Annoying catcher

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

I'd cover it under Catcher's obstruction.

I have to disagree. The FED obstruction rule has very specific instances in which it can be applied. He is not changing the pattern of play as in 5-1-3 and 8-3-2, nor is the catcher hindering the batter as in 5-1-2b, 8-1-1e, 8-3-1c, and 8-3-2.

If I were a coach, you would have an argument on your hands if you told me my catcher couldn't talk to himself. You would have a tough time selling that the catcher was hindering the batter in any way.

Catchers (good ones) are always trying to get inside the batter's head. It's part of the game.

[njdevs00cup]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

I have to disagree. The FED obstruction rule has very specific instances in which it can be applied. He is not changing the pattern of play as in 5-1-3 and 8-3-2, nor is the catcher hindering the batter as in 5-1-2b, 8-1-1e, 8-3-1c, and 8-3-2.

If I were a coach, you would have an argument on your hands if you told me my catcher couldn't talk to himself. You would have a tough time selling that the catcher was hindering the batter in any way.

Catchers (good ones) are always trying to get inside the batter's head. It's part of the game.

Steve, I didn't tell the catcher he couldn't do it, I told him it was distracting to me. The catcher, obviously a smart kid, was talking about economic policy, WWII, etc. I could easily see this leading to fastballs at his head when he plays varsity ball!

[DG]

Originally Posted by njdevs00cup

Steve, I didn't tell the catcher he couldn't do it, I told him it was distracting to me. The catcher, obviously a smart kid, was talking about economic policy, WWII, etc. I could easily see this leading to fastballs at his head when he plays varsity ball!

I could easily see this leading to pitcher ejection.

[TussAgee11]

Was F2 talking to you during pitches? You said he was talking to himself.

So let him. How does this distract you? Does the mom from the stands yelling "Go Johnny?" distract you?

To take this one step further, a catcher with a more severe case of Turet's syndrome will be making noises all game long. Is this catcher obstruction as well?

How can you penalize a kid with a condition vs. a kid who just runs his mouth? What if this catcher had ADHD? Or better yet, just enjoyed talking?

Why stop it?

[njdevs00cup]

Originally Posted by TussAgee11

Was F2 talking to you during pitches? You said he was talking to himself.

So let him. How does this distract you? Does the mom from the stands yelling "Go Johnny?" distract you?

To take this one step further, a catcher with a more severe case of Turet's syndrome will be making noises all game long. Is this catcher obstruction as well?

How can you penalize a kid with a condition vs. a kid who just runs his mouth? What if this catcher had ADHD? Or better yet, just enjoyed talking?

Why stop it?

The catcher told me directly that his father was a catcher in college and he did it to distract the batter. This to me falls under preventative umpiring.

[btdt]

40 or 50 years ago when I played kid ball, the whole team including the catcher would engage in the practice of "chatter".
Were we tougher or perhaps we weren't as sensitive in those days being as no one had ever heard of a male having a feminine side.

The way things have changed over a relatively short period of time, I wonder what the next few generations will be like. Perhaps the pitcher should tell the batter what pitch is coming ...... just to be fair. Or if the batter gets hit by pitch the pitcher must make a heart felt apology to the batter in front of the whole crowd.

Whats next

[DG]

Originally Posted by njdevs00cup

The catcher told me directly that his father was a catcher in college and he did it to distract the batter. This to me falls under preventative umpiring.

Since there is no rule I know of that prohibits catcher from talking to himself or singing to himself (I have had some to do that) I would likely be amused but otherwise would not be OOO.