When is a Conference Not a Conference

[834k3r]

Last night I was watching my son's varsity game. Talked to the 2-man crew after the game. Specific situation doesn't really matter. F2 asked for time, PU granted it. F2 trotted about halfway (not that distance matters) to the mount, F1 walked about 10 feet in front of the pitcher's plate. They talked for literally about 10 seconds and then returned to their normal positions. The 2-man crew (I know both of them) said they didn't charge the team with a player conference because it was so short.

Personally, I believe that since time was called and they met, I don't care if the meeting was for 1 second or 1 minute. I would have charged them with a conference.

What sort of guidelines for player conferences do you have personally or as directed from your association?

[BigBlue4u]

4 hours ago, 834k3r said:

What sort of guidelines for player conferences do you have personally or as directed from your association?

The primary question here is:  Did what happen delay the game?  (umpire judgment)

If the answer is yes, it's a defensive meeting.  If what happened did not delay the game (umpire judgment) then no meeting is charged.  However, if time was requested, it will be a charged meeting.

[The Man in Blue]

Agree with @BigBlue4u . . . you need a feel for what is happening.  Asked for time = conference every time, though.

I specifically asked about the 1st-and-3rd catcher's dance party delay . . . IMO, it is a stoppage for players to communicate.  I was told do not charge this (as long as you keep the ball live).

[SeeingEyeDog]

We have been having lots of discussions on this in my market as I'm sure a lot of you have. Sadly, like a lot of NFHS rule changes, I think their hearts were in the right place (pace of play, let's keep it moving! Yes!) but, I knew when I saw these changes coming that there would be foreseen circumstances by umpires that were unseen by everyone else, including the NFHS.

Our local interpretations that we've discussed are...players coming together following warmup pitches and F2 throwing it down? Not a PTP meeting, unless it's prolonged. Typically, I will brush the plate following F2 throwing it down. If I come up and the batter is ready, I am ready and my partner is ready and the defense is not? That's a meeting.

Relief pitcher comes in, throws his warmup pitches and F2 goes out to discuss signs? This is a safety issue that concerns the batter, F2 and the plate umpire. We will allow this.

A team has already had their PTP meeting and now F2 and F1 are crossed up and they want to have a meeting to discuss signs? Again, this is a safety issue however in this case, plate will follow F2 out to the mound and get close enough to hear the conversation. As long as it's signs related, that's ok. As soon as it veers from signs...break up the meeting and resume the game.

@834k3r, in the case you presented, I would not have banged a meeting there. Me taking my book out and recording the details of when that meeting took place in the game are more of an impact to pace of play then the short meeting the players did that you described.

~Dawg