1B coach calls time

[grayhawk]

In a game my son was playing in this weekend:

R1, 2 outs. Our pitcher is in the set position and has come to a stop. 1B coach (who was an ass all game) calls "time." PU calls time and 1B coach indicates he wants to conference with his batter. IMO, this was clearly done to either incite a balk, or to break our F1's rhythm as he had just struck out the last two batters and was on a roll. Now, aside from the following ridiculous conversation (I kid you not):

PU: You have already used your offensive conference this inning.

Rat: No, I haven't.

PU: Are you sure?

Rat: Yes, I'm sure.

PU: 100% sure?

Rat: Yes, 100%.

PU: Okay.

If you were PU, would you have warned or ejected the 1B coach about calling time when the pitcher was in the set position? I am sitting there in the stands incredulous that PU didn't know if they had used their offensive conference, but it really annoyed me that he allowed the coach to call time in this situation without letting him know that it won't be tolerated. What would you have done?

[Thunderheads]

In a game my son was playing in this weekend:

R1, 2 outs. Our pitcher is in the set position and has come to a stop. 1B coach (who was an ass all game) calls "time." PU calls time and 1B coach indicates he wants to conference with his batter. IMO, this was clearly done to either incite a balk, or to break our F1's rhythm as he had just struck out the last two batters and was on a roll. Now, aside from the following ridiculous conversation (I kid you not):

PU: You have already used your offensive conference this inning.

Rat: No, I haven't.

PU: Are you sure?

Rat: Yes, I'm sure.

PU: 100% sure?

Rat: Yes, 100%.

PU: Okay.

If you were PU, would you have warned or ejected the 1B coach about calling time when the pitcher was in the set position? I am sitting there in the stands incredulous that PU didn't know if they had used their offensive conference, but it really annoyed me that he allowed the coach to call time in this situation without letting him know that it won't be tolerated. What would you have done?

I"d say, ... "that's bushleague coach" ............

[semper_fi_72]

1B Coach didn't call time, he requested time.

As PU I wouldn't have granted it and would have let F1 pitch.

[Jocko]

1B Coach didn't call time, he requested time.

As PU I wouldn't have granted it and would have let F1 pitch.

unless F1 stopped/balked because of 1BC requesting time, it's nothing but bushleague horses**t. If F1 DOES balk, 1BC is history. Depending on age group and rule set I would probably ignore, but in parks where there are multiple fields and fouls frequently land on my field it's pretty routine for someone to holler "time"

[umpire_scott]

Would you really eject him if the pitcher balked? Why not just not call the balk and tell the coach to refrain from requesting "time" after the pitcher has started his motion. Some coaches are just stupid. But I don't know that stupidity is grounds for an ejection.

[UmpJM]

If the pitcher balks because the offense requests Time, the balk is nullified. Benefit of the doubt to the pitcher.

JM

[umpire_scott]

If the pitcher balks because the offense requests Time, the balk is nullified. Benefit of the doubt to the pitcher.

JM

Agreed, but I would not eject the first base coach. I have no proof he was doing to try and entice a balk in the first place. He could just be dumb and be trying to get his batter to take control, when the pitcher seemed to be set for a long time. I see that a lot.

[Jocko]

Fed 3-3-1-O "call time or use any command or commit any act for the purpose of causing a balk"

Penalty: "The umpire shall eject the offender from the game"

If he was talking to his batter he would have instructed his batter to call time. Since he just hollered "Time" he was not instructing his player, he was talking to me. If there's no ball on the field (there wasn't) he is asking for time to conference (see OP), which is exactly what he was doing, and probably hoping for a balk more than conference. I never take coach stupidity into account. I consider them all equally ignorant until they prove otherwise.

Yes, if F1 balks, the balk is nullified and 1BC is history.

[grayhawk]

And to add to Trout's post, from OBR:

4.06 (a): No manager, player, substitute, coach, trainer or batboy shall at any time, whether from the bench, the coach’s box or on the playing field, or elsewhere—

( 3 ) Call “Time,†or employ any other word or phrase or commit any act while the ball is alive and in play for the obvious purpose of trying to make the pitcher commit a balk.

Penalty: The offender shall be removed from the game and shall leave the playing field, and, if a balk is made, it shall be nullified.

[Jocko]

And to add to Trout's post, from OBR:

4.06 (a): No manager, player, substitute, coach, trainer or batboy shall at any time, whether from the bench, the coach’s box or on the playing field, or elsewhere—

( 3 ) Call “Time,†or employ any other word or phrase or commit any act while the ball is alive and in play for the obvious purpose of trying to make the pitcher commit a balk.

Penalty: The offender shall be removed from the game and shall leave the playing field, and, if a balk is made, it shall be nullified.

+1 one of the few cases where OBR and FED agree

[grayhawk]

1B Coach didn't call time, he requested time.

As PU I wouldn't have granted it and would have let F1 pitch.

Lou, I agree in principle, but we both know that when someone calls time, it could create a situation where F1 might step off, the batter might step out, F2 might look away, or something else might be happening (such as ball on the field). It can be a big enough distraction that sometimes it's best to call time and reset. If it was me and the 1B coach asked to talk to his batter, then I would deny him this request and let him know that if he tries it again when the pitcher is set, he will be ejected.

BTW, this was a game of 12 year olds.

[UmpTTS43]

Who is to say that the coach was trying to cause a balk. Maybe he did want time to talk to his batter. There is no restriction on which coach can request time for an offensive visit.

[Jocko]

Who is to say that the coach was trying to cause a balk. Maybe he did want time to talk to his batter. There is no restriction on which coach can request time for an offensive visit.

The crew on the field is the judge and jury. Since they didn't call it, I have to assume they didn't feel he intended to cause a balk. HTBT.

[JHSump]

Who is to say that the coach was trying to cause a balk. Maybe he did want time to talk to his batter. There is no restriction on which coach can request time for an offensive visit.

The crew on the field is the judge and jury. Since they didn't call it, I have to assume they didn't feel he intended to cause a balk. HTBT.

Maybe it's obvious and doesn't need to be said too often, but it should perhaps be said occasionally: often the umpires on the field have to make a judgment, not just about a fair/foul, safe/out, ball/strike, but about the actions of a player or coach. Trout's comment is right on the mark about this case, I think.