Fri Oct 19, 2001, 04:26pm
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Official Forum Member
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Join Date: Aug 1999
Posts: 18,130
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Quote:
Originally posted by Thom Coste
Quote:
Originally posted by ballsandstrikes
A catchers balk as far as I know means the catcher was not in the catchers box at the time of the release of the pitch. I have never called it myself but have seen it called on an intentional walk when the catcher jumped outside too quickly
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With all due respect to the others who have posted, the "catcher's balk" applies to OBR 7.07 wherein with a runner on third attempting to score by steal or squeeze, "the catcher or any other fielder steps on, or in front of home base without possession of the ball, or touches the batter or his bat, the pitcher shall be charged with a balk, the batter shall be awarded first base on the interference and the ball is dead."
Isn't this the same as obstruction, you ask? Well, no. It isn't, for two reasons.
First - and this is a semantic difference - the OBR does not recognize "obstruction" on the batter. It is "defensive interference" when the batter is hindered.
Second - and here is the real distinction - when the batter is hindered (what you are all calling 'obstruction'), the ball remains live and in play. The manager may elect to take the result of the ensuing play, and outs can be recorded if there are advances beyond the awards. In contrast, under OBR 7.07 the ball is dead at the time of the infraction. The pitcher is charged with a balk for the sole purpose of giving the scorekeeper a ruling with which to justify the advance of the baserunner to home. It's a special case in the rules.
Typically it is the "Catcher" who interferes with the batter (although it could be another fielder) and it is the pitcher who is charged with a "Balk." Hence the term, "Catcher's Balk."
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The original post said "High School" -- I assumed that meant FED. It's possible the game was in a state that uses OBR.
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