Ump wouldn't allow a timeout.

We were playing in a game Sunday. The bases were so far in the ground that they were almost at ground level. We had a kid slide into third and was safe. She was kind of laying on the base. I asked the ump for time so she could dust herself off and he wouldn't give it to me. He just said she can just get up and do it. I asked the HP ump and he wouldn't give it to me either. She got up and was OK, but I just couldn't figure out what the issue was. I wasn't stalling as we were losing.

For the Umps out there, am I correct that if she stood up and lost contact with the base she could be charged with leaving early or look back?

Why would she lose contact with the base? It is umpire dependent but there is no reason to call time every time someone slides into a base.

Because the bases were sunk so she was essentially sitting on the base. In my estimation the change for her to lose contact was pretty high not to mention she was slightly injured from a previous slide. I wasn't asking for a conference just a chance to have my kids get up without liability.

canyonjoe said:

Because the bases were sunk so she was essentially sitting on the base. In my estimation the change for her to lose contact was pretty high not to mention she was slightly injured from a previous slide. I wasn't asking for a conference just a chance to have my kids get up without liability.

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I had this happen at a tournament last weekend. Back snap to first and my runner had to dive back to base. She asked for time while the glove (with ball in it) was applied for the tag. She assumed since she asked, it was granted. It was not. She lost contact with the bag on the momentary stretch from hand to toe and was promptly called out. The explanation from the umpire was that 1)they are not obligated to grant time outs snd 2) had the BR laid there until the Pitcher had control of the ball in the circle then he would have granted it since he would have considered the play "over."

Hmmm...I've never seen an ump not grant a time out in a situation like that. Interesting. What did you do to piss him/her off earlier in the game?

Eric F said:

Hmmm...I've never seen an ump not grant a time out in a situation like that. Interesting. What did you do to piss him/her off earlier in the game?

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We were wondering the same thing I truly don't think he would have called her out if she were to step off to clean up, but the PU certainly would have.

We teach this in baseball religiously. The correct technique on drive backs is to keep your hand on the bag, place your foot on the bag, then release your hand and dust off then you don't leave the bag until the pitcher is on the rubber, of course with no leads in softball no need to worry about the old hidden ball trick.

If there is a possible injury as the coach I would specify that you want to check on your player, I don't think an umpire would ever stop that, but I do know some that don't feel every slide into base or drive back needs a timeout. Would be nice to hear from our resident umpires on the issue

Eric F said:

Hmmm...I've never seen an ump not grant a time out in a situation like that. Interesting. What did you do to piss him/her off earlier in the game?

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^this. I always see a blue grant time in that situation unless they simply aren't paying attention.

And while it is not required to grant time, seems silly not to. Just seems like a normal part of the game. Slide, play over, call time, dust off, get back on the base.

Sweet Lou said:

^this. I always see a blue grant time in that situation unless they simply aren't paying attention.

And while it is not required to grant time, seems silly not to. Just seems like a normal part of the game. Slide, play over, call time, dust off, get back on the base.

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The OP doesnt state, were there other runners on base? Was the ball back to the pitcher in the circle? There could be numerous reasons time wasnt granted. If the ball is not being held on the runner and there is no apparent injury I probably will not grant time simply to just stand up. If other runners are off base I will not grant time, especially if the ball is not back in the circle.

Pitcher had the ball other runners on base. I've had guys say to wait a second, but never had a guy do this. He was an older guy who I think would have been fine if she got up and wasn't on the base but PU was a guy that would have called look back on her in an instant. It's not a big deal but I'm glad that we will move to 16 U soon and never have to play in this group of tournaments.