Quote:
Originally posted by 3appleshigh
I saw this question and answer on Ask the ump, Am I crazy or is this at best a really poor description of the rule in question and at worst just plain wrong?
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I'm an old catcher (78 years of age). Many years ago I was called for committing a "Catcher's Balk." I happened to move to the right of the plate just before the delivery of the pitch. Is this still in the rule book?
-- Al Arellano
McClelland: It is a balk if the catcher doesn't stay in the catcher's box until the pitcher delivers the ball. If he were to step out of the catcher's box the little box behind home plate before the pitcher delivers the ball it would be called a catcher's balk. The runners would advance.
As a matter of fact, I have never seen it called, it's one of those things you just kind of let slide. But it is in the rule book, we haven't updated the rule book in a long time. If it was called recently, it would be by an umpire taking the rule book to the letter of the law and sometimes we have to kind of overlook some things to make the game run smoother.
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If i'm not mistaken, is the "Catcher's Balk" only applied to intentional walks, and obviously is still enforced, as you see the catchers, stand and point, then jump out after the ball is thrown, rather than step-out and just have the ball thown to them.
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Off the top of my head, the catcher must stay in the box until the ball is released by the pitcher (OBR). It may also be applicable on a pitch out.
It may be one of those things they let slide in the Pro's however, when the other team is screaming about it, it's tough to say were not calling that rule today. Had this come up once, in twenty years.
Usually I speak to the catcher and tell him to stay in the box until the pitcher releases the ball, it saves problems.