Improper Timeout Rule Change

“Want to protect your player, teach her to pay attention and be aware”

Thanks a lot for this wisdom captain obvious

Did I mention this was little league?

But the funny thing is that this was a travel ball player who should have known to ask the blue for timeout. 12U players don’t always think and certainly don’t always pay attention. It’s a constant battle.

On the other hand shouldn't one of the umpires notice a player bending down tying a shoe and call time themselves or if it's the PU at least put your hand up to stop the pitcher? You've got a safety issue there.

Also, I always say, "Sir, may I have time?", but manners aside if I wanted a time out and requested by looking at the ump and saying "time" I am still requesting, so what was the strike for, lack of politeness? The pitcher should pitch unless the umpire says time.

DD is pitching and 2nd basemen decided to tie their shoe, I think pitch was thrown before it was noticed she was not paying attention.

HC yelled out to DD you need to make sure your team is ready before you pitch. I am thinking noooo.

After a batter, I told it to stop it and just pitch.

What was funny was DD kept trying to sneak a peek at the 2nd without moving her head which she could not do. You can be on an island sometimes.

I have seen OP happen a lot. Player ting shoe is 1 and only one in control, C Is 2, coaches are 3 and last umpires.

Big Daddy Michigan said:

On the other hand shouldn't one of the umpires notice a player bending down tying a shoe and call time themselves or if it's the PU at least put your hand up to stop the pitcher? You've got a safety issue there.

Also, I always pit

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That was my thought as well - the field ump was literally 15 feet from third base but oblivious. In her defense she was just a high school
Student...why a HS student was officiating a championship game? Another issue that affected the game as well.

The home umpire ( a real winner) came over and said very loudly (in front of all of my parents) that he is going to recommend that the coaches be taught the rules before next season. I Fired right back that I have been coaching for 8 years and know the rules and was just trying to protect a defenseless player and that I never heard of arbitrarily assessing a strike on a pitch that was not thrown. He said I should have noticed sooner and requested time. I told
Him I was up the line in the coaches box and didn’t notice until I glanced back at my runner. He said well you did the right thing then and should be happy with the strike.

Best explanation I have heard of what happened is MSU. And I would add an over zealous ump.

Thanks for the input - I had never seen it before and frankly wasn’t sure if was some obscure rule that I didn’t know.

quincy said:

DD is pitching and 2nd basemen decided to tie their shoe, I think pitch was thrown before it was noticed she was not paying attention.

HC yelled out to DD you need to make sure your team is ready before you pitch. I am thinking noooo.

After a batter, I told it to stop it and just pitch.

What was funny was DD kept trying to sneak a peek at the 2nd without moving her head which she could not do. You can be on an island sometimes.

I have seen OP happen a lot. Player ting shoe is 1 and only one in control, C Is 2, coaches are 3 and last umpires.

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Well said!!

If the pitcher had started her pitching motion and stopped it when you called time, he actually should have called a ball and not a strike. It would be considered an illegal pitch I believe. I’ve seen that called before when a batter stepped out of the box and the pitcher stopped her motion. Ump was angry with the batter but called a ball since the pitcher stopped her motion.


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durtyd26 said:

If the pitcher had started her pitching motion and stopped it when you called time, he actually should have called a ball and not a strike. It would be considered an illegal pitch I believe. I’ve seen that called before when a batter stepped out of the box and the pitcher stopped her motion. Ump was angry with the batter but called a ball since the pitcher stopped her motion.


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No, it should have been declared a "no pitch"

USA 6A.10.E
NFHS 6.13 + warning
NCAA 10.10.7 + warning

This is assuming the umpire judges calling time was to interrupt the delivery of the pitch. Years ago your response would have been right on, but over the years the benefit of doubt has shifted to protecting the pitcher more so at the lower levels

MTR said:

No, it should have been declared a "no pitch"

USA 6A.10.E
NFHS 6.13 + warning
NCAA 10.10.7 + warning

This is assuming the umpire judges calling time was to interrupt the delivery of the pitch. Years ago your response would have been right on, but over the years the benefit of doubt has shifted to protecting the pitcher more so at the lower levels

Click to expand...

Thanks for that.


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