Putting the ball in play

[SteveJ]

 

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As far as the proper mechanic does the pitcher have to be back on the rubber and batter in the box before you put the ball in play?

Yes

 

Depends on the code (by rule -- but it's a good practice at the levels we do)

 

OBR

5.11 After the ball is dead, play shall be resumed when the pitcher takes his place on the pitcher’s plate with a new ball or the same ball in his possession and the plate umpire calls “Play.†The plate umpire shall call “Play†as soon as the pitcher takes his place on his plate with the ball in his possession.

 

NCAA

SECTION 6.  After a dead ball, play resumes when the pitcher engages the rubber with possession of the ball, the batter assumes his position in the batter’s box, and the umpire calls or signals “Play.â€

 

FED

5-1 ART 4

After a dead ball, the ball becomes live when held by the pitcher in a legal pitching position, provided the pitcher has engaged the pitcher’s plate, the batter and catcher are in their respective boxes, and the umpire calls “Play†and gives the appropriate signal.

[CricketChapman]

 

 

.

 

As far as the proper mechanic does the pitcher have to be back on the rubber and batter in the box before you put the ball in play?

Yes

 

Depends on the code (by rule -- but it's a good practice at the levels we do)

 

OBR

5.11 After the ball is dead, play shall be resumed when the pitcher takes his place on the pitcher’s plate with a new ball or the same ball in his possession and the plate umpire calls “Play.†The plate umpire shall call “Play†as soon as the pitcher takes his place on his plate with the ball in his possession.

 

 

Except that, through interpretation, OBR also requires waiting for defensive players to be in their proper positions and waiting for the batter to be in the box.

[umpire_scott]

So I have a question regarding this process.  

 

When a batter steps into the box and needs to get settled he will request that (I'm not talking on foul balls but in general).  I generally will hold my hand up to indicate to the pitcher to give the batter time to settle in.  In my understanding though the ball is not dead while my hand is up.  So if the pitcher attempted a pick-off it would be allowable.  Usually when the batter is settled in I simply move my hand down, I do not verbalize "play".

 

So my question:  Let's say there is a foul ball and the pitcher gets the ball back fairly quickly and the batter has not yet entered the box.  I my hand goes up and then when all is good I lower my hand and verbalize "play".  Can there be some confusion as to when the ball is "live" given these two similar situations?

 

I hope I explained this well enough.

[Dash Riprock]

So I have a question regarding this process.  

 

When a batter steps into the box and needs to get settled he will request that (I'm not talking on foul balls but in general).  I generally will hold my hand up to indicate to the pitcher to give the batter time to settle in.  In my understanding though the ball is not dead while my hand is up.  So if the pitcher attempted a pick-off it would be allowable.  Usually when the batter is settled in I simply move my hand down, I do not verbalize "play".

 

So my question:  Let's say there is a foul ball and the pitcher gets the ball back fairly quickly and the batter has not yet entered the box.  I my hand goes up and then when all is good I lower my hand and verbalize "play".  Can there be some confusion as to when the ball is "live" given these two similar situations?

 

I hope I explained this well enough.

Whenever you hold your hand up, the ball is dead - you cannot get an out.  The only time you should do this is when the ball is already dead (like your scenario after a foul ball).  If the batter wants to hold up his hand while he is digging in (like Derek Jeter), consider it a wave.  It means nothing (Jeter doesn't get time either).  The ball is live and you want it that way.  If the pitcher begins his motion before the batter is looking at him, kill it immediately and be loud about it.  Tell the pitcher "Wait 'til he's looking at YOU before you begin your motion to pitch/ start your stretch."

[grayhawk]

So I have a question regarding this process.  

 

When a batter steps into the box and needs to get settled he will request that (I'm not talking on foul balls but in general).  I generally will hold my hand up to indicate to the pitcher to give the batter time to settle in.  In my understanding though the ball is not dead while my hand is up.  So if the pitcher attempted a pick-off it would be allowable.  Usually when the batter is settled in I simply move my hand down, I do not verbalize "play".

 

So my question:  Let's say there is a foul ball and the pitcher gets the ball back fairly quickly and the batter has not yet entered the box.  I my hand goes up and then when all is good I lower my hand and verbalize "play".  Can there be some confusion as to when the ball is "live" given these two similar situations?

 

I hope I explained this well enough.

