing 'over the top' with the signal or verbal, just a crisp clear point that can be seen and a verbal that is heard by the batter and catcher.

A baseball umpire in the strange land of fast pitch softball.
 

I have umpired H.S. (NFHS) baseball and fast pitch softball since 1993 and only started umpiring ASA and USSSA girls'fast pitch softball in 2007 because the last year I officiated AAU and YBOA boys' and girls' national basketball tournaments was 2005 and my summers were basketball oriented to the point that I didn't even umpire summer baseball until 2007. Mark, Jr., started umpiring H.S. (NFHS) baseball and ASA and USSSA girls'fast pitch softball in 2008, and started H.S. (NFHS) fast pitch softall this Spring. Therefore you could say we are baseball umpires traveling in a strange land with regard to fast pitch softball.

I guess it is the baseball umpire in us, but we put the ball into play after every dead ball no matter whether the game is baseball or fast pitch softball. As an engineer, I don't like to assume (even though as a structural engineer, I made a living making assumptions based upon educated guesses, :p) anything. The first time you don't put the ball back into play is the time that all heck breaks loose because something unusual happens. Junior and I use KUmp's approach in putting the ball back into play.

That is my two cents. Our season in Ohio and Michigan starts Monday, and I hope the trend of the temperature getting warmer continues.

Go KU! Rock Chalk Jayhawk! Kaaaaayyyyy! Uuuuuu!

MTD, Sr.

Easy to address, actually. If you plan to be "that umpire" certainly you can call a violation; "that umpire" wants that attention. Even if he hasn't signalled the ball back into play.

Now, if you HAVE signaled it into play, you really can't justify ignoring a violation, even if you consider it ticky-tack. Maybe the runner is smoothing a rut in the dirt, or the pitcher is adjusting her glove; but now you have to call the violation.

If you want to ignore something that has no real significance, and you haven't pointed/signaled/declared, you can; and justify it that you didn't put it back in play yet. Better yet, you can now choose to point it in, AFTER you ignored the ticky-tack, and are fully supported, and showing everyone that NOW the ball is live, it wasn't earlier.

It has been suggested to me (not really gigged, just a topic of conversation in a high level NCAA conversation; KJ, you know of what I am speaking) that all that pointing simply looks like we are micromanaging something that is self-managed without any need for our intrusion. Do we need the added attention? Has anyone had a batter, catcher, or pitcher waiting for you
to "make the ball live"? Can't it be live when you want it to be, and still dead when you prefer (if someone is gaining an unintended advantage)?

Conversely, I have had batters, catchers, and pitchers stop and look at umpires that point and say "play", because they are wondering what the umpire is doing or saying.

Thank you, Steve. Surely, now, we can move on.

In my little corner of Central Va we were instructed two tears ago (I think) to signal the ball "live" every single cotton pickin time when the pitcher stepped on the pithcer's plate following any dead ball. Not necessary to "verbalize".

The question can be best answered by a question! Since when is the play not dead anymore if the umpire don't signal and/or say "Play (ball)"?

In the ISF rule-book there is a section where is written that play is dead any time the plateumpire turns around to brush the plate. [R10 s8b] No such thing is written about making play live, except by indicating with signal and verbal Play (ball).

I have never umpired baseball, so that's no issue. I'm :o embarrassed :o to admit that I've played it (small ball) for one season :o All the instructors I've seen the past 27 years, told me to signal and say "Play (ball)".
It the same as making a call on every play made by defense. Even on the obvious plays...