Balk Called by Coach....

[pastordoug]

Would like to see how others would respond to the following situation:

3rd base coach yells out "He balked" believing that F1 balked which in turn caused F1 to balk....

3-3-1o states penalty for "use of any command or commit any act for the purpose of causing a balk" EJECTION.

My question is the phrase "purpose of causing balk" and wold be interested in others action to the above situation.

[dash_riprock]

Originally Posted by pastordoug

Would like to see how others would respond to the following situation:

3rd base coach yells out "He balked" believing that F1 balked which in turn caused F1 to balk....

3-3-1o states penalty for "use of any command or commit any act for the purpose of causing a balk" EJECTION.

My question is the phrase "purpose of causing balk" and wold be interested in others action to the above situation.

Time, no balk, warn the coach, dump if repeated.

[johnnyg08]

agree with dash. Basically the offense can't make the pitcher balk.

[DG]

I had a disagreement with one of my partners last year, he was at 3B, I at 1B in 4 umpire game. R3 fakes toward home as 3B coach is hollering GOGOGO. Pitcher stopped his motion after TOP. My partner said no balk, and warned the coach.

[johnnyg08]

I had one last season where the batter verbally asked for time as the pitcher was starting his delivery. The pitcher stopped his delivery. I did call the balk in that situation and I feel that I made the right call under the circumstances. There is an element of judgement in these cases right? Other than the super-obvious ones I suppose.

[SAump]

Originally Posted by johnnyg08

I had one last season where the batter verbally asked for time as the pitcher was starting his delivery. The pitcher stopped his delivery. I did call the balk in that situation and I feel that I made the right call under the circumstances. There is an element of judgement in these cases right? Other than the super-obvious ones I suppose.

Doesn't 3-3 apply to batter, as well as base coach.

[greymule]

DG: I think I'd call the balk in your situation. Saying, "Go, go, go!" is different from calling, "Time!"

johnnyg08: If the pitcher reflexively reacted to something the batter did, like hold up his hand or turn his head toward you, I'd give the pitcher the benefit of the doubt and not call the balk.

I remember an incident in a game I was listening to on the radio in the early 1960s. Hal Woodeshick relieved for Houston against Pittsburgh in the bottom of the ninth inning of a tie game with the bases loaded and none out. Woodeshick struck out the first two batters, got 2 quick strikes on Roberto Clemente, and was about to deliver his next pitch when Clemente held up his hand and asked for time. The ump didn't grant time, but Woodeshick stopped in his motion. He was called for a balk, and the winning run scored. Needless to say, a "discussion" ensued. I think that this play resulted in MLB's "enticed balk" policy.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by johnnyg08

I had one last season where the batter verbally asked for time as the pitcher was starting his delivery. The pitcher stopped his delivery. I did call the balk in that situation and I feel that I made the right call under the circumstances. There is an element of judgement in these cases right? Other than the super-obvious ones I suppose.

There's a specific rule in OBR (and, I think FED) where this is a "restart from scratch."

[UmpJM]

Originally Posted by johnnyg08

I had one last season where the batter verbally asked for time as the pitcher was starting his delivery. The pitcher stopped his delivery. I did call the balk in that situation and I feel that I made the right call under the circumstances. There is an element of judgement in these cases right? Other than the super-obvious ones I suppose.

johnny,

To me, it sounds like you kicked this one. Just because nobody complains, it doesn't mean you got it right.

Would the pitcher have balked if the batter hadn't asked for Time?

JM

[Crabnut]

Dash had it right to start with. If either coach or batter (but especially the coach) does something that you recognize as precipitating the balk, intentional or not, first call "TIME." You have about a half second to replay the situation in your mind. If the coach intentionally did it, the ejection is easy, but you could warn as well depending on the severity. The coach crossed the line and is at the mercy of your ruling. With the player, having asked for time, he has bailed the pitcher out himself. I don't like pitchers, but once the batter requests "time," the pitcher has the advantage.

[BretMan]

Originally Posted by Crabnut

If the coach intentionally did it, the ejection is easy, but you could warn as well depending on the severity.

FED rules don't prescribe "a warning" for this infraction. The penalty is to "eject"- period.

That's why it's important to be as close to 100% sure as you can that it was intentional, purposely designed to cause the balk. If you're not sure it was intentional, then the rule wasn't violated. You could then issue a warning- consider it preventive umpiring- and let the coach know the consequences if it happens again and you do consider it intentional.

And if it does happen again, it's going to take a lot less to convince me that it is intentional!

[DG]

Originally Posted by Crabnut

I don't like pitchers

Heck of a thing for an umpire to admit. At least you can be consistently sorry for both sides.