"You can't clock our pitchers"

Had something new happen this weekend. I have a pocket radar and I clock pitchers all the time at various tournaments. I paid a bunch of money for it, might as well use it. I've never had anyone complain. I'm not sneaky about it at all. often I'll have parents come over and ask what their pitcher is throwing. It's never been an issue. This one team in the tournament had a pitcher I kept hearing was in the 50s. Always skeptical, I decided to see (FYI, high of 47). When I went to clock her one of the moms came over and said they don't let people clock their pitchers. She wasn't polite about it and didn't make it sound like a request. She told my husband she was going to tell the tournament director, to which he replied to go for it. She never did, and one of the dads came over and apologized and said she's crazy and not to worry about it.

One of the umpires overheard us talking about it and he said there is no rule against clocking pitchers, unless it's during one of your games against the team, and you report the information to the dugout. I hadn't heard that before and have often told the girls "Hey, she's only in the low 40s, so you guys have this!" They used to be really intimidated if they thought a pitcher looked fast. So I did break that rule by mistake if the umpire was correct (and he did seem very knowledgeable, probably the best one we had all weekend).

Has anyone else run into a situation like this? I can't imagine caring if someone clocked my DD while she was pitching. They told DH that being clocked makes their pitchers nervous. I think that's probably a lie (my theory is they can intimidate teams with the rumors of their fast pitching, and the girl is really big, and they don't want it getting around that she's only high 40s? Just a guess) but if it is true, how on earth do they handle other pressures in the circle if they can't even handle someone clocking a few pitches? the whole thing was so weird.

You can't... do... WHAT??

Oh my lord, seriously? Maybe parents shouldn't be allowed to tell the batter when they think a changeup is coming. Or not to throw down on a runner stealing second with a girl on third.

Okay, here's the truth. Parents/fans can do just about whatever the heck they want. If they want to clock the pitcher, they can do whatever they want. The only time I'd ever step in is if a coach leaves the dugout area to go consult with a parent about how a pitcher is doing. Coaches are supposed to stay in the dugout.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go dry my eyes from laughing so hard at this woman's ridiculousness.

Wow.

grcsftbll said:

They told DH that being clocked makes their pitchers nervous. I think that's probably a lie (my theory is they can intimidate teams with the rumors of their fast pitching, and the girl is really big, and they don't want it getting around that she's only high 40s? Just a guess) but if it is true, how on earth do they handle other pressures in the circle if they can't even handle someone clocking a few pitches? the whole thing was so weird.

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I can tell you my DD tries to over-throw when I pull out the radar gun when we practice. That's why I don't bother to bring it out much anymore.

I was at a tournament once and was clocking a pitcher with my pocket radar. Ump turned around and said nobody is allowed behind the plate, and in a very direct way told me to move. Im not even sure if he cared I was clocking. I don't think he didn't want anybody behind him maybe evaluationg his strike zone. Who knows?

I didn't want to make a scene, so I complied.

Mixed results but very nice 4 field complex, actually 5 another SB thiere.


They sometimes put a huge banner behind home so you can not sit there.

DD does not care so I do not care.

Softball scholar said:

I was at a tournament once and was clocking a pitcher with my pocket radar. Ump turned around and said nobody is allowed behind the plate, and in a very direct way told me to move. Im not even sure if he cared I was clocking. I don't think he didn't want anybody behind him maybe evaluationg his strike zone. Who knows?

I didn't want to make a scene, so I complied.

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I almost always sit behind the plate. I like the angle. I've never had anyone tell me not to. If an umpire told me to move off course I would though. Random mom? Not so much.

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When I first read the title thread here, I thought you were going to say some coach was bragging that his pitchers pitch so fast that they can't be clocked! LOL.

I always try to be discrete and am always prepared for an umpire to request I don't stand behind the backstop. As Quincy said, some places put a screen behind the backstop so you can't see anything if you stand behind it.

DD throw me to outfield.

Is "get bent" an acceptable answer to that mom?