Would u call it

[wentdl]

VFW regional game between two county teams. City vs Valley.....bottom of 8th inning score is tied ,7 inning games, runner on third and defense wants to walk the batter. Catcher is informed you must pitch the ball no "free" walks. Catcher hangs the mitt out then procedes to slide out of box while pitcher has the ball. Ump was obviously watching for something else with runner on third. This happened all four pitches where catcher was way out of box ahead of the pitch. Balk or not

[bob jenkins]

Let it go and / or mention to the catcher not to leave until the pitch. When the rule was put in place, the catcher's box was the foul lines extended.

[Larry1953]

Did the catcher do anything different from just calling and catching 4 pitchouts? I think a different rule applies when a catcher stands up to signal for an IBB. Why weren't IBBs allowed - is that standard for VFW ball?

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by Larry1953

Did the catcher do anything different from just calling and catching 4 pitchouts? I think a different rule applies when a catcher stands up to signal for an IBB. Why weren't IBBs allowed - is that standard for VFW ball?

The issue was whan the catcher left the box, not that there were no IBB's.

Despite how the rule reads, the catcher can leave the box as soon as the pitcher commits to pitch. (Another anomoly Larry.)

[Larry1953]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

The issue was whan the catcher left the box, not that there were no IBB's.

Despite how the rule reads, the catcher can leave the box as soon as the pitcher commits to pitch. (Another anomoly Larry.)

Rich, in the OP it sounded as if the IBB mechanic was not allowed (local rule?) I thought a catcher, by OBR, was allowed to leave the box earlier on a pitchout than on an IBB. Maybe in practice, the same latitude is given, but I think there is a subtle difference in the actual IBB rule.

[Larry1953]

What rule set does VFW use. I mean with FED, you don't even throw the pitches for an IBB, correct?

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by Larry1953

Rich, in the OP it sounded as if the IBB mechanic was not allowed (local rule?) I thought a catcher, by OBR, was allowed to leave the box earlier on a pitchout than on an IBB. Maybe in practice, the same latitude is given, but I think there is a subtle difference in the actual IBB rule.

He was trying to say you couldn't just wave the batter to first. I'm reasonably sure FED is the only baseball org that allows the "verbal" IBB.

Then he complained that the catcher was sliding out of the box before the pitcher pitched.