In the spirit of the game?????

[yawetag]

Noump: I think you are saying that stalling tactics are not eliminated by requiring the game's inning to finish. Maybe not 100%, but to a large degree, yes they are. This rule was put into place for this very reason in our league years ago and has worked well. Without it coaches would get a lead and find various ways to stall until the time limit was reached (like running out the clock in a basketball or football game). Although they can still do that a little bit, the team that's behind can still be guaranteed to bat in their last inning without the game being called.

There's still a stalling technique:

Bottom 5th; visiting team losing with 5 minutes left on the clock and 2 outs. Home team coach calls for an offensive conference, then has batter take extra pitches, maybe even have him exit the box between pitches.

Bottom 5th; home team losing by several runs with 2 outs. Visiting coach does conferences between each batter, switching out the pitcher as needed.

Both of these are legal ways to stall the game during your advantage. Sure, the second example doesn't guarantee a win, but it prevents the next inning from starting.

[Pops]

Noump: I think you are saying that stalling tactics are not eliminated by requiring the game's inning to finish. Maybe not 100%, but to a large degree, yes they are. This rule was put into place for this very reason in our league years ago and has worked well. Without it coaches would get a lead and find various ways to stall until the time limit was reached (like running out the clock in a basketball or football game). Although they can still do that a little bit, the team that's behind can still be guaranteed to bat in their last inning without the game being called.

There's still a stalling technique:

Bottom 5th; visiting team losing with 5 minutes left on the clock and 2 outs. Home team coach calls for an offensive conference, then has batter take extra pitches, maybe even have him exit the box between pitches.

Bottom 5th; home team losing by several runs with 2 outs. Visiting coach does conferences between each batter, switching out the pitcher as needed.

Both of these are legal ways to stall the game during your advantage. Sure, the second example doesn't guarantee a win, but it prevents the next inning from starting.

I agree that these are stall tactics that coaches use, and I said earlier that time limits were not 100% effective. However, it prevents the visiting coach who is ahead in the TOP of the 6th from stalling and not letting the home team bat. The inning must be finished and not stopped just because time runs out like in other sports. So it does serve a purpose.

[boyinr]

Rich,

_{4.02 defines the start of the game. That's what I'm going to claim unless there's a written local or tournament rule defining it otherwise.}

Pretty much how I see it.

On games I work that have a time limit, I will give the official start time to each bench immediately before putting the ball in play for the first pitch of the game.

I pull my watch out of my pocket and give the next minute as the official start time.

If it starts getting "close" towards the end of the game, I'll give each bench a courtesy update at the half inning break.

JM

^^^^^^+1

[Thunderheads]

There are quite a few (most) games I do in the summer that are under a time limit. Pre game discusses who has the time, and if I'm PU, I tell the coaches/remind them the time limit and either I, or my partner has the official time. Putting the ball into play signifies game-time like JM said, and it's announced just prior to each side.

In our annual Mothers Day Weekend tourney, .... game time is when the plate meeting is completed, and each coach is told at that point. I like this because it gets the teams moving. But, if they choose to dilley-dalley, it's THEIR problem ;)

[Kevin Finnerty]

Umped up,

If you were the BU, why were you speaking at the plate meeting?

[umped up]

Umped up,

If you were the BU, why were you speaking at the plate meeting?

Before the game my partner and I discussed a few things including the way will use the stopwatch. After he finished at the plate meeting, he asked if there was anythiing he had missed. That's when I brought up the stop watch. Other than that.....

[Kevin Finnerty]

That's a formality. When the PU asks if there's anything you have to offer, you are supposed to offer him a shake of your head no.

[JaxRolo]

That's a formality. When the PU asks if there's anything you have to offer, you are supposed to offer him a shake of your head no.

I agree 99.99%

Only time I would like my Partner to speak up is if I forget to say "are your Players Legally and properly equipped. (I don't remember that ever happening, but just in case)

I want my a$$ covered.

[umped up]

That's a formality. When the PU asks if there's anything you have to offer, you are supposed to offer him a shake of your head no.

I did not know that. He was a fairly new umpire and unsure of many things. Not that that matters I guess.

[umped up]

That's a formality. When the PU asks if there's anything you have to offer, you are supposed to offer him a shake of your head no.

I agree 99.99%

Only time I would like my Partner to speak up is if I forget to say "are your Players Legally and properly equipped. (I don't remember that ever happening, but just in case)

I want my a$$ covered.

