Trip To The Mound?

[faminchin]

Had a coach last night, after his pitcher had warmed up and they had thrown the ball down, decide he was going to walk out to the mound and have a discussion with his pitcher. I have a batter in the box, ready to play ball, and the coach out on the mound. I said, "Let's go coach".....and he ignored me and continued with his discussion for another minute or two. So I decided to delay the game another minute to explain to the coach that I was considering that one of his trips to the mound, to which he tried telling me he could visit the mound in between innings. Now, if he had left the mound when I said, "Let's go coach", instead of ignoring me and continuing to talk to his pitcher, I would not have said a word and would not have considered it a trip to the mound.

Let me add, I do this umpiring thing because I enjoy it. I love watching the kids improve and I love helping the kids learn the rules of the game. I don't claim to know everything, but when somebody doubts me, I usually come here for clarification. Am I not in the right on this one. If the coach is delaying the game in between innings talking to his pitcher on the mound, doesn't that count as a trip to the mound?

[thunderheads]

Rule set??

OBR
Fed

??

ON EDIT: If OBR ....see the 8.06 Comment:
Rule 8.06 Comment: If the manager or coach goes to the catcher or infielder and that player then goes to the mound or the pitcher comes to him at his position before there is an intervening play (a pitch or other play) that will be the same as the manager or coach going to the mound.
Any attempt to evade or circumvent this rule by the manager or coach going to the catcher or an infielder and then that player going to the mound to confer with the pitcher shall constitute a trip to the mound.
If the coach goes to the mound and removes a pitcher and then the manager goes to the mound to talk with the new pitcher, that will constitute one trip to that new pitcher that inning.

I'd call this coach on a visit, using the above, especially since he ignored you!

[Rich_Ives]

It's a visit because it interrupted play. "It isn't between innings any more coach - that warm-ups are complete". Period.

Thunderheads post isn't relevant to this situation.

[thunderheads]

It's a visit because it interrupted play. "It isn't between innings any more coach - that warm-ups are complete". Period.

Thunderheads post isn't relevant to this situation.

All I could find :) I used it because I ran the analogy of talking to the pitcher before play started...

[Dragon29]

Also, I don't think I'd "explain" to the coach about the trip (that it was a trip, why it was a trip, how he could avoid getting a trip charged, etc...) or use it as any kind of warning.

Simply tell him it's a trip. Period.

Be informative, not confrontational.
"Coach, that's one trip to that pitcher." or "Coach, that's a trip to your new pitcher" or something along those lines.

[Rich_Ives]

Also, I don't think I'd "explain" to the coach about the trip (that it was a trip, why it was a trip, how he could avoid getting a trip charged, etc...) or use it as any kind of warning.

Simply tell him it's a trip. Period.

Be informative, not confrontational.
"Coach, that's one trip to that pitcher." or "Coach, that's a trip to your new pitcher" or something along those lines.

If you tell him why it just may teach him something and avoid any future problems.

[Dragon29]

If you tell him why it just may teach him something and avoid any future problems.

Rich,

True, but the old axiom, "No good deed goes unpunished" is in full play here.

If he wants to discuss it with you between innings or later, absolutely explain it to him. During the game, I've found coaches don't really appreciate lectures, no matter how short, useful or informative they may be.

Just my $.02

[Richard_Siegel]

There once was a time when the manager could go to the mound as many times as he wanted to in an inning as long as the umpire allowed it. It was changed in the early 60's, I think, when game began to be shown regularly on TV and the TV stations began to complain about things slowing down the game.

The purpose of limiting the amount of trips to the pitcher is to prevent a manager from unnecessarilly delaying the game. The rule limiting trips generally applies only during the inning where the coach has to ask for "time" to speak to the pitcher.

Generally, if a coach wants to talk to his pitch between innings he can go out there and talk WHILE the pitcher is throwing his warm-up pitches since that is not causing a delay. But if the coach is talking to him and the pitcher has not even thrown any warm-ups yet, or if the coach is talking to him and the pitcher has finished throwing his warm-ups, now the coach is delaying the game. I try not to talk the dirty end of the stick and in those cases I will tell him to "wrap it up" we have to get going. And they almost always do.

Once you ask him to wrap it up and he ignores you or worse, patronizes you by saying something like, "sure Blue, give me a 10 seconds..." and he keeps going. Then you let him go for at least another 20 seconds so it is clear that he actually has delayed the game. Then tell him, "Jerry, that's a trip." You will look stupid if YOU delay the game further at that point taking a minute to explain to him WHY it is a trip.

There are so many ways an umpire can get overly techincal on these rules and his game control and come off being over-bearing. This is an area where you can let them have a little slack and seem like you're trying to cooperate with them. But one you ask them to end their chat you have to be ready to deal with them if they don't.

[Rich_Ives]

There once was a time when the manager could go to the mound as many times as he wanted to in an inning as long as the umpire allowed it. It was changed in the early 60's, I think, when game began to be shown regularly on TV and the TV stations began to complain about things slowing down the game.

.

FWIW it was 1967 according to the JEA.

TV complained about having another commercial slot?

[faminchin]

I think you are right about coming across as over bearing. I know I do stuff regularly with these kids that I am not suppose to do, but I always do it for both teams. If the chalk is gone for a batters box and I see a kid standing too close or too far back, I take their bat and draw them a line. I talk to the coaches, tell the kids nice throw or good hit, all things I shouldn't do, but do because they are kids and at times need a little extra instruction and help. The last thing I want to be is a hard ass calling a kids game. But at the same time, I feel it's important for the coaches and kids to know and learn the rules of the game, so I am guilty of explaining things at times when I really don't have too, or probably shouldn't.

[jbonnot]

I have drawn the line for them also. I had a batter standing on top of the plate. I called time and drew her a line for the inside edge. I have seen another umpire in our league do that also for a batter when the batter asked. I agree with you faminchin, that's a trip as he is delaying the game. He has 1 minute or 8 pitches (in the games I do). You are ready to start and so is the batter. He has essentially called time since he is now delaying the game.

[Dragon29]

If the chalk is gone for a batters box and I see a kid standing too close or too far back, I take their bat and draw them a line.

I have drawn the line for them also. I had a batter standing on top of the plate. I called time and drew her a line for the inside edge.

OK - I know this is off-topic somewhat, but . . . this is coaching. I guess I could see doing it w/really, really little kids, but otherwise . . .

Hell, in most of the games I do, those lines are gone before the 1st inning is over - the players kick 'em out - sometimes intentionally, sometimes not.

[jbonnot]

8-9 yo girls playing for the first maaaaaaaaaybe the 2nd year of Live pitching.

[Richard_Siegel]

FWIW it was 1967 according to the JEA.

TV complained about having another commercial slot?

Prior to 1967 I don't think they could or would break away for a spot (a commercial) when the manager would go to the mound because they would have no way to know how long the visit would take. The manager might only be out there for 15 seconds. So there really was no opportunity for another spot. The additional visits only slowed the game down with another segment of non-action.

Today they don't break away for a 1st visit until they see they're calling in a relief pitcher, then they know they will have a minute or two for him to come in and throw before the game resumes. When the manager goes out for the second time they know he will have to bring in a RP so they can go to a spot.