Verbal Distraction Interference
 

First time on this board so please forgive me if I am not following protocols.

Last night I was coaching a Babe-Ruth prep league game (13 - yr olds) and in the last inning of a tight game the opposing team starting engaging in verbal distractions from the dugout as our pitcher was releasing the ball. They would chant progressively louder while he was in his windup and go silent just as the pitcher releases. They did this for every pitch of the inning. There was not one cheer for their batter, just verbal distraction for our pitcher. I must say is was unnerving. I don't know how our pitcher persevered but he was able to pitch through it for the win. I do not allow any of that from my players and was wondering if there was any ruling on this. I looked through the official Babe Ruth rule book and was unable to find anything.

BTW, in LL, I have seen umpires warn a team not to scream as the pitcher is releasing the ball. Same sort of thing, but maybe it was the umpire's discretion to do that.

While the situation you describe is not covered in exact detail in OBR rules, if the umpire feels the chatter is designed to cause the pitcher to commit a balk he can certainly put a stop to it. Look at 4.06(a). That's how I deal with it when it becomes an obvious distraction.


Tim.

One way to handle it, and Ive done it , and it works, it falls under game management. Depending on the age group, level of play, etc...

Me: "Dave (use coachs name), do we really need that today? You guys got a good team, well-coached. Whats next, Hey batter batter?"

Easiest way to handle that stuff is to have your pitcher blow a couple batters away. They will pipe down, once they find out it has zero affect on your pitcher. As an umpire, I stay out of this type of thing, unless it's prohibited by that particular rule set.

What Bob said.

Ace

Agreed!

Bob I agree but that is the "old way". Unfortunately in today's climate depending upon the teams involved (especially rival teams) we have to put a stop to it.

Pretty soon amateur baseball will start to resemble a golf tournament where by a coach will say "hey Blue he is breathing to loud can you do something"

Things like "Hey batter", hand clapping etc. didn't fase me. As you say once the other team knows that this type of "stuff" does not effect you and you start mowing them down batter after batter, it will stop.

What happened to what was a great game.

Pete Booth

In the past, most of this type of stuff was "self policed" by the teams involved. As Pete said, in our current environment we would more than likely get involved as 'preventive' umpiring to make sure events didn't escalate.

I agree, what has happened to our game??

Simple, it's become wussified..................


Tim.

Many Thanks
 

Thank you all for your input. I appreciate everyone's opinion. I am ashamed to admit in the heat of the moment the thought of "self-policing" it did cross my mind for a millisecond, but I quickly came back to reality. I just reminded my pitcher that they must be worried about him because they are resorting to those tactics, so start the mowing. In retrospect, the added pressure made him a better pitcher and gave him that much more confidence.