Quote:
Originally posted by BigUmp56
Quote:
Originally posted by UMP25
THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS A CATCHER'S BALK!!!
Only the pitcher balks. Period.
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Yes and no. While it is charged to the pitcher it is the catcher who committs the balk Steve mentioned and usually this one. I say usually because another fielder could committ the infraction but it would be so rare that I doubt I will ever see it.
7.07 If, with a runner on third base and trying to score by means of a squeeze play or a steal, 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.
Cross References: 5.09(c), 7.04(d) 8.05 Penalty
Tim.
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No, it is the
pitcher who commits the balk. You can blame the catcher all you want, but the pitcher and only the pitcher is charged with a balk. Call it semantics; I'm just stating what it is.
Look, I know full well the rule surrounding this situation, and I don't need people quoting me it six ways to Sunday. It's a rarely enforced balk
committed by the pitcher that can be avoided if the plate ump simply tells the catcher to stay put. In 29 years of umpiring, I have never called it, but I have more than once advised a catcher to not be so quick to leave his little area.
Sometimes I wonder if I asked someone here what time it was, I'd have a dozen responses all telling me how to build a watch.