Little League Balk

[DG]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

Yes, it's called a "safety squeeze."

I'm just wondering how a catcher would know a safety squeeze is on if R3 does not leave the base until the ball reaches the plate (Normal LL), or, why he would see a need to step in front of the plate.

I called a walk off balk in Fall ball, with R2 and R3 and 1 out, when the catcher stepped out of the box by at least 6 feet, before the pitcher even started his motion, but he started as soon as catcher was in place out of the box. At every plate meeting the coaches talked about balks (I did not bring it up), they wanted us to call balks so the kids can learn during Fall ball, no warnings.

[Forest Ump]

Originally Posted by DG

I called a walk off balk in Fall ball, with R2 and R3 and 1 out, when the catcher stepped out of the box by at least 6 feet, before the pitcher even started his motion, but he started as soon as catcher was in place out of the box.

DG....no balk here. It can only be called if it's an IBB. Without the IBB, I would not let the pitcher pitch until the catcher set up correctly. I have never had this happen, but this is how I would handle it.

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by Forest Ump

DG....no balk here. It can only be called if it's an IBB. Without the IBB, I would not let the pitcher pitch until the catcher set up correctly. I have never had this happen, but this is how I would handle it.

Given the game situation I'd bet a lot that it was an IBB.

[Forest Ump]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

Given the game situation I'd bet a lot that it was an IBB.

Opps....After reading it again, I wouldn't take that bet.

[Ump153]

Originally Posted by DG

I called a walk off balk in Fall ball, with R2 and R3 and 1 out, when the catcher stepped out of the box by at least 6 feet, before the pitcher even started his motion, but he started as soon as catcher was in place out of the box. At every plate meeting the coaches talked about balks (I did not bring it up), they wanted us to call balks so the kids can learn during Fall ball, no warnings.

When coaches say that, usually they are looking for reinforcement of what they've been warning their pitchers about. I doubt "the lesson" you taught them was on their radar.

[DG]

Originally Posted by Ump153

When coaches say that, usually they are looking for reinforcement of what they've been warning their pitchers about. I doubt "the lesson" you taught them was on their radar.

I am pretty sure that one was not on their radar. I overhead the manager telling the league commissioner after the game that a game should not end that way, and I agree, properly instructed catcher will not do that, and if a pitcher saw him step out he should have stepped off and called for a meeting instead of starting his motion. I doubt there was any player or coach in the league who did not hear about it, so I don't expect it will happen in the Spring.

[justanotherblue]

That's because most who coach at that level don't know the rule's well at all. Believing that a balk is caused from illegal action by the pitcher only.

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by justanotherblue

That's because most who coach at that level don't know the rule's well at all. Believing that a balk is caused from illegal action by the pitcher only.

On an IBB it IS an illegal action by the pitcher - at least in OBR.

8.05 If there is a runner, or runners, it is a balk when—

(l) The pitcher, while giving an intentional base on balls, pitches when the catcher is not in the catcher’s box;

The catcher created a situation where the pitcher could balk, but it is the pitcher that continued with the IBB and actually balked.

There IS one action by the catcher that is beyond the pitcher's control and results in a balk call - see 7.07.

[justanotherblue]

Yes, the pitcher gets dinged for both not knowing the rule and having a catcher and quite possibly a coach that also doesn't know the rule and teaches this. I'll try in the future to make myself clearer for those anal retentative in the forum.