Umpire not ready for pitch

[Guest Aaron]

I've had this happen a couple times and not sure what the proper call is.  Especially early in the season.  This is 9-10 year old Little League.

 

Ball is live, let's say after a passed ball and throw to 2nd on a stolen base, I've moved out from behind the plate to let the catcher get the ball and make the throw.

 

Then the pitcher gets the ball back, the batter is unusually ready fast and in the box, I'm not yet back  behind the plate with mask on and here comes the pitch.  I don't consider it a quick pitch per rules since the batter is ready.

 

I've been calling time, no pitch.  Or once, just let the pitch go and tried to make the call from out of position.  Also afterwards talk to the pitcher to let them know to wait for both the batter and umpire.  But I'm curious what the proper ruling is.

 

- Let the pitch go and try to make the call out of position.  Giving preference in the call to the batter.

- Call time.  (I don't like this since if there is a pitch and hit, then a mess would insue)

- Let the pitch go, but call ball unless there is a swing or contact.

 

Thanks,

[Mike Prince]

Call time. And get back into position quicker.

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[ricka56]

Players shouldn't have to wait on umpires (lots of exceptions, I know). I know they are 9-10, but ball goes to the backstop, F2 retrieves it throws back to F1...umpire shouldn't be that far behind F2 being ready.  

[Rich Ives]

In LL  minors it's probably one-man and in the OP situation (PB and then a throw to 2B) the PU goes "somewhere" to clear the play and be able to make the call at 2B.

 

And calling "time" may not sink in with the 9-10 crowd anyhow.

[JaxRolo]

Tell him to wait till you are ready.

[elares]

Put up the stop sign to the pitcher as you are approaching your position.  Since you don't take your eyes off the ball, you can probably see this situation brewing.

 

 

--Ron

Sunrise? Field3? PM me

[Guest Guest]

Early in the season they aren't used to playing with umpires.  I'm startled at times, like what the hell, I just walked back into fair territory from covering the call at 2B, don't have my mask back on, and I'm not even expecting the pitcher to pitch.  So sometimes don't have time to call time.  Of course they just want to play, but I need at least a few second to get back in position.

 

This is rare, just curious what the proper ruling is.  Especially if the pitch is on it's way and I'm out of position.  I'm just going to let the pitch go and call it a ball, unless the ball is put in play or swung at.

 

Minor's is fun to umpire because you see all sorts of wierd action, that isn't common.

[Guest Guest]

Put up the stop sign to the pitcher as you are approaching your position.  Since you don't take your eyes off the ball, you can probably see this situation brewing.

 

 

--Ron

Sunrise? Field3? PM me

The issue here is that they aren't looking at me.  Otherwise they would notice I'm not in position.  Some of these rec 9 year olds windup fast, so as I'm putting my hand up to stop, the pitch is on it's way.  Curious what the proper ruling is.

[JaxRolo]

 

Put up the stop sign to the pitcher as you are approaching your position.  Since you don't take your eyes off the ball, you can probably see this situation brewing.

 

 

--Ron

Sunrise? Field3? PM me

The issue here is that they aren't looking at me.  Otherwise they would notice I'm not in position.  Some of these rec 9 year olds windup fast, so as I'm putting my hand up to stop, the pitch is on it's way.  Curious what the proper ruling is.

 

"TIME! No Pitch!  Pitcher wait till I am ready!!"

[Stan W.]

exactly like @JaxRolo states..........."TIME! No Pitch!  Pitcher wait till I am ready!!"

 

that is the proper ruling......

 

you can not:

 

• - Let the pitch go and try to make the call out of position.  Giving preference in the call to the batter.-
•  
• - Let the pitch go, but call ball unless there is a swing or contact.

 

No rules or accepted mechanics support that approach....if you do this, you are sure to have a mess ensue.....and it will be at you and because of you....call time.....tell them to wait on you...hurry back....teach them to look for you early......

[BigUmpire]

DON'T GET CLOSE TO THE PLATE WITHOUT YOUR MASK ON  IN YOUTH BALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JaxRolo]

DON'T GET CLOSE TO THE PLATE WITHOUT YOUR MASK ON  IN YOUTH BALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

GOOD POINT!

[BalkHawk]

I would never recommend letting the play go on and calling it from wherever.

I wouldn't call 'time' either since f1 is not paying attention anyways.

