giving the situation to new pitcher

[shipwreck]

Do any of you as PU or BU go out to the circle and let the new pitcher know where the runners are, outs and count when a pitching change is made? Do some of you do it only for low level ball? I have been told by evaluators to not do this, because that is considered coaching. I will give the count from behind home plate but that is it, the number of outs if requested. I had a game last week, ASA 12U, fairly good team. When I didn't inform a teams pitcher, the coach became livid. I told him then, and later after the inning ended that it wasn't my job to do this, it was his job. He informed me it was my responsibility to do this. He was in the circle while she was warming up. He told me I was the only umpire he has ever had who wouldn't do this in his 6 years of coaching. He also told me they would be playing in our State tournament this weekend, and he was going to find out for sure. My problem is, I see umpire doing this all the time. Even at the State tourney he will surely find umpires that agree with him, and then think he is right. Just wondering. Dave

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by shipwreck

Do any of you as PU or BU go out to the circle and let the new pitcher know where the runners are, outs and count when a pitching change is made?

Absolutely, unequivocally not.

[shipwreck]

Manny, do any in your area do it anyway? We must have a bunch of untrained umpires and coaches. I absolutely refused to do it and he was genuinely pi$$ed off. Didn't bother me.

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by shipwreck

Manny, do any in your area do it anyway? We must have a bunch of untrained umpires and coaches. I absolutely refused to do it and he was genuinely pi$$ed off. Didn't bother me.

Honestly, the only place I've seen it is in Little League. And it's not something that is taught at LL clinics in our area. It's just that some LL volunteer umpires don't bother to attend those clinics, don't have league UICs who teach what is proper, etc., and those umpires think it's required as a courtesy.

But in softball here under ASA, NFHS, PONY, etc., I can't recall ever seeing an umpire give the situation, nor a coach complain when it isn't done.

It's simple: the game situation is something the coach should tell his/her new pitcher when he/she makes the change. If asked about the count and outs, I'll answer, and it's usually the catcher who does the asking. If not asked, I will give the count before I say Play if there is a batter in the middle of an at-bat. That's about it.

[GoRedSox]

Originally Posted by Manny A

Honestly, the only place I've seen it is in Little League. And it's not something that is taught at LL clinics in our area. It's just that some LL volunteer umpires don't bother to attend those clinics, don't have league UICs who teach what is proper, etc., and those umpires think it's required as a courtesy.

But in softball here under ASA, NFHS, PONY, etc., I can't recall ever seeing an umpire give the situation, nor a coach complain when it isn't done.

It's simple: the game situation is something the coach should tell his/her new pitcher when he/she makes the change. If asked about the count and outs, I'll answer, and it's usually the catcher who does the asking. If not asked, I will give the count before I say Play if there is a batter in the middle of an at-bat. That's about it.

Manny, I have seen it serveral times while during tournments in MD, why they do it I have do idea, I guess I shoud ask next time.

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by GoRedSox

Manny, I have seen it serveral times while during tournments in MD, why they do it I have do idea, I guess I shoud ask next time.

Must be some of those MD umpires.

It may be one of those old school things that umpires remember seeing when they played ball as kids, kinda like showing two fists with a full count, and have never been told we don't do that anymore.

[vcblue]

I was taught this by an older old school umpire way back when. I did it one year but after moving up to the 16/18A circuit I learned fast that i was taught wrong. I think this comes from the older umpires that only do rec. They work with a 1st year umpire and that umpire sees the example for older umpire and thinks it must be a mechanic.

[bsnalex]

I wouldn't give new pitchers any other information other than the count when the batter steps back into the batters box-- and that's to refresh everyone as a courtesy.

Surely it's the team and manager's jobs to remind themselves where the play is going, runners on, etc

[3afan]

Originally Posted by Manny A

Absolutely, unequivocally not.

yep

[shipwreck]

I was sure I was correct. After getting an earful, I was about one second away from tossing him.

[DRJ1960]

I've worked with several who do this on the HS level and had one ask me this year why I hadn't gone out as PU to talk to new pitcher.

[shipwreck]

Originally Posted by DRJ1960

I've worked with several who do this on the HS level and had one ask me this year why I hadn't gone out as PU to talk to new pitcher.

That is the same problem I have around here. Not sure where they pick this nonsense up. By them doing this, it makes us doing it correctly, more difficult.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by DRJ1960

I've worked with several who do this on the HS level and had one ask me this year why I hadn't gone out as PU to talk to new pitcher.

I assume you told him it is because you are the umpire, not the coach.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by shipwreck

Do any of you as PU or BU go out to the circle and let the new pitcher know where the runners are, outs and count when a pitching change is made? ...

Count only, the same as after any extended delay. That is, it really has nothing to do with the fact that there is a new pitcher, but instead, that the game has been halted for a couple of minutes or so.

Originally Posted by shipwreck

Manny, do any in your area do it anyway? ...

One of the senior leaders of my high school official association does this. I've partnered with him a few times, and I cringe each time.

[MNBlue]

Originally Posted by Dakota

One of the senior leaders of my high school official association does this. I've partnered with him a few times, and I cringe each time.

Anyone I know.