onetime1 What are the provisions of a homeplate umpire calling a catchers balk? I saw two of these during a high school game yesterday.
umpjim 1-1-4. At TOP all fielders in fair territory and F2 in catcher's box. Penalty is IP. A booger not usually picked.
gordon30307 onetime1 wroteWhat are the provisions of a homeplate umpire calling a catchers balk? I saw two of these during a high school game yesterday. That's two too many. Don't do it.
DG Only called one in my life, and it ended the game, and was obvious. Pitcher could have prevented it. The provisions are, that if you see an obvious one, call it, but it should be rare. Two in one game would be very, very rare.
dash_riprock Under OBR, all you need is catcher interference with a runner from 3rd trying to score on a steal or squeeze.
umpjim onetime1 wroteWhat are the dimensions of the catchers box? 43" in FED if they have been drawn right. Don't remember the depth but doubt it is of interest. Interestingly, there is no front line. The catcher is limited by other rules there. But why are you calling it a Catcher's Balk? It's a balk on the pitcher for starting to pitch with a fielder or catcher not in the proper position. Any catcher setting up for the outside pitch will probably have a foot outside the box. The catcher's technique of extending one leg straight out to get lower also violates this rule. It should not be something an umpire should look to call.
Rich Ives umpjim wrote43" in FED if they have been drawn right. Don't remember the depth but doubt it is of interest. Interestingly, there is no front line. The catcher is limited by other rules there. But why are you calling it a Catcher's Balk? It's a balk on the pitcher for starting to pitch with a fielder or catcher not in the proper position. Any catcher setting up for the outside pitch will probably have a foot outside the box. The catcher's technique of extending one leg straight out to get lower also violates this rule. It should not be something an umpire should look to call. The front of the box is the point of the plate - and it's 8' back from there. See the diagram 2 and rule 2-9-3.
JohnDorian37 i'm guessing these umps also didn't let the pitcher throw any warmups because it was 63 seconds since the 3rd out of the last half-inning
DG Maybe we should hear from ONETIME1 on the circumstances that resulted in the two calls. The one I was thinking of is when the PITCHER is called for a balk when the catcher steps out of the catcher's box when an intentional walk is being done. Don't know why this would happen in FED game since you don't have to pitch to batter, just send him. It is sometimes called a catcher's balk by some because he caused it, but it is a balk on the pitcher.
mbyron onetime1 wroteWhat are the provisions of a homeplate umpire calling a catchers balk? I saw two of these during a high school game yesterday. If they were playing under FED, why not use IBB?
Publius DG wroteMaybe we should hear from ONETIME1 on the circumstances that resulted in the two calls. The one I was thinking of is when the PITCHER is called for a balk when the catcher steps out of the catcher's box when an intentional walk is being done. Don't know why this would happen in FED game since you don't have to pitch to batter, just send him. It is sometimes called a catcher's balk by some because he caused it, but it is a balk on the pitcher. Those who call that play a catcher's balk are just wrong. dash_riprock described it correctly--a 7.07 infraction. It's when a balk is called on the pitcher due to a violation committed by the catcher. When F1 delivers with F2 out of his box, F1 committed the violation regardless of who "caused" it. I've never called that balk it in my life and (probably) never will.
umpjim DG wroteMaybe we should hear from ONETIME1 on the circumstances that resulted in the two calls. The one I was thinking of is when the PITCHER is called for a balk when the catcher steps out of the catcher's box when an intentional walk is being done. Don't know why this would happen in FED game since you don't have to pitch to batter, just send him. It is sometimes called a catcher's balk by some because he caused it, but it is a balk on the pitcher. The Fed rule is not the same as OBR. Any fielder or catcher that is not where they are supposed to be at TOP for any pitch will be in violation of this rule. (Fielders only have to have one foot fair). Fed actually is more lenient in the literal rule since the catcher can step out on any pitch including an IBB just after TOP. OBR is more restrictive in the rule on an IBB but less so in practice. So, we need ONETIMES explanation of what actually happened. A catcher's or fielder's balk should be rarely called (on the pitcher) in FED. I would say never but maybe somebody can give me an example of why it would be called.
gordon30307 You talk about looking for trouble. You call this at any level and you'll never live it down. Talk about preventive officiating this is the classic case. Have the stop sign up and get the catcher back in the box. Pretty simple.
Tim C 41 years of umpiring, 4002 games . . . never saw a catcher's box called by any umpire. Watch which end of the stick you pick up. T
PeteBooth Tim C wrote41 years of umpiring, 4002 games . . . never saw a catcher's box called by any umpire. Watch which end of the stick you pick up. T Tee saw one In July of 2000 - Braves vs. Brewers. Home Plate Umpire John Shulock called a rear catcher's balk on Fernando Lunar the back up F2 for the Braves. Of Coarse Mr. Bobby Cox was tossed. Pete Booth
Rich Ives onetime1 wroteSo is the rule one foot in the catchers box or must both feet be in the catchers box? You aren't listening. The "rule" is - don't even think of calling it. If there's a real problem in the making fix it first.
BSUmp16 Tim C wrote41 years of umpiring, 4002 games . . . never saw a catcher's box called by any umpire. Watch which end of the stick you pick up. T Called it my first year of umpiring - Rec U12 game. I had just reviewed that section of the Rules so I was "ready". Defensive coach lit me up pretty good, although ultimately agreed I was technically correct. Never called it again. Will never call it again 😮
Steven Tyler gordon30307 wroteYou talk about looking for trouble. You call this at any level and you'll never live it down. Talk about preventive officiating this is the classic case. Have the stop sign up and get the catcher back in the box. Pretty simple. After applying this method to one catcher, he still didn't understand what I was talking about. It's no fun to be in slot on a RH hitter, the catcher moves, and is stationed in the LH batters box. Thus a balk became a necessity.