If there's a pitch, but no umpire, it's 'no pitch'.

Try telling the batter to step out. If nobody stops, step away from the dirt circle with an incredulous look on your face. Maybe glance at the defensive team's manager as a cue for him to tell the pitcher to wait for the umpire.

This works only after hustle and good game management have failed.

[Chip]

Those first year pitchers in 9/10 games can be very dangerous because they are so oblivious to what's going on around them. I have seen them pitch not just without an umpire behind the plate, but also occasionally without a batter anywhere near the batter's box. 

 

In addition to watching out for yourself, you need to watch out for the batter. It's not unusual for some of the younger, less experienced kids to be a bit spacey at the plate, so I try to keep an eye out for when they're not paying attention and the pitcher is getting ready to pitch. At higher levels, I'd let generally let it go since they know enough to ask for time, but some of the 9 year olds are so worried about imitating their favorite MLB player's pre-pitch ritual that they risk getting drilled without even knowing a pitch is coming. 

 

With all youth leagues, but especially these players doing kid pitch for the first time, safety needs to be a top concern.

[JaxRolo]

Umpire with confidence and manage and control the game. Nothing happens without you.

[PGOLDEN88]

I had these before. I called no pitch, I did not put the ball in play. Of course, there are other times I say "play" and the pitcher throws the ball right then. In that case, I make my ruling.

[FlaUmp22]

We'll tell you the real answer if you become a member

[mhoffman]

Personally I understand where you are coming from in this situation.  I have done number of LL games from 12 and under by myself.  Hear is my trick to stopping that from happening, you can try it as well.  I clear left to see the play at second in fair territory then after the play is made and I make the call on the play.  I then jog back to the center of the diamond between pitcher and catcher.  Thats where I turn and look at the pitcher and put my mask on quickly then I walk back to the plate to make sure it is clean (if batter is in box I call time to kill everything to clean it anways) and I ask the batter to step out until everybody is setup again.  I ask the batter to come back in with my hand up (sometimes verballizing time; worse case scenario)  then I put the ball back in play.  Yes is it over kill? Maybe but has worked for me to keep ensure, I am ready, safe and everything is ready for play.  I get paid to be ready and do what is in the best interest of the kids playing and number one thing is to get it right.

 

All I'm honestly doing is putting a wall between myself and the plate, most youngesters realize that.  Success rate of this has been 100% since I still have all my teeth

[grayhawk]

You have to have situational awareness at all times. A play happens and make sure you know what the battery is doing. Kind of like when a coach gives changes late. Many times, I have asked the batter to step out and let F2 know that we're not ready.

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[noumpere]

If you pay attention to the play and the ball you will see this happening before it does and you can address it.  You need to keep umpiring even during these "relaxed" parts of the plays

[PonyUmpire]

When working 1 man, just call time as soon as you turn your back to the infield to return to the plate area. Nothing can happen until you put the ball back in play

[grayhawk]

When working 1 man, just call time as soon as you turn your back to the infield to return to the plate area. Nothing can happen until you put the ball back in play

This is unnecessary, takes away the flow of the game, and looks bad. Once play has relaxed, simply angle towards the 45 foot point on the first or third base lines (depending on which side of the infield you are on) while keeping your head on a swivel. I've done at least 200 solo games and never once had a play happen behind me.

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[blue23ll]

DON'T GET CLOSE TO THE PLATE WITHOUT YOUR MASK ON  IN YOUTH BALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Hell, don't enter the field without your mask on!!

[scrounge]

In the increasingly rare event I work a 1 man game, I just tell them at the plate conference that I'll do my best to watch all action but it's a special ground rule is that it's an automatic dead ball whenever I turn back to return to the plate.

[blue23ll]

In the increasingly rare event I work a 1 man game, I just tell them at the plate conference that I'll do my best to watch all action but it's a special ground rule is that it's an automatic dead ball whenever I turn back to return to the plate.

Really?

[ALStripes17]

In the increasingly rare event I work a 1 man game, I just tell them at the plate conference that I'll do my best to watch all action but it's a special ground rule is that it's an automatic dead ball whenever I turn back to return to the plate.

Really?

I have heard of this practice on more than one occasion. If the umpire is in the middle of the field when play has ceased, then it is a dead ball while said umpire hustles back to the plate.