Looking for Stopwatch

[NOLA26]

Now that my state and association is getting a little stricter with timing between innings and between pitches, I was wondering if anyone has found a stopwatch designed for baseball umpires?  I carry a standard stopwatch that has several different function screens, split timers, stopwatch, timer, clock, etc.  It's alot to mess with in a game and if buttons get accidntally get pushed while its in my pocket....well it's a PITA.   

I am looking for a stopwatch with customizable dual dountdown timers.  I want to press one button to start the 20 second pitch timer and another to start the 80 second (60 second for warm up and 20 seconds to pitch) timer between innings.  In a perfect device, I would have three buttons: start timer A, start timer B, and a reset.  I would also love it to have interval warnings.  For example- for the 80 second timer, it would give a double vibrating pulse at 30 seconds, single pulse at 15 seconds, then a vibrating alarm at 0.  The 20 second would give a pulse at 5.  

I've done searches and can't find anything close so I'm sure it doesn't exist but I figured I would ask anyway.

[noumpere]

When I was a private pilot, I had to time several different things.  I found a kitchen timer worked best -- they tend to have the functions we need.

[flyingron]

On 1/12/2025 at 8:29 AM, noumpere said:

When I was a private pilot, I had to time several different things.  I found a kitchen timer worked best -- they tend to have the functions we need.

Yeah, be careful about that.   I used one of those kitchen timers when I was doing my instrument training and I found they have the nasty habit of running slow when the batteries start to go.

Back when I was a NASCAR official, Robics were the common one used for most timing purposes.   Don't know of any hat are specifically targetted at baseball.

If you're doing a pitch timer, I would think having one that easily counts down and vibrates or something so you are not taking your eyes off the game to determine when it is running out.    As for game running time or between innings, just about any cheap stopwatch would do.

 

[JSam21]

I use the below watch. It has a countdown and timer. It doesn't vibrate or anything but it will do the job that you are looking for. 

 

https://www.ump-attire.com/Products/SC-522/Robic-Referee-Umpire-Dual-Timer-Count-Up-Count-Down-Stopwatch

 

If you are looking to time the :20 clock between pitches, I would go with the RefSmart Timer. It will vibrate at :08 remaining, then long vibrate when time expires. 

 

https://www.ump-attire.com/Products/FB-2540/RefSmart-Universal-Game-Day-Umpire-Referee-Timer

[johnnyg08]

On 1/13/2025 at 9:18 AM, JSam21 said:

If you are looking to time the :20 clock between pitches, I would go with the RefSmart Timer. It will vibrate at :08 remaining, then long vibrate when time expires. 

 

https://www.ump-attire.com/Products/FB-2540/RefSmart-Universal-Game-Day-Umpire-Referee-Timer

But you may have to send it in every two years when they change the clock thresholds by one second. So budget at least another $50 on top of the initial cost of this one. 

[Richvee]

22 hours ago, johnnyg08 said:

But you may have to send it in every two years when they change the clock thresholds by one second. So budget at least another $50 on top of the initial cost of this one. 

I’m more than capable of feeling/hearing the ten second buzz, then counting off two seconds before calling a batter violation. 

[johnnyg08]

On 1/18/2025 at 3:20 PM, Richvee said:

I’m more than capable of feeling/hearing the ten second buzz, then counting off two seconds before calling a batter violation. 

Sure and I'm happy for you, but that doesn't change the context of my post. Lots and lots of umpires send them in. 

[Richvee]

19 minutes ago, johnnyg08 said:

Sure and I'm happy for you, but that doesn't change the context of my post. Lots and lots of umpires send them in. 

I sent mine in last time. It was a needed adjustment. I’ll get through this year counting two seconds. Next year the device should be all but obsolete with all divisions required to have visible clocks. 

[johnnyg08]

22 hours ago, Richvee said:

I sent mine in last time. It was a needed adjustment. I’ll get through this year counting two seconds. Next year the device should be all but obsolete with all divisions required to have visible clocks. 

