Calling pitches from the dugout.

There is nothing illegal about a coach giving signs (verbal or visual) to anyone. Tedious, annoying - perhaps, but legal.

BOF,
In this particular case the catcher gets the "call sign" from the coach and then signals the pitcher. At least I never saw the pitcher with one of the forearm pads in the past.

It really has to go through the catcher or there's too high a probability of the catcher getting crossed up.

The fielders generally learn to look down for a moment but I doubt most of them are looking to see what the pitch is going to be as I've almost never seen a fielder make an adjustment after the pitch was called out. Just looking down probably helps keep their heads in the game though. Of course it puts the fans to sleep.

In this particular case, I assume there were as many or more pickoff attempts than pitches whenever there were runners on base. Yawn.

Last year our high school played a league game where the coach was calling out numbers with a blow horn. Unbelieveable. The worst thing was that the umpire did nothing about it. This was our our field. When we played them again at their field the umpire shut it down in the first inning. I guess he called it unsportsman like. Never really got an answer on it.

I read an article some time back about a college coach doing this. It's certainly legal, and I think may be the wave of the future.

Warren

We played a team doing this a couple of weeks ago. Their coach called out one set of numbers for the defensive set up and another set of numbers for the pitch. Game took 3 hours.

quote:

Originally posted by Patriot:
Last year our high school played a league game where the coach was calling out numbers with a blow horn. Unbelieveable. The worst thing was that the umpire did nothing about it. This was our our field. When we played them again at their field the umpire shut it down in the first inning. I guess he called it unsportsman like. Never really got an answer on it.

Use of an amplifier in NFHS rules is illegal...

NFHS 3-3-1L A coach may not use an amplifier or bullhorn to communicate with his players during the game.

penalty is a warning/ejection...

But there is no rule against it in NCAA or OBR....

quote:

I could not tell if the catcher was calling in the signs, but even if he were would this be considered calling in pitches directly to the pitcher?

Not sure if you got your answer, but this begs another question I've never really been clear on.

Isn't it ok to send signals from the dugout directly to the pitcher as long as the pitcher is not on the rubber?

There have been rare occasions where opposing teams had our signals and were relaying to the batter. So, I've had to resort to signaling directly to the pitcher from the dugout between pitches, well before he steps on the rubber. I've never had an ump challenge me on it (since the pitcher is not on the rubber when I give him the signal), but have had opposing coaches raise cane, to no avail. Again, it rare that I've done this direct signaling, but I always figured most pitcher rules didn't apply until he engaged the rubber.

Very very technically it supposed to go through the catcher but never ever call this. If the coach wants to call pitches directly there is nothing wrong with it, no rule against it. All the rule is there for is to prevent quick pitching. Basically as long as the pitcher steps on the rubber and pauses before starting to pitch or set then don't worry about who gives the pitcher his signs.