General LL Questions from Ump

Question
QUESTION: First off, great tone with your answers. Great style which induces "learning,".  Very nice.

I'm not a rule book "geek" but maybe I s/b.

For 2012, when a coach/pitcher signals a walk, do we Just "put him on" and skip the time-delaying pitches?

If we do just "put him on," do we automatically add 4 pitches to the pitcher's count?

Can a coach from either team serve as the official pitch counter?  If so, where must he/she sit?  Local decision?

Coach said that a player "has to slide" at home plate.  I said "no" using Federation Rules as my source.

Why are Majors allowed to play 2-hours, like the upper leagues?  Not sure I get this.  Seems different leaague have different time standards.

Great job.

Mike

ANSWER: Hey Mike,

Thank you for the kind words!

Let's break down your questions and answer them, one-by-one:

1.) When a coach/pitcher signals a walk, do we just "put him on" and skip the time-delaying pitches?

This rule changed about three years ago.  If a pitcher wishes to walk a batter they must pitch to them.  They do not just receive an automatic base on balls.  The reasoning is because the defense gains an advantage.  If you make the pitcher actually pitch the four balls there is a possibility they could overthrow the catcher and any runners on base could advance.


2.) Can a coach from either team serve as the official pitch counter?  If so, where must he/she sit?  Local decision?

This is determined by your local Board of Directors.  I would recommend it be someone outside of the dugout who is sitting isolated from the fans.  Maybe sitting with the official scorekeeper.


3.) Coach said that a player "has to slide" at home plate.  I said "no" using Federation Rules as my source.

Rule 7.08(a)(3) states that a runner is out when... the runner does not slide or attempt to get around a fielder who has the ball and is waiting to make the tag.  In this instance, if they don't slide or attempt to get around a fielder, they are out.  Keep in mind the fielder must have the ball and ready to make the tag in order for the runner to be declared out.


4.) Why are Majors allowed to play 2-hours, like the upper leagues?  Not sure I get this.  Seems different leaague have different time standards.

Time limits are set by the local Board of Directors.  Little League has curfew standards that ALL leagues must meet, but some leagues also impose time limits due to limited field space.  This would be a concern to bring up with your local league Board of Directors.


I hope this has helped.  If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to ask!

-Martin Hoover

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Rule 7.08(a)(3) states that a runner is out when... the runner does not slide or attempt to get around a fielder who has the ball and is waiting to make the tag.  In this instance, if they don't slide or attempt to get around a fielder, they are out.  Keep in mind the fielder must have the ball and ready to make the tag in order for the runner to be declared out.

More specific, if a runner approaches home, catcher has ball and is waiting, runner does not slide nor does not avert but just stands there (makes no contact) and is tagged, he is not out because he did not slide nor did not avert but out from the tag. Point is , he can't run in standing up like a fullback hitting the 3 hold.  Isn't that the point, to avoid collisions or malicious contact? And even then, in Fed play, I only call the runner out if the contact is malicious. Not all "standing up" is malicious. Not debating this with but want to make sure I've got the spirit and intent of the rule down.  MT  Thanks

Answer
I get this situational example a lot with this rule, my response is "Does the rule say we call a runner out for malicious contact?"  The answer is 'no'.  We call the runner out as stated in the rule: for not sliding or not attempting to get around a fielder.  We can still have contact... and, dare I say it, a pretty hard hit, where everything is okay because the runner was attempting to get around a fielder, but the fielder moved and there was "incidental contact".  Those are called train wrecks and they happen because contrary to popular belief, baseball is a contact sport.

Now, lets use the example of a base runner thinking he is playing as a tackle in the NFL.  In this instance, we would have an 'out' because they violated rule 7.08(a)(3) and then, if we deem it to be malicious the player would be ejected after play has stopped.

It sounds like you understand the intent of this rule.

-Martin Hoover