Quote:
Originally posted by DownTownTonyBrown
Pitcher did nothing wrong (assuming he had taken his signal earlier) - proper delivery from the rubber. Batter was not ready.
As the plate umpire, if you see the wind-up coming and the batter is not ready... as Rut says hold up the no pitch signal. If the pitcher continues...
GET OUT FROM BEHIND THE CATCHER YELLING "NO PITCH."
As the Base Umpire, in this case, you are at the mercy of the Plate Umpire. It is his responsibility to protect the batter. If he doesn't (and there may be reasons- besides inexperience, that he is not protecting the batter) then you must live with his call. The BU cannot call a quick RETURN pitch. Unless you can convince everyone that the pitcher did something wrong that was worthy of a BALK call, then you made the wrong call.
At the time it would have been beneficial for the two umpires to meet and discuss the scenario. Leave that meeting having agreed that this was a no pitch/dead ball situation and that a balk, pick-off attempt, etc are not possible answers. Put the batter in the box and the runner on 3rd. Make the ball live and move on.
I'm sorry that the dogs chased you out of the parking lot. That is never a good situation. And your partner is on your team; he should have been right with you... defending and protecting you.
Had a similar chase to end my HS season last year. Was in a different school district working the plate for a State play-in district championship game. Winning run was on 3rd during extra innings. Pitcher was on the rubber and dropped the ball (How often do you see that?). Home district partner calls the balk. It was an anticlimatic ending for the players and for the fans (and surely for the pitcher). But it was pretty heated for us getting through the fans to our vehicles in the parking lot. I feel for you... and your partner that left you hanging.
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DTTB, F1 DID do something wrong, refer to 8.05(e). I do agree with the way it should have been handled, I screwed the pooch, by being the senior ump and not killing the "play" before it happened. BUT, by rule an illegal pitch. The pitchers dad is a PONY Field Director, he called me and agreed on the ruling and suggested to kill it before it happens to save all the crap. I DO agree. I basically tossed this out to have comment and instruction for our younger blues.....