[ASA] Tiebreakers and Defensive Conferences

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by Crabby_Bob

Perhaps intentionally, the tiebreaker rule (5.11) and defensive conferences rule (5.7.B) are written independently of each other.

Scenario: JO ball and time has expired. In the sixth inning, the first tiebreaker, the defense takes their second defensive conference of the game. By rule, it would appear they could take another defensive conference in the sixth without penalty of having their pitcher removed or save the conference for a possible seventh inning. In all extra innings (the eighth and beyond) the defense gets one conference per inning.

Comments?

I would say the literal interpretation applies (they could take another defensive conference in the sixth without penalty of having their pitcher removed); and the one per inning limit applies only if the tournament rules specify it.

[chapmaja]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

I would say the literal interpretation applies (they could take another defensive conference in the sixth without penalty of having their pitcher removed); and the one per inning limit applies only if the tournament rules specify it.

I would agree. An extra inning is after the schedule distance, so that would be the only time the extra inning rule should apply. If the event invitation/rule state that extra innings are innings played after the time limit, then the extra inning rule should apply, since the game went into extra innings once the time limit innning expired.

[Andy]

Wow...I was going to post this same situation after my tournament this weekend.

Time expires in the sixth inning, inning is finished, tie game. We start the tiebreaker in the 7th inning. Each coach takes a defensive conference in their half of the seventh inning. I informed each of them that it was their one charged conference for the inning, no objections.

Same reasoning as Chapmaja indicated...time has expired, we are in "tiebreaker" innings...these are extra innings to complete the game.

[Big Slick]

Originally Posted by Andy

...time has expired, we are in "tiebreaker" innings...these are extra innings to complete the game.

However, that is not how 5-7-b (ASA) is written. You get 3 per 7 innings, and then one per inning after 7. No special provision is written for tie breaker.

[MD Longhorn]

What Big said. The rule doesn't say you get 3 per GAME, and then extras in the extra innings. It says you get 3 during a seven inning game, and then one per inning after that. There's no carry-over.

[RKBUmp]

If you are going to go by the strict wording of the rule, then the tie breaker should also not start until the 8th inning. 5-11-A

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by RKBUmp

If you are going to go by the strict wording of the rule, then the tie breaker should also not start until the 8th inning. 5-11-A

Unless the tourn rule says so, even if it does not change the def conf limit.

[AtlUmpSteve]

It has always been the understanding in any tournament which I have been involved with that also had a time limit that the intent of the rule of was 3 allowed conferences in any "regulation" game. That (regulation) could be any number of innings up to 7, with time limit being just one factor that could cause the game to be less than 7 innings. And, time limit is the only one of those reasons that could cause this to be unclear.

It is common to indicate (or understand) that the tiebreaker rule is in effect in the first inning after regulation; whether caused by time limit and tied, or end of 7 innings and tied. That said, the rulebook didn't contemplate time linits when the conference rule was written, so it does clearly state after 7 innings, not end of a tied regulation game.

Someone should suggest a rule change, as the vast majority of the world seems to understand it as "regulation".