[DG]

Originally Posted by mattmets

OK, sitch: R1 and R3, pop-up near the foul line at first....the ball is caught in foul territory- out, or foul ball?

Anyway, onto serious things....a couple of things have come up in games recently.

BALKS-
Today my partner called a balk on an LHP with me in B. Pitcher, on rubber, goes to back pocket, grabs seeds, and throws them into his mouth. Partner balks him for going to the mouth. I didn't say anything, as it looked like the pitcher went to the mouth but I saw that he didn't make contact. Do you balk or no?

Second balk- Pitcher has been very close to not stopping a few times tonight. I hear the kid, who's not that bright, tell his catcher that as soon as the batter steps in, he's delivering. So the kid does, but doesn't even come close to a stop in the high set. I balk him, kid can't believe it, is absolutely sure he stopped. I tossed this kid 2 innings later for sucker-punching a kid at first.

CHECK SWINGS-
On a check swing, do you call it based on the attempt or the broken wrists? I had a batter today with me in C, checks the swing, does not break the wrists, but it seems like he wanted to go. On appeal, I punch him out, coach isn't happy, saying the bat head didn't break. I told him I know, it's the intent to swing. Did I nail it or kick it?

In FED it's a balk to bring your pitching hand to the mouth while on the rubber, but I think it would be OOO to call it for popping some seeds. In OBR it would be a ball, if called.

Second one, call the balk for not stopping.

Breaking wrists is not a factor. Did he attempt to strike sufficiently to call a strike. High speed video shows that most major league called balls on check swings actually were strikes so if a major leaguer can't stop his bat what makes the me think a kid can. If the bat head gets over the top of the plate I call it a strike. I don't call intent. Anytime someone started a swing there was intent.