Ok, let me ask you this. In tournament play, there are times your partnered with new blood. If at the plate meeting, what do you do if he doesn't really know how to handle one. Is this as simple as to ask him before the game if he knows how to do a plate meeting? Then go over what to talk about if he's not sure?

[Kevin Finnerty]

You pre-game the plate meeting before you go out there. Then, if something's in need of covering, talk to him privately after the coaches walk away, rather than expose his lack of experience and command to both of them.

[umped up]

You pre-game the plate meeting before you go out there. Then, if something's in need of covering, talk to him privately after the coaches walk away, rather than expose his lack of experience and command to both of them.

Thanks. Sounds like a good way to handle that.

[mstaylor]

When you called time in the OP, when the manager wants to discuss it, tell games over, grab your partner and get off the field. I have done tournaments that time started when the plate meeting was over, some on the first pitch. I always liked the first pitch, but recently have reconsidered. My thought was it was closer to the beginning of the game buut as noted they can mill and waste time before the game starts. When you start it at the end of the meeting then if they mess around they are only themselves in the foot. If I see a team doing that I will remind them the clock is running.

[PeteBooth]

name='umped up' timestamp='1332789750' post='88353']

Round robin play. Games are 1:45 long. Game time starts on first warmup pitch. I always use a stopwatch to keep track of the time and I tell the coaches at the plate meeting how I will do this. I say on the first warmup pitch, as soon as that ball hits the catchers mit, I will start my stopwatch and that will be the official time. There is never a problem. I hate calling out a game time because there are too many discrepancies when it comes down to that final minute.

Normally there is a schedule start time for the game. The games that follow will vary.

NOTE: Forget about rule 4.02 as in OBR there is no such thing as a timed game.

Example: The first game of the day is scheduled for a 9AM start tme.

We arrive at the field at least 15 minutes prior to inspect the field (in case there are some strange ground rules we need to be aware of), get the baseballs and get ready for the Plate Conference. The plate conference starts approx 5 minutes before game time and should take no longer then a couple of minutes. The teams then take the field and F1 completes his warm-up throws.

In other words the game begins at the scheduled time of 9AM. If one team is short players and is waiting, then get the TD and find out if the start time will be waved. Absent that, the clock starts ticking at 9AM.

There are most likely games played all day and the teams who play last deserve as much time to play as everyone else. This becomes crucial when you have no lights.

Both the PU and BU need to be on the same page with respect to time limits.

Now to your scenario. There was confusion as to what time the game actually started. Normally between innings we are not supposed to "chit-chat" with our partners BUT when you get to "that" inning where the time limit is approaching get together in between innings.

Now here is where I most likely will take some "heat" as we had a similar discussion on this type topic about a year ago or so.

You said there was a 1/2 minute difference. In order to avoid the flak that followed, you and your partner ccould have "eaten-up" a minute or 2 during the bottom of 6. IMO, it's not cheating either team as both teams had an equal number of at bats.

Since the HT was behind you would have to go a FULL inning and that could be quick or it could be a half hour or so of extra game time. Now the games that follow are backed-up and the teams that play last will be hard pressed to get a game in. They are the ones that will suffer.

In Summary: You and your partner MUST be on the same page regarding time limits. Normally the start times are set and if it's a tournament, the TD will set the times on the games that follow and that "time" becomes the start time.

Pete Booth

[Rich Ives]

NOTE: Forget about rule 4.02 as in OBR there is no such thing as a timed game.

. Normally the start times are set and if it's a tournament, the TD will set the times on the games that follow and that "time" becomes the start time.

Pete Booth

Re: 4.02 Just because there is no time limit in OBR doesn't mean the start time is thus undefined.

And I did say that you use it unless the local or tournament rules specify something else,.

[umpire78]

In the future (and, as a COURTESY), notify BOTH teams of the time change. This way, you AVOID an "after game" conflict. When I'm on a time limit, I notify both teams at the start of the game as: "6 o'clock start. MY time." I don't care what they have on their watches. I am the official timekeeper.

[mstaylor]

I never announce a start time. I discuss the time limit in the plate meeting and announce when the clock starts. If I am keeping the clock I keep it. If the pressbox keeps it then I announce the clock start but I let the box call the game.

[Minnz]

Use a stop watch then nobody has any care what time the game started. Stopwatch just counts up and that is all you need. I know the plate umpire in in charge usually, but I find it a lot easier for a stopwatch to be in the back pocket of the field umpire, who has nothing but a stick a gum to keep track of in pockets.

i figure if MLB umpires use a field ump to keep break time then us in HS and College can be good enough to have a field ump do it as well.