 

Scott, my first thought is that you should only use this sparingly.  I don't care if a batter puts up his hand (which is how he usually indicates he wants me to hold the pitcher up).  There is a natural cadence that the battery assumes during the course of the game.  I only put my hand up if I feel this cadence is going to be broken.  I may do this once or twice a game.  In all other cases, I let the batter get settled without doing anything.  If F1 starts a motion while the batter is getting set, then I will loudly call "TIME!" and tell the pitcher, "Let him get set in the box, please."  If the batter is taking a long time, I will remind him to ensure he's ready when he steps in.

 

As to "do not pitch" signal still being a live ball, I am not aware of anything written in any rule set that says this.  In fact, Fed specifically says the ball is dead (12-6-1).  If my hand is up, then nothing else can happen.  I will then put the ball in play when the battery is ready.

[ALStripes17]

So I have a question regarding this process.

When a batter steps into the box and needs to get settled he will request that (I'm not talking on foul balls but in general). I generally will hold my hand up to indicate to the pitcher to give the batter time to settle in. In my understanding though the ball is not dead while my hand is up. So if the pitcher attempted a pick-off it would be allowable. Usually when the batter is settled in I simply move my hand down, I do not verbalize "play".

So my question: Let's say there is a foul ball and the pitcher gets the ball back fairly quickly and the batter has not yet entered the box. I my hand goes up and then when all is good I lower my hand and verbalize "play". Can there be some confusion as to when the ball is "live" given these two similar situations?

I hope I explained this well enough.

Whenever you hold your hand up, the ball is dead - you cannot get an out. The only time you should do this is when the ball is already dead. If the batter wants to hold up his hand while he is digging in (like Derek Jeter), consider it a wave. It means nothing (Jeter doesn't get time either). The ball is live and you want it that way. If the pitcher begins his motion before the batter is looking at him, kill it immediately and be loud about it. Tell the pitcher "Wait 'til he's looking at YOU before you begin any motion to pitch or to start your stretch."

You can always talk with your catcher's too. Give them a "hey (F2's name), help us out and wait til the batter is ready before giving your signals"

[umpire_scott]

Thanks.  I will refrain from this practice.  I have used the hand-up also in situations where the pitcher was getting a little hasty in his delivery (i.e. going to a set before the batter even looked up).  In the future I will allow it to flow naturally and simply use "TIME" if necessary.  I never realized that the hand-up to allow the batter to get settled also signaled "dead ball".

[BigSimonia]

 

"Time" and "Foul" are the only ways to kill the ball. The (physical) mechanic is the same for both.ball

But if the ball has already been "killed" by calling "time" or "foul", and the teams start playing again before you call "play", what do you call then? The ball is already "dead". Do you "kill" it again?

 

If I'm asked for t"Time" when it is already been called (coach wants to come on to field after a foul ball, or to talk to the pitcher after an HBP) I simply inform them that "Time is out."  Sometimes I'll add "Time is already out"  Seems to get the point across and is accurate

[grayhawk]

Thanks.  I will refrain from this practice.  I have used the hand-up also in situations where the pitcher was getting a little hasty in his delivery (i.e. going to a set before the batter even looked up).  In the future I will allow it to flow naturally and simply use "TIME" if necessary.  I never realized that the hand-up to allow the batter to get settled also signaled "dead ball".

 

If the pitcher is coming set before the batter is ready, then I am calling time to ensure the batter doesn't get hurt.  At the HS level this is something I may have to do once or twice a season.  Sometimes you can just tell that something is "off" and putting the hand up is the right thing to do, but I certainly don't do it because the batter puts his hand up to draw designs in the box with his foot or to play spirograph with his bat on the plate.

 

The more you DON'T use the "do not pitch" signal, the more you realize that it's not usually needed.

[Magic]

I agree with Grayhawk on this one. I probably use the do not pitch signal once or twice a game if that. Some times I will go 2-3 games without doing it at all. It is just not needed. I tend to find myself using it more when I have a pitcher who likes to work fast. Then I have to really be on my A game and make sure he is not quick pitching the batters.

[BigUmpire]

For all of the newbies. Do not get near the plate without your mask ON!

Most HS and above this is not generally required --all other ball

HAVE IT ON!!!!'

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[SoCal Lurker]

For all of the newbies. Do not get near the plate without your mask ON!

Most HS and above this is not generally required --all other ball

HAVE IT ON!!!!'

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

My son played a game a couple of weeks ago where the PU called the first pitch wihtut his mask, which he had left in the stands between games . . . never seen that before, and hard for me to imagine . . . (may have been the same U who mentioned to fans that he preferre doing the plate so he wouldn't have to move as much . . . .)