Pro Mechanics/Game Management

[DevildogUmp]

Hanging out at the local Triple-A park this weekend for 2 games and of course am watching the umpires as much as the game. Couple of questions if anyone happens to know the answer:

1. Batter requesting time - Plate gives time, points to the batter, and immediately gives the reset signal for the pitch clock. Elapsed time for the request, maybe 3 second. Is there any leeway on giving the batter more time before resetting the clock?

2. Catcher goes out to the mound and about 3 seconds into the 30 sec clock, the coach comes out and they reset the 30 sec clock when he stepped out of the dugout. Is there an amount of time the coach gets to make up his mind to have the clock get reset for the visit? 

3. Non-pitcher defensive substitutions - is there a mechanic for alerting the box to the change like you do for the pitcher and batter, or is that just something they just expect the box to pick up on?

[Biscuit]

Can't answer the first two (they don't publish the MiLB manuals any more do they?), but for the third, I've always been taught to do it the same as a pitcher or batter. Give the press box a wave (and make eye contact if you can) and point to the new fielder. Even if they don't quite know which fielder you're pointing to, they at least know they should be looking, and in what general direction.

[MadMax]

On 6/28/2026 at 7:39 PM, DevildogUmp said:

1. Batter requesting time - Plate gives time, points to the batter, and immediately gives the reset signal for the pitch clock. Elapsed time for the request, maybe 3 second. Is there any leeway on giving the batter more time before resetting the clock?

Yes, it’s contextual. A simple “Time out” / reset for rhythm, or related to displeasure with a strike call fetches a (rather) expedient resumption of the clock. A ball up-&-in that forces the batter from his box, or if the Batter fouls one off his foot, let’s say, it’s understood to delay the resumption of the clock accordingly. 

On 6/28/2026 at 7:39 PM, DevildogUmp said:

2. Catcher goes out to the mound and about 3 seconds into the 30 sec clock, the coach comes out and they reset the 30 sec clock when he stepped out of the dugout. Is there an amount of time the coach gets to make up his mind to have the clock get reset for the visit? 

Again, contextual, but for the most part, if the catcher just arrives out at the mound, and then a coach emerges from the dugout, we (umpires, with timekeepers directed by umpires) reset the clock to 30, and (re)start it according to our ruleset. We also charge 1 visit, not 2 (NCAA differentiates player visit from coach visit). 

On 6/28/2026 at 7:39 PM, DevildogUmp said:

3. Non-pitcher defensive substitutions - is there a mechanic for alerting the box to the change like you do for the pitcher and batter, or is that just something they just expect the box to pick up on?

Yup. Wave at the box, and if it’s a like-like / same-spot substitution, just point at the position. If it’s an outfielder, point “up and over” towards the outfield spot. 

If it’s a double-switch, and 2 (or more) players departed, and 2 (or more) entered the lineup in spots different than their field positions, then wave to the pressbox, give a “hitting” signal, the number of fingers indicating batting spot/slot in the lineup, and then point at the player on defense. Repeat until all subs are completed. 

If ending the DH, and he (or his sub) is now in the field, perform the batting signal, indicate the DHs spot in the batting order, and then do a discreet “kill” slash. Then, point at the player on defense. 

[tpatience]

On 6/28/2026 at 5:39 PM, DevildogUmp said:

Hanging out at the local Triple-A park this weekend for 2 games and of course am watching the umpires as much as the game. Couple of questions if anyone happens to know the answer:

1. Batter requesting time - Plate gives time, points to the batter, and immediately gives the reset signal for the pitch clock. Elapsed time for the request, maybe 3 second. Is there any leeway on giving the batter more time before resetting the clock?

2. Catcher goes out to the mound and about 3 seconds into the 30 sec clock, the coach comes out and they reset the 30 sec clock when he stepped out of the dugout. Is there an amount of time the coach gets to make up his mind to have the clock get reset for the visit? 

3. Non-pitcher defensive substitutions - is there a mechanic for alerting the box to the change like you do for the pitcher and batter, or is that just something they just expect the box to pick up on?

1: MLB is testing this in AA and AAA. 99% of the time, the clock starts immediately. As Max said, if a batter gets thrown up and in, we can hold the clock. But on a batter time out, the clock starts immediately.

2: A coach or manager has until 20 seconds to get a fresh 30 seconds on a player initiated trip. If they come out after 20, they can either use another visit to get a reset or be walking off the mound before 0. This is also a AA and AAA experimental rule. 
 

3: You would wave in the new sub and point to wherever the new player is playing. Unless it’s unannounced, which then the press box probably saw it anyway and will announce it