The Official Forum - Strange occurrence

The Official Forum (https://forum.officiating.com/)

- Baseball (https://forum.officiating.com/baseball/)

- - Strange occurrence (https://forum.officiating.com/baseball/21697-strange-occurrence.html)

Watching the Indians last night I saw something strange. A pitch hit the ground,bounced,hit the catchers mask, and went under his chest protector. The ump stopped play and advanced the baserunners as though it was a balk.! Where is this covered in the rules? I never ,in 50 years as a fan have saw this happen. Anyone?

A balk wasn't called. Any pitch that gets lodged in the equipment of the catcher is a dead ball, and all runners advance one bace from the time of the pitch.

He didn't say it was a balk, just that bases were awarded as if a balk was called.

Dale Scott was the plate umpire, ruling was correct however it appears the online rule book provided by MLB.com has been removed.

By the way, I saw where the Indians had a very weak 9th inning last night! ;)

The rules are there.

http://www.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/of...ires/index.jsp

See the menu on the left

Quote:

Originally posted by Rich Ives
The rules are there.

http://www.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/of...ires/index.jsp

See the menu on the left

Thanks Rich, I completely missed it somehow.

[Edited by tjones1 on Aug 10th, 2005 at 12:29 PM]

It was the initial ruling of the scorer that a balk was called and Rick Manning and his partner were trying to figure out how to properly score it. A Inning later they did get the correct OBR ruling.

Quote:

Originally posted by mattmets
He didn't say it was a balk, just that bases were awarded as if a balk was called.

I understand a balk wasn't called. I was simply explaining to the new poster that this couldn't be a balk.

To answer the question...

The rule is 5.09(g), and the count in the play in question was less than three balls and not a third strike:

Quote:

(g) A pitched ball lodges in the umpire's or catcher's mask or paraphernalia, and remains out of play,
runners advance one base; If a foul tip hits the umpire and is caught by a fielder on the rebound, the ball is
"dead" and the batsman cannot be called out. The same shall apply where such foul tip lodges in the
umpire's mask or other paraphernalia. If a third strike (not a foul tip) passes the catcher and hits an umpire,
the ball is in play. If such ball rebounds and is caught by a fielder before it touches the ground, the batsman
is not out on such a catch, but the ball remains in play and the batsman may be retired at first base, or
touched with the ball for the out. If a pitched ball lodges in the umpire's or catcher's mask or paraphernalia,
and remains out of play, on the third strike or fourth ball, then the batter is entitled to first base and all
runners advance one base. If the count on the batter is less than three balls, runners advance one base.

To see how that should be scored, check scorekeeping.com.