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Originally Posted by SouthGARef
After the inning was over, the umpire overheard the defensive coach telling his catcher to move forward and reach for the ball, so as to catch it quicker and apply the tag quicker.
After the game while we were upstairs in the office, I overheard the umpire telling the coach that the catcher moving up and doing as he had been instructed would be a "balk on the catcher". He explained that doing so during a pitch from the rubber was an illegal action. He did say that if the pitcher had stepped off the rubber, this was legal.
By no means am I saying I am a baseball rules genius. I primarily officiate basketball and football, so those two sports get most of my rules attention. However, I don't remember ever reading anything about a "balk on the catcher".
Is this just another one of those made up rules that gets passed on from generation to generation (i.e. 'the baserunner always has a right to the basepath')? The umpire in question is one that I respect, but I still don't think he's right.
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A "catcher's balk" (which is called every millennium or so) is when the catcher leaves his box before the pitch is delivered, usually on an intentional walk.
What this coach is telling his catcher to do is a possible interference violation on the catcher.
Ace