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Online now: 2 members: Steehler7, TABLE SETTER 11; 93 anonymousDiscussion: Calling time out
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| July 18, 2017 Jersey Jack 2 posts | Calling time out My question comes as an umpire and is about calling time outs. Base hit to the outfield, ball is thrown back to infield, and infielder calls for a time out before throwing the ball to the pitcher. When timeout is requested, there appears to be little chance of advancement by runner. As base umpire, I did not grant the time out. After a number of similar plays, players begin to complain that I am not granting them time out. I consult with chief ump, and the other base umpire, and they agree with the players. From that point I begin granting the time outs. The senior softball rules argue in favor of my colleagues: 9.3 • THE BALL REMAINS LIVE The ball remains live until the umpire calls "time," which should be done when the ball is held by a player in the infield area, and in the umpire’s judgment, all play has ceased. My position is that it would be more expedient of the infielders to toss the ball to the pitcher than to call time out, and therefore such time out requests are gratuitous. I am of the opinion that there needs to be a reason to stop play, and that the players need to give that reason as part of the time out request. I also believe that the time out gives the defense a slight advantage because the infielder could throw the ball away when tossing it back to the pitcher. I would like to hear other opinions on this. Thank you. |
| July 18, 2017 B.J. 1105 posts | Jersey , I assume you are doing a 2 man system... as a base umpire you should not be calling the time outs... when I'm working HP I tell my partner that "I" will call all time outs.. the reason for that is that in most cases I have the view of the whole field in front of me... as far as when a time out should be called... It should be called at the end of EVERY live ball play as soon as the ball is in the hands of any infielder and runners have stopped advancing...failure to do so can only cause a bad situation... ex. runners have stop and the infielder then tosses the ball to the pitcher who misses it and the ball rolls thru the infield toward the dugout... since time out was never called, this would be a live ball |
| July 18, 2017 Nancy Allen Men's 55 1438 posts | JJ, this would probably be a good one to talk about, and if you like, I would be glad to discuss it with you. I do have a couple of thoughts though. I am curious why the plate umpire is not calling time. In our mechanics, the base umpire only calls time when the plate umpire goes to third, and base umpire covers home based on where the tailing runner is at. There are some players that always call for time; I will not call time until the ball is in someone's possession in or close to the infield, and runners are not moving. This does not work 100% of the time but is my thinking of when to call time. I am curious why you mention the pitcher. In slow pitch there is no need for it to be in the pitcher's possession to call time. I work with 10 year olds in slow pitch, and I stress to the coaches that as long as they run it in that there is no need for it to go to the pitcher. A throw in 10s can start total chaos; so even if an outfielder runs it in, there is less chance of problems than trying to throw it to the pitcher. Anyway that is my take, and if you want to discuss it, just let me know, and you can call me. |
| July 18, 2017 Jersey Jack 2 posts | Thank you BJ and Nancy for your reasonable explanations. For whatever reason, probably proximity, the players requested time out from the base umpire instead of the chief. But this is something I can talk about with colleagues. I mentioned the pitcher, Nancy, because that would be a way to stop play. When a player asks for time, I am going to take a second to look around and make sure that any runners have stopped moving. However, I see your point. Just an aside, we are players first, and then asked to ump second. So there is always something to learn. Thanks again for your help, JJ. |
| July 19, 2017 Nancy Allen Men's 55 1438 posts | JJ, thank you that makes sense if you are player/volunteer umpires and not formally trained. As a base umpire, you should never be the one to call time. My partner and I will slightly raise one hand for the partner at the plate to know that there is nothing going on where we are at. The plate umpire sees the entire field, and they should be the only one to call time except in the situation that I described above when they cover 3rd. Everything that BJ said is also correct. Have fun. |
| July 21, 2017 the car 83 posts | that is a nice opinion but not the rule and when you get that little shit who likes to dance off the base and dose stupid moves that little leaguers do then don`t give the time out, which will hunt you as a umpire but also remember Blue you have to stay in the game also and not turn your back when this happens |
| July 21, 2017 B.J. 1105 posts | car...the answers that were given were not opinions... they are proper umpire mechanics... and your "opinion" is wrong... if a runner as you say dances off the base but his momentum stops going forward and no play is being made that is when you call time out and stop the play...then you can turn your back and walk away |