Yep...which is how it should've been to begin with. 

Such an enormous PIA. 

[Replacematt]

2 hours ago, Richvee said:

I sent mine in last time. It was a needed adjustment. I’ll get through this year counting two seconds. Next year the device should be all but obsolete with all divisions required to have visible clocks. 

Are you sure about that requirement?

[Kevin_K]

2 hours ago, Richvee said:

I sent mine in last time. It was a needed adjustment. I’ll get through this year counting two seconds. Next year the device should be all but obsolete with all divisions required to have visible clocks. 

I hope you aren't wagering the mortgage on that happening.

[Richvee]

33 minutes ago, Kevin_K said:

I hope you aren't wagering the mortgage on that happening.

That would be a cheap bet. House is paid in full. But your point is well taken. Especially at some of the places you and I will be this spring. 

[MadMax]

On 1/11/2025 at 11:46 PM, NOLA26 said:

Now that my state and association… 

Ah, so this isn’t a “college thang”; this is a “high school thang”. Sets the context. 

On 1/11/2025 at 11:46 PM, NOLA26 said:

getting a little stricter with timing between innings and between pitches, I was wondering if anyone has found a stopwatch designed for baseball umpires?

Adhesion (ie. “stricter”) of any rule is organic, not technologic. That is to say, it will be the integration by human umpires of the rule’s purpose, protocol, and implementation that will determine “success”, not the presence (or lack thereof) of a technological item. The item is a tool, not the rule. 

I’m saying this to make us aware of stubborn holdouts in the ranks who choose to be obstacles to the effective adhesion and implementation of a rule. At (all) professional levels, complete adhesion must exist, and the technological tools are provided. At the collegiate level, it gets a little more complex and challenging – they (TPTB) expect complete adhesion, but the technological tools are in flux – some exist, some don’t. This is understandable – it’s college, afterall, and everyone is learning and developing. The only complaint I (and others) have is when technological implementation is mandated, on our dime. In no way, whatsoever, am I questioning the validity of the rule; and, in order to operate as a college umpire, I must demonstrate rule adhesion. I’m questioning the technological implementation in lieu of provided tools. If you ain’t providing the clock, or the RefTimer, then you’re in no position to demand organic and technologic  adhesion. If I develop my own technological solution (ie. tool), then why can’t I use it? 

So that brings us to High School, where it has been demonstrated over time, again and again, the challenge to adhesion of rules isn’t technologic, it’s utterly organic. 

[johnnyg08]

3 hours ago, MadMax said:

Ah, so this isn’t a “college thang”; this is a “high school thang”. Sets the context. 

Adhesion (ie. “stricter”) of any rule is organic, not technologic. That is to say, it will be the integration by human umpires of the rule’s purpose, protocol, and implementation that will determine “success”, not the presence (or lack thereof) of a technological item. The item is a tool, not the rule. 

I’m saying this to make us aware of stubborn holdouts in the ranks who choose to be obstacles to the effective adhesion and implementation of a rule. At (all) professional levels, complete adhesion must exist, and the technological tools are provided. At the collegiate level, it gets a little more complex and challenging – they (TPTB) expect complete adhesion, but the technological tools are in flux – some exist, some don’t. This is understandable – it’s college, afterall, and everyone is learning and developing. The only complaint I (and others) have is when technological implementation is mandated, on our dime. In no way, whatsoever, am I questioning the validity of the rule; and, in order to operate as a college umpire, I must demonstrate rule adhesion. I’m questioning the technological implementation in lieu of provided tools. If you ain’t providing the clock, or the RefTimer, then you’re in no position to demand organic and technologic  adhesion. If I develop my own technological solution (ie. tool), then why can’t I use it? 

So that brings us to High School, where it has been demonstrated over time, again and again, the challenge to adhesion of rules isn’t technologic, it’s utterly organic. 

If this ends up in the HS game, that might push me over the edge to hang up the mask. I would like to keep working...but i have zero desire to monitor this at the NFHS level. And...in our area, there's no need.