New Rule

[rhino1877]

I have an umpire friend and he told me that coaches are not going to able to sit outside the dugout while their team is in the field. This mean no buckets, nothing. He said that this just came down the line from TASO. Something about 2 coaches got hit last year and are suing TASO and the umpires. Has anyone else heard of this?

[Jasperfan]

I hope this is not true because it will limit the coaches ability to call pitches in some ballparks. If this is true, that is pretty sorry of the coaches who sued. They knew the dangers when they sat out there.

[bulldog16]

yes, this is true...got an email from G. Coit this past week and it was to that effect...no extension of the dugout, no sitting outside when your team is on defense....not going to be a problem at my park, some maybe but not mine...

[adminbaberuth]

Trust your catcher  :

[BudTugley]

It is the rule. Don't make this out to be a "Big Thing". Cecil Cooper won't be sitting on a bucket at Minute Maid either.

[bleacher_bum]

I think this has always been a rule, just never enforced like it will be this year.

[MrUmp1]

To clarify one of the things Rhino said, there is a football official who was injured in a collision with a referee that has sued TASO. I do not know or have heard of any baseball coaches suing TASO. I know it will take some getting used to by the coaches, but in the ever changing world of making everything safer, this is just another step.

BTW.. I didn't know you had any umpire friends Rhino.... J/K

[EAGLE07]

Trust your catcher  :

and/or trust your pitcher

[retiredoldcoach]

Trust your catcher  :

It would be safer to let him make out the lineup than to allow him to call pitches.

imo

[643]

You couldn't have said it better, I have NO idea why some let the catchers call the game, and some wonder why the pitcher has elbow problems. Very few college coaches let the catchers call the game or at least what has been my exp.

Trust your catcher  :

It would be safer to let him make out the lineup than to allow him to call pitches.

imo

[#1 Cheater]

To clarify one of the things Rhino said, there is a football official who was injured in a collision with a referee that has sued TASO. I do not know or have heard of any baseball coaches suing TASO. I know it will take some getting used to by the coaches, but in the ever changing world of making everything safer, this is just another step.

BTW.. I didn't know you had any umpire friends Rhino.... J/K

MrUmp, I didn't know he had any friends at all!

[24 over par]

rhino a man doesn't need any enemies his Friends cut him up enough

[JS]

Coaches should call the pitches most of the time---but is does add an element of excitement to the game when the catcher does it---especially if the catcher is a "student of the game". It is also valuable training if the kid intends to play at the next level.

[Guest EDOWD]

At the H.S level, a catcher should be able to call the pitches.

It is my experience that 643 is is mistaken and most colleges do allow the cathers to call the game. Of course, that is with some direction and leadership from the pitching staff.

[24 over par]

i bet 90% of all college pitches called from the dugout and the catcher relays to the mound

[643]

Yea the catchers do call the pitches as per rules of the game, BUT only after they get them from the dugout. Not only pitches but location, infield setup, picks among others. The coach my son played for only allowed a pitcher to shake off 1 or 2 at the most and you had better hope a pitch you shook off wasn't hit and found a hole. This held true for both colleges he pitched for.

[3up3down]

Some coaches let the catcher call the game.This depends on the catchers knowledge of his pitchers and the other teams hitters.If the catcher is capable it makes the game run much smoother.Also it is part of the game that must be learned if one wants to advance levels.

[rhino1877]

24, I guess your right I don't have many do I.....LOL

[football]

The first level to let the catcher call the pitches is pro ball. (I know there are exceptions) Catchers at the pro level have advanced scouting reports on the opponents.  In high school and college you just don't play teams enough times for the cat. to study the hitters. Easier for the coach to look back and see the stats in the book.

[643]

Correct, the only times I've seen a catcher in college call a pitch other than what the coach had called for is if the catcher caught the batter 'peeking' then its usually given with a single finger.

[Jasperfan]

Correct, the only times I've seen a catcher in college call a pitch other than what the coach had called for is if the catcher caught the batter 'peeking' then its usually given with a single finger.

;D ;D ;)The brushback. I love it.

[wizdiz]

Correct, the only times I've seen a catcher in college call a pitch other than what the coach had called for is if the catcher caught the batter 'peeking' then its usually given with a single finger.

THE LONE MIDDLE FINGER. THE CATCHERS FAVORITE PITCH.