Confused Defense

[Welpe]

Had this one tonight in a Colt game as the PU.

R3 no outs. Home team batting and is winning big time. Batter tried to bunt and pops it up. 'F2 snags the ball for the out and throws to F3 to double off R1.

The defense thinks that is the third out. The F3 rolls the ball to the mound and the fielders head for their bench. The home third base coach is having his R3 hold on third and is asking me if there are only two outs. I do not respond and stay alert in my position as does my partner.

Once the entire defense gets into the dugout, I call time and call them back out. Home coach wants to send his runner now and I send him back saying time is out.

I have my doubts about how I handled this but wanted to see what you all think.

[Welpe]

Sorry edited my post and the stupid HTML tags remained.

[bluegorilla]

Was there a time limit ? Perhaps , you could have not called time and waited for the time limit to expire ! :wave:

[carolinablue]

IMO, I don't see a problem with it. Obviously both sides had no clue how many outs there were, if the offense did they would have scored. I would just make sure the R3 isn't trying to advance. If he waited till the entire defense was in the dugout then he didn't have a clue either. At some point you have to let them in on it so you can get on with the game. Or wait till the time limit expires. LOL

[LMSANS]

Had this one tonight in a Colt game as the PU.

R3 no outs. Home team batting and is winning big time. Batter tried to bunt and pops it up. 'F2 snags the ball for the out and throws to F3 to double off R1.

The defense thinks that is the third out. The F3 rolls the ball to the mound and the fielders head for their bench. The home third base coach is having his R3 hold on third and is asking me if there are only two outs. I do not respond and stay alert in my position as does my partner.

Once the entire defense gets into the dugout, I call time and call them back out. Home coach wants to send his runner now and I send him back saying time is out.

I have my doubts about how I handled this but wanted to see what you all think.

Why would you not answer the coach?

[Welpe]

That's one of the things that I'm wondering about. My thought was that since it was still a live ball with a potential play in progress, providing that information would've given them an unfair advantage. Granted the defense disadvantaged themselves but all the coach had to do was send his R3 down to touch the plate. There was no way they were going to make an out on him.

[LMSANS]

I don't think it was an unfair advantage. The defense could ask the same question and they will hear your answer. He knew there were only 2 outs, but was having his doubts because of the defense's actions. He went straight to the authority.

Other than that, I think you handled it fine. :wave:

[umpcoachfather]

Home team is batting and wining big time? And he has his kid bunt with R3. Tell him he should be more concerned about getting his batters hit in the head then how many outs there are. Colt or not. Friggin coaches. He asks how many outs you tell him.

[Welpe]

Thanks for the feedback folks, guess I will handle it differently next time (hopefully there isn't a next time). The only two reasons I can think of for bunting is that the batter did it on his own or that the R3 would've been the winning run via mercy rule. Let's just say we could dedicate a whole 'nother thread to coaching decisions.

You'd hope by Colt these types of TWPs would stop happening but maybe I'm just that lucky. :)

[Mike Prince]

Who cares if a kid is bunting with a big lead? Not our concern...

I would have answered the coach when he asked how many outs or just loudly called out "That's two outs" to give both teams an equal opportunity to hear it.

[Welpe]

just loudly called out "That's two outs" to give both teams an equal opportunity to hear it.

At what point? When the defense started running off the field?

[Mike Prince]

just loudly called out "That's two outs" to give both teams an equal opportunity to hear it.

At what point? When the defense started running off the field?

Yes. Run probably still scores unchallenged but the focus is on the defense's mistake, not yours.

[JaxRolo]

I agree with the other that say just answer the coach. No need to yell it out. You can if you want.

Its not like your coaching or anything. Just answering a question a coach is asking.

[JaxRolo]

Who cares if a kid is bunting with a big lead? Not our concern...

I would have answered the coach when he asked how many outs or just loudly called out "That's two outs" to give both teams an equal opportunity to hear it.

Why tell both teams? Only one is asking the question.

[Fittske24]

Not answering the coach could give the impression that you don't know how many outs there are either.

[Jeff C.]

I had a very similar situation Welpe. Defense is running off the field and I'm standing quietly by the dish watching the players. When the light bulb finally clicked on for them, I told them there were only two outs. And I did have a runner score as the defense was trotting off the field. I think you did fine.

[Mike Prince]

Who cares if a kid is bunting with a big lead? Not our concern...

I would have answered the coach when he asked how many outs or just loudly called out "That's two outs" to give both teams an equal opportunity to hear it.

Why tell both teams? Only one is asking the question.

True, I give advice, sometimes it's good, sometimes not. :)

[Thunderheads]

Why call time?

I mean, ...it's the players responsibility to know the outs .......coaches too.

I would have answered the coach and then stood there. He would have sent his kid, and the defense would have figured it out FAST! :D