Time! That's a balk!

[jdmara]

Originally Posted by waltjp

I'm on the plate for a FED game a couple of years ago. R1, no outs.

Batter is in the box and F1, pitching from the stretch, brings his hands together and comes set. He then steps and throws to first base as R1 is breaking for second.

My partner immediately calls "Time! That's a balk!"

By this time F3 was already throwing to second base to make a play on R1. All play stops. The runner stops running. F6 catches and just holds the ball. Everyone is looking to the BU and waiting for him to say something.

Now the fun begins. The BU decides that there was no balk on the play and decides he's going to send R1 back to first base.

Of course, sh*t storm follows.

What would you do?

Place the runner back on first and admit that you're human.

-Josh

[DonInKansas]

Grab popcorn from stands.

Watch said shizzlestorm.

Drop popcorn and move to corral ejected manager if it gets to that point.

[ozzy6900]

From your description, it sounds like R1 was going to be out anyway (another tempting way to call it). Either way you call it, someone is going to be screwed. R1 should be out and putting him back at 1st could cost a run.

So let your partner get defecated upon and stay within an earshot to monitor the situation. There were times I knew the coach and after a minute, I just said "What do you think, Joe, shall we get on with the game now?". Then I usually turn to my partner and tell him to "shake it off, we've still got a lot of game left." making sure that the coach hears this. This let's the coach know that I still have my partner's back. I also will not allow a "shark attack" on every call that my partner makes after that.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Since BU killed the ball, R1 returns, no balk. Shizzle storm commences. Both teams say, "huh?"

[DG]

Balk is immediate dead ball, so nobody can be put out after a balk call, right or wrong call.

You can calmy discuss the error with whichever coach needs it without having to eject anyone and put R1 back on 1B.