A new rule?

Question

If anyone is watching the Indians-Tigers game you will know what I'm talking about. Rafael Betancourt is a pitcher ofr the Indians. He is not quick to the plate. He goes through a little routine before every pitch. They ended up calling a ball because he took more than 20 sec to throw the ball. It is a rule but I have never seen it enforced before. Do you think that is right or do you disagree? I personally think it should be a rule but it should be enforced and not be a new thing to the players.

Answer 1

Listening to it on the radio. yeah it is a rule...but I have NEVER seen it enforced.

Dan Dickerson & Jim Price, btw, have given nothing BUT kudos to Gardy Sizemore (who we both know is a very good player!).

and it happened again!

EDIT:

Bobby Seay IS DA MAN!!!

Answer 2

I fully understand the need to keep a game moving, but I can't get myself to agree with this 20-second rule. One of the best things about baseball--and what distinguishes it from most other sports--is that there is no need for a clock to govern the action. I would hate to see more and more time constraints introduced to the point where they start building timers into the stadium scoreboards. Fortunately, though, 20 seconds is an awful long time if you stop to think about it. In the time it takes to count out twenty normal seconds, I could leave the room, pour myself another Coke (with fresh ice) and be back in time to catch the next pitch! I couldn't pull that off in just twelve seconds (as the new rule allegedly states), but even that is an extremely long time for a pitcher to hold the ball and not do anything. I think the length of time specified will continue to make these situations very rare. It just worries me a little to hear that the term "seconds" is actually in the rules of baseball. I would hate for anything to happen that would require umpires to have stopwatches in addition to their balls-and-strikes counters.

Answer 3

OK people -- last time.

No runners on the pitcher has 12 seconds, not 20 like HS or college to pitch the ball to a batter in position to hit. Period.

This rule used to be 20 in pro ball (MLB and MiLB) but was shortened about 10 yrs ago. Minor leagues now have the same delay strike rule around the batters box as college to keep games moving so a hitter cannot force the pitcher into a ball.

Runners on mean no time requirements.

Answer 4

It's not a new rule; it's been on the books for ages. It's kinda like the seatbelt rule -- the cops probably aren't going to pull you over for it, but if they pull you over for something else and then notice the infraction, they're going to pile it on. it's a rule more for having than for using, as long as everyone plays fairly, with basic goodwill and respect for the norms of gameplaying.

The 20-second rule is for encouraging getting the game moving when someone (the pitcher, or his manager) is obviously abusing the privilege of NOT having it enforced. There's times when someone needs a moment, and there's general and unnecessary farting around. I'm surprised to hear the automatic ball was called, but good for the umpire. Maybe that'll knock some brain cells loose and get asses in gear.

Answer 5

Even the announcers admittted they never saw it enforced. Even Bruce Drennan on tonights edition of All bets are off said he never saw it enforced. I heard something about this rule before but I never saw it enforced. By the way do you remember an umpire named Joe Brinkman who seemed to take forever when calling balls and strikes. Wouldnt that have been "pot to kettle" moment if he had gotten on Betancourts case. Still if no ones on base the rule is neccessary. And now it is nothing new to any player or fan for that matter.

Answer 6

Even though Im a Tribe fan, its a good rule. The games are long enough, lets keep it moving along and not over 4 hours long. Its a great rule because it should only happen once a season, because once it happens, the pitcher will know he needs to hurry it up and get a throw off.

Answer 7

Yes, I think it should be a rule and enforced to all players not just put on one guy suddenly, although if he does this routine before every pitch maybe he shouldn't have taken so long this time if he has it down and it wouldn't have happened.

Answer 8

Yes, I heard about the rule before the season began. It is a new rule and it is to keep the game going at a steady pace. Some pitchers take up a lot of time with odd routines and this eliminates the time wasting.

GOOD RULE!

And also to answer your question, yes, they should be consistent with it and not pick on certain players.

Answer 9

Al Hbrosky (The Mad Hungarian) was called for a balk for taking too long between pitches. The rule this year is 20 seconds with nobody on base and 30 seconds with runners on.

Answer 10

The rule, 8.04, has been changed this year to allow only twelve seconds, with bases empty, from the time the batter is "in the box, alert to the pitcher", to the release of the pitch.

The 12 second rule is what got Betancourt in trouble in the game http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20070703&content_id=2064434&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

But, contrary to dob367, there is no time limit when there are runners on base.

Answer 11

it's stupid if they never call it, I also think Joseph W's comment is funny since evey Indians Tigers game I have been to the Tigers boo every call that doesn't go their way.

I live in Toledo the farm club for the Tigers and they do the same thing here too.

Sorry to those Tigers fans who aren't apart of that group of people, I didn't mean to lump you in with them, I know there are also alot of good Tigers fans that are good sports.

Good luck to both teams in games 2 & 3