MLB Differences?
 

Watching the Phillies tonight I noticed one of the batters with his back foot not just on the back line of the box, but clearly OUT of the box, before the pitch was thrown.

Does MLB just figure this isn't a booger worth picking, and if so, why even have the lines?

They do the same thing with pitchers working out of the stretch not stopping. I don't ever - EVER - remember a MLB pitcher being called for running through a stop.

Are all of these little exceptions in some secret little MLB umpire's handbook, or are they just verbally dictated by supervisors, or what?

To me, this addresses the integrity of the game. Why have rules if they are not being enforced?

Oh, but make sure those base coaches have helmets...yeah, THAT'S a rule that needs to be enforced!

JJ

Can you tell it's the off season already and the long, long winter is setting in?
Sigh...thanks for letting me vent a little...

A former pro umpire once posted something to the effect of, "We don't care where the batter's feet are until he hits the ball." Yes, that would be picking boogers.

If a relief pitcher is not stopping with the bases empty nobody cares. I don't recall MLB umpires letting them do it with runners on.

Professional umpires don't have to be told what to pay attention to by their supervisors or a double secret umpire's manual. They just practice good, common sense umpiring.

I have seen plenty of balks for failing to stop. I saw two this year at Giant games in fact.

OK, so you saw a balk or two not called. Were they in a balk situation. Remember also, in OBR, what FEd considers a balk, OBR may not. I.E. non-stop with no runners on. If there is no advantage for or against a team, it won't be called, hence a balk situation. It has to be blantent enough for Grandma to see from the top deck to be called.

Actually, this one can be found right there in the rule book:

Rule 8.01(b) Comment: With no runners on base, the pitcher is not required to come to a complete stop when using the Set Position. If, however, in the umpire’s judgment, a pitcher delivers the ball in a deliberate effort to catch the batter off guard, this delivery shall be deemed a quick pitch, for which the penalty is a ball. See Rule 8.05(e) Comment.

This was one of the rule changes of a couple years back.

You will, of course, still see balks for pitchers not stopping in the set position with runners on base. I've never seen these ignored.

I have seen right handed pitchers not stop several times in the Major Leagues with a runner on first.

Everything else about their body is stopped and still, except that their hands just come and bounce before they pitch.

I know the base stealer's trying to get their lead can see the pitcher isn't stopping with their x-ray vision looking through his back.

Know what I'm saying.....? :confused:

I think this is the philosophy about not calling it. But who knows!

I, too, have seen many MLB pitchers run through stops with runners on base. Running through with no runners isn't a balk - not on any level - but that wasn't the thrust of my post.
Watch the rest of the playoffs and see how many righties run through with runners on any or all bases.

JJ

I thought any part of the foot, touching any part of the line is considered "in the box"

I was talking about the back foot being completely out of the box.

Also, the foot may be ON the line, but no part of it may be OUTSIDE of the line when the batter takes his position (MLB Rules 6.03). This part is loosely adhered to, and is not what I was concerned with.

JJ

That's true when the batter hits the ball.

When taking his stance, he's supposed to be entirely in the box (no part of the foot outside the box).

At time of the pitch you can see the back foot out of the box or for that matter anytime during an at bat? If you can I'm switching chanels. Watching a game on TV this is the last thing I want to see. Besides after the a batter or two the box is gone. I don't think I've ever called an out with the back foot out of the box.

Enjoy the game quit watching the umpires. It's doubtful you'll pick up anything that you can apply at whatever level of ball you work.

[QUOTE]
One thing to remember The GAME is for the Participants.

Concerning Balks. About 10 yrs ago or so there was a memorandum issued to the umpires I believe in Spring Training of that year to start calling Balks more in line with the "book definition"

As a result there were more balks called in 1/2 that year then in all of the previous year. The Players Union reacted and things went "back to normal"

If EVERYONE wants the game called a certian way then you are NOT jeopardizing the integrity of the game because it's the SAME for both teams.
A good example is the "neighborhood play" which has been accepted throughout the history of baseball.

Jeopardizing the integrity of the game means you call it ONE way for ONE Team and DIFFERENT for another.

Pete Booth

I saw it too--the reason why it was visible is that they showed a close-up of the feet in the box as they were describing how close the batter stood to the plate.

:D Now that's funny. You certainly appear to be more of a fan than an umpire. The reason I commented on this in the first place was because the tv folks showed a closeup of that batter's foot. Matt picked up on it, too. I guess he's less of a fan (like you) and more of an umpire (like me).
Keep watching - you may pick up something that you can apply to whatever level of ball YOU work.
Oh, FWIW, I've never called an out with the back foot out of the box, but I HAVE told batters to "get in the box" before the pitcher pitches. Picking boogers? Not when the opposing catcher calls it to my attention. I choose not to ignore that situation on the level of ball that I work.

The only time I watch an official work is if I'm going to support a friend working a State Tourney game etc. Watching a game on TV or in person I'm watching the GAME. I don't care who's working what playoff series etc. At the major league level game management is different, coverage is different, there's no FPSR, fly ball coverage is different. They're working with four man crews. If you want to learn umpiring attend clinics, join an association, get a mentor and do lots and lots of games.