Balk in Padres game 7-20

[Matthew F]

David, I would have made it even clearer to the pitcher and coach... (from the windup) once the pitcher starts his motion to pitch, he's committed to pitch.

[Tim C]

Shaka wrote:

"The rule book states that he should. Doesn't matter if he throws to a base the hands are supposed to be dropped first."

Another markedly wrong statement by an umpire that is attempting to tell us he works mostly college baseball.

All I know that by reading a few posts of DIFFEERENT posters on this page it certainly doiesn't take much knowledge to work college in some areas of America.

I would suggest that you read CoachJM's commnets on what the rule really says.




[Edited by Tim C on Jul 23rd, 2005 at 03:00 PM]

[orioles35]

Very true David. I have called the same balk before. Once again, most coaches don't realize there's more to it than stepping off with the correct foot.

[mcrowder]

The pitcher's "normal" windup includes dropping the hands down, back up over his head, decent leg-kick, and then pitch.

The pitcher's actual motion in this non-balk was dropping his hands (which, even though this is not required, should shut up the early posters saying he didn't), and simply throwing home.

If you think it was simulating a pitch or even vaguely deceptive... watch the batter's reaction. He knew it wasn't a pitch. He relaxed and stepped back, even as the ball came home.

I was watching this game live - and screaming at the knucklehead announcers (as usual) as they stumbled over themselves trying to explain this one.

[shaka]

As far as the hand drop thing I've always felt that the pitcher only had to do it before he stepped back on the rubber. However, I was told this year to call it exactly how it states in the rule book (at least in one of my leagues).

I wish I could have seen the play involved. I wonder if the pitcher started an upward motion with his glove before stepping off.

Eric

[GarthB]

Originally posted by shaka
As far as the hand drop thing I've always felt that the pitcher only had to do it before he stepped back on the rubber. However, I was told this year to call it exactly how it states in the rule book (at least in one of my leagues).

I wish I could have seen the play involved. I wonder if the pitcher started an upward motion with his glove before stepping off.

Eric

Could you tell us which college conference you work?

[Tim C]

The Western Fantasy Conference.

[shaka]

Originally posted by Tim C
Shaka wrote:

"The rule book states that he should. Doesn't matter if he throws to a base the hands are supposed to be dropped first."

Another markedly wrong statement by an umpire that is attempting to tell us he works mostly college baseball.

All I know that by reading a few posts of DIFFEERENT poters on this page it certainly doiesn't take much knowledge to work college in some areas of America.

I would suggest that you read CoachJM's commnets on what the rule really says.

Dude what's your problem? You don't like me because I actually like wearing a hockey style helmet and you drag it over here? I never said I mostly do college ball. I just stated that I have done the summer leagues in the past. I also did varsity high school for several years. Now days I mostly just do Babe Ruth as it is better with my work schedule.


If you look at my following post you'll not that I explained myself further that we were instructed to call the not drop your hands balk from windup exactly how the book states. Up until this year I've never called it that way.

Get a grip Tim.

Eric

[Tim C]

shaka:

It has nothing to do with you wearing a helmet.

It has everything to do with you trying to expand your umpire resume and "pretend" to be a college umpire.

Like many on the internet when you posted simply incorrect interps of rules your were exposed for what you really are:

A summer based Babe Ruth umpire.

No biggie you just should have been more truthful from the beginning.

[bob jenkins]

Originally posted by shaka
I explained myself further that we were instructed to call the not drop your hands balk from windup exactly how the book states.

That explains a lot. There are many babe-ruth-aged local leagues where the umpires, and the UIC, and the coaches all believe this "myth". Mnay also believe in the "fielders balk", the "hands are part of the bat" etc.

If your league only believes the "pitcher must drop the hands immediately", you are ahead of the game.

[GarthB]

Originally posted by bob jenkins

That explains a lot. There are many babe-ruth-aged local leagues where the umpires, and the UIC, and the coaches all believe this "myth". Mnay also believe in the "fielders balk", the "hands are part of the bat" etc.

If your league only believes the "pitcher must drop the hands immediately", you are ahead of the game.

Bob:

This is news to me. I have never, at any level, since 1972 met an umpire or coach who believed a pitcher had to drop his hands prior to throwing to a base when disengaging from the rubber. Never. The dumbest Rat in the world would see that this is just ridiculous.

I'd like to know the league and the UIC involved in this. I'd pay a $100 reward to hear the UIC actually say that this is a proper application of the rule. Make that $200.

In short. I don't believe this. Are you telling me that it makes any sense at all that an umpire claiming 17 years experience, including the colligiate level, would do this? Nope. Sorry. Somebody is not being honest about something. (Imagine that, someone anonymously being disegenuous on the internet...amazing.)

[shaka]

Since I'm new to this forum maybe I didn't know posting what types of ball I've done is a big sin here. Furthermore, I never lied or made myself out to be a college official. However, you are wrong sir. While at this time I mostly do Babe Ruth, Pony, and MSBL, in the past I've done High School, American Leagion, and yes, the local league around here that most of the college players are in. That particular league is NABA. When I was doing it they had different divisions and the top division consisted of mostly college players with a sprinkling of ex high school players and even some ex minor leaguers. Each teams makeup was mostly players from a certain college or university. No the ball was not on par with college ball during the regular season but it was still pretty good.

Now you have the explanation. You might also note that I clarified my first post. Hey, I'm a newbie, cut me some slack.

Originally posted by shaka

Dude what's your problem? You don't like me because I actually like wearing a hockey style helmet and you drag it over here? I never said I mostly do college ball. I just stated that I have done the summer leagues in the past. I also did varsity high school for several years. Now days I mostly just do Babe Ruth as it is better with my work schedule.


If you look at my following post you'll not that I explained myself further that we were instructed to call the not drop your hands balk from windup exactly how the book states. Up until this year I've never called it that way.

Get a grip Tim.

Eric

[shaka]

Garth,

This is an exact quote of the first line I posted in the Hockey Helmet thread:

"I'm in my 17th year of baseball officiating which includes experience in high school varsity and summer collegiate leagues."

Granted maybe I should have phrased it differently. I was simply trying to establish a point of reference as to my experience. It was innocent and if it's offensive to you I apologize. I'll do better next time. I will state right now that I have NEVER officiated a regular season sanctioned college game.



Eric

Originally posted by bob jenkins

That explains a lot. There are many babe-ruth-aged local leagues where the umpires, and the UIC, and the coaches all believe this "myth". Mnay also believe in the "fielders balk", the "hands are part of the bat" etc.

If your league only believes the "pitcher must drop the hands immediately", you are ahead of the game.

[Tim C]

Another guy that is using revisonist histoy.

Rule #1:

When you get caught red handed go change the post so you can hide it.

Hmmmm, it seems we have seen that before.

[shaka]

Originally posted by bob jenkins
[B

That explains a lot. There are many babe-ruth-aged local leagues where the umpires, and the UIC, and the coaches all believe this "myth". Mnay also believe in the "fielders balk", the "hands are part of the bat" etc.

If your league only believes the "pitcher must drop the hands immediately", you are ahead of the game.

[/B]

In the interest of clarification I've got to be fair to the local Babe Ruth League. When I was told to call the must drop hands to side balk it was not in Babe Ruth, it was in another local league.

The Babe Ruth program in Utah is very well run and has some very good umpires. Many of the umps I work with in Babe Ruth are former high school officials who, for a myriad of reasons, can't work high school games anymore. In my case it came down to my work schedule. I just couldn't get off for 3p.m. games so I had to quit doing high school.

Eric