Quote:
Originally posted by Carl Childress
Quote:
Originally posted by Gre144
I hope you guys gave me the right information because I used it to not call a balk in the following two situations.
1) R1 on first. F1 while on the mound throws the ball to F3 who is standing in his normal F3 position not near the bag and catches the ball in that exact same position without moving towards the bag.
2) R2 on second. F1 throws the ball to F6 who is standing in his normal F6 position not near the bag and catches the ball in that exact same position without moving towards the bag.
|
Greg:Both the coach and you are missing the point of whether the move was a balk or not. The main idea here, at least as you describe the action, is that F3 must [step toward the base] "before throwing to the base." [my emphasis]. It doesn't mention anything about F3 or any fielder besides the pitcher having to make an attempt on R1. I am not arguing with you because I know that you know a l
In short, this is the old argument about what happens when the fielder is playing off the bag.
Tim gave you the proper ruling for OBR games: Balk at first; nothing at second. (PBUC 6.4a)
It's also nothing at second in FED and NCAA. But at those lower levels it is not a balk when the pitcher throws off the base at first if it appears the first baseman MIGHT make a play. That is, the rules do not require that F3 be breaking for the base.
Explanation?
At first base the defense gains a great advantage if the pitcher does not need to hit a moving target on a timed pick-off play. That rationale, at the heart of the OBR rule, was rejected by FED and NCAA.
At second or third, when he steps the pitcher is not required to throw at all; so if he does throw, it doesn't matter WHERE -- as long as the base in the general vicinity is occupied (or he is making a play, i.e., driving back a runner). Happily, all three codes agree here.
|
So did I make the right call or not in situation 1 and 2 (Fed Rules)? I didn't call a balk in either situation.
It sounds like in situation 1,according to you, the first baseman must make an attempt to make a play.(When I read 6-2-4-b it sounds like the emphasis is on F1 making a playot more than me. I'm just trying to figure all this confusion out in my head.) In my case, F3 just caught the ball at his position off the mound. But the question becomes what is defined as making a play? Couldn't just catching the ball and then eying R1 be considered as an attempt in making a play by driving back R1 to first base?
If I made the wrong call in situation 1 or 2 could, please give your explanation?
[Edited by Gre144 on Jul 9th, 2001 at 05:38 PM]