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Online now: 5 members: J5, Softballnut16, TABLE SETTER 11, dawg888, judgeman; 89 anonymousDiscussion: Calling Time out
| Posted | Discussion |
| July 26, 2021 grayhitter59 Men's 60 345 posts | Calling Time out Here it goes. A ball is throw to home plate, catcher miss plays it, catcher picks up ball, infielder yells timeout. Umpire yells time at the same time catcher throws ball to 3rd base, which is missed by 3rd baseman and runner scores. umpire says because time was called will catchers arm was in motion, "no timeout" runner scores. offence is happy, defense is not. what should happen? MQ #17 |
| July 26, 2021 stick8 1992 posts | According to your scenario there was a play at third so for the umpire to call time might tell me he or she didn’t look where that baserunner was.. I stress “might” because I didn’t see the play live, only going by your description. Sometimes it happens where time is called too early and in your scenario it sounds like it was. Umpires have to see how the play plays out before calling time. |
| July 26, 2021 grayhitter59 Men's 60 345 posts | Ok, granted might have been early, but she still called out "TIME" only 2 things can happen 1) time is called dead ball no advancement 2) play stands keep playing (have a problem with this, for how long can the play continue)? |
| July 26, 2021 stick8 1992 posts | Rightly or wrongly if the ump calls time the play is dead. |
| July 26, 2021 grayhitter59 Men's 60 345 posts | Staff is there a specific rule for this or is it umpire discretion? |
| July 26, 2021 B.J. 1107 posts | Time should never be given just because a player yells out time… .. The umpire should scan the whole field to make sure all runners have stopped advancing and that the defense has control of the ball near or in the infield … then time should be called and this should be done ONLY by the HP umpire … if an umpire does call time to soon the call should stand and hopefully he learns from his mistake |
| July 26, 2021 Nancy Allen Men's 55 1438 posts | Wow, there is a lot wrong here. I know that there are some players that get mad thinking that we should call time when they yell it; I don't unless I am sure that everything is done. Just because they don't see that advancing player 12' off of 1B doesn't mean that I don't. That also could cause a problem if someone thought that the time call was made by the umpire instead of a player. So if she called it when the player did, that is an issue, but once you call time, you cannot take it back no matter the possible outcome. Grayhitter59, I didn't see the situation, but if time was called, the play is dead. I agree with B.J. When I am doing bases, I only signal to my partner that I don't have anything else. When the play is live, I have never had a situation that caused me to verbalize time instead of my partner at the plate. I have when the play is not live for things like balls being thrown into the field or some other thing that my partner might not see. I had a game this weekend at the plate where twice a ball was thrown in while the play was live. Who does that? I of course could not call time until the play was done. |
| July 26, 2021 NYGNYY 215 posts | I want to get this straight based upon Nancy’s example of the runner 12’ off first. I’m playing SS -go out and get the cutoff. Running back toward the infield and hit the dirt. Call time out. I am not awarded timeout until when Nancy? |
| July 26, 2021 B.J. 1107 posts | NYGNYY.. when you call out and request time the HP umpire should scan the field to make sure all runners have stopped advancing.. If I have a runner going back to a bag I would wait until he has reached the bag before I granted the time out I have seen many times where an umpire has made the call to soon while the runner is still returning and all of a sudden the defense makes a quick throw to the bag... once time is called the play then becomes dead |
| July 26, 2021 Nancy Allen Men's 55 1438 posts | NYGNYY, I agree with B.J. You might not like this answer, but it is judgement. You never want to call it too soon, but sometimes that doesn't work. Perfect example the other night the 2B had the ball deep in dirt. I called time. He throws it to the pitcher high and misses it. Runners go. Ball even makes it into the dugout. I can't take it back once I call it. Sorry offense. So in my judgement, everything was done. Could you have predicted that a simple throw from there would have resulted in that? I didn't. In the scenario that I gave, I am not calling time just like B.J. said until that runner returns to the bag. I am not taking away your opportunity as a SS to get that out when they are that far off the bag even if you don't see it or decide not to throw it. I have one SS that loves lollygaggers going back to 1B. I am definitely never going to rob him of the opportunity for the out. |
| July 26, 2021 B.J. 1107 posts | Nancy, I would have done the same thing.. I NEVER wait for the ball to be thrown to the pitcher... I always say at my clinics that you call time as soon as you can before the defense does something stupid lol .. as in your scenario of the 2B throwing the ball back to the pitcher.. as long as all runners have stopped advancing and are on the bags there is no reason to wait |
| July 26, 2021 NYGNYY 215 posts | Yes it is a judgment call. Point of me calling timeout is to stop the runner and not get myself into a throw over situation. Now if the runner is napping that’s another story and I would not be asking for time just yet. |
| July 26, 2021 Nancy Allen Men's 55 1438 posts | B.J., thanks for the affirmation. It was in a men's game with good players. It would not have surprised me if it was recreational coed. The offense wasn't happy especially when the ball went in the dugout, but I can't take it back once I call it. NYGNYY, I apologize, but I honestly never call time based on a fielder asking for it. I have to assess everything on a field before I make that determination. I know that some fielders don't like that, but this is part of the job. I have been yelled at before by a couple of control freaks which I can take care of if they don't back down. I have also been yelled at because someone said that I called time when I clearly do not have a man's voice. I have a friend that I don't like his explanation on the field but is maybe true. Whenever he gets the former, he says "It's my time". I try to never talk to players like that. |
| July 27, 2021 grayhitter59 Men's 60 345 posts | Nancy and B.J. Thank You for the input.I also umpire. As you stated first thing to do as an umpire when calling time is to make sure play is done, but my question is once you call time irrelevant where any players or ball are, umpire cannot retract that call. i understand she made a mistake, but once made as umpire you have to earn up to it and not allow further action by offence or defense. My question is there anything in the rule book that address this? Thanks again for all the input. |
| July 27, 2021 B.J. 1107 posts | In the rule book …. 9.1 DEADBALL…. L |
| July 27, 2021 B.J. 1107 posts | There have been two times over the many years of umpiring that I have called time before the play was completed and both of those times it was because of a player being hit In the face with a line drive … this was a while ago before face masks became popular… If I see what I believe to be a serious injury I will stop play, tend to the player and then award bases or outs |
| July 29, 2021 stick8 1992 posts | I had a play in a conference usssa tourney about 6 years ago. Two-man, I’m in the field. Man on first, 1 out. Batter hits a line drive up the middle caught by the middle infielder. Runner at first is off the bag. Middle infielder fakes a throw back to first and then flicks it to first base. The runner didn’t get back to first in time. I look at my partner because any throw back to first is the home plate umpires call. He turns and goes back behind the plate, didn’t make a call and didn’t point to me. OMG, the argument that ensued!!! After things settled my partner and I then get together after the defense asked for help. My partner stated he called time out after the fake throw. We call both managers over and explain it.The batting team was obviously good with it. The fielding team was not good with it and they let it be known in no uncertain terms—where I tossed both coaches. Classic case of an umpire calling time too soon. I cannot imagine any umpire anywhere who hasn’t done that. It happens but in this game the stakes were pretty high. |
