Catcher's balk

[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.

[Publius]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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.

[onetime1]

So is the rule one foot in the catchers box or must both feet be in the catchers box?

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by onetime1

So 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.

[UMP25]

What's a "catcher's balk"? And here dummy me thought only the pitcher can balk.

What's next, a "fielder's balk"?

[dash_riprock]

Originally Posted by UMP25

What's a "catcher's balk"? And here dummy me thought only the pitcher can balk.

It's a balk charged to the pitcher for an illegal action by the catcher. It is really just a means to advance all runners one base. Perhaps it would be less confusing had MLB written 7.07 to say "all runners shall be awarded one base" instead of "the pitcher shall be charged with a balk," because the pitcher hasn't balked at all. In fact, it's not a balk until after the pitcher has released the pitch.

[mbyron]

He knows what it is. He was being facetious.

And it is an illegal act by the pitcher, namely pitching before all fielders are in their prescribed locations. The catcher being outside the box is not by itself illegal.

[jicecone]

Originally Posted by UMP25

What's next, a "fielder's balk"?

Some have tried to interpret a fielder not being in the field of play at the time of pitch, as being one.

[UMP25]

Originally Posted by jicecone

Some have tried to interpret a fielder not being in the field of play at the time of pitch, as being one.

I've experienced that--years ago when I had a partner who was so balk happy that I think that's how he conceived his 3 kids--he yelled "Balk!" in bed and...well...the rest was history.

He used to call a balk everytime the first baseman had a foot in foul territory when the pitcher pitched, except that it wasn't a balk; it was just "nothing," literally. The pitcher's not supposed to pitch unless, with the exception of the catcher, all fielders are in fair territory. If he does, nothing happens.

PLAY (NCAA & OBR): We begin the top of the 4th inning when the visiting team's batter comes to the plate. Pitcher throws the first pitch for a strike. Suddenly, a player from the home team runs out to right field. It is then that everyone realizes the right fielder hadn't been out there. RULING: Nullify the pitch and begin again. Because the home team did not have their required number of players on the field to comprise a legally constituted team (9 players in NCAA & OBR), no action could legally take place.

[Steven Tyler]

Originally Posted by 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.

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.

[john5396]

I called it once about 25 years ago. In a rec game, catcher moved forward and was in front of the plate at TOP trying to get a jump on a stealing runner.

Agree this is a rule you should know for the test, then forget on the field.

[umpjim]

Originally Posted by john5396

I called it once about 25 years ago. In a rec game, catcher moved forward and was in front of the plate at TOP trying to get a jump on a stealing runner.

Agree this is a rule you should know for the test, then forget on the field.

I think I would have had CI (FED catcher's obstruction) on that if the pitch was made. But, that's an interesting timing question. I would never think to call that a balk because I'm about to call CI. If you do call the balk and F1 stops his delivery I guess all you have is a balk. If the pitcher delivers what do you have?

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by umpjim

I think I would have had CI (FED catcher's obstruction) on that if the pitch was made. But, that's an interesting timing question. I would never think to call that a balk because I'm about to call CI. If you do call the balk and F1 stops his delivery I guess all you have is a balk. If the pitcher delivers what do you have?

Given that the number of times I've called the catcher for being out of the box is zero, and the number of times I plan on calling it the rest of my career is zero, and the prevailing opinion here is that zero is the number of the counting and the number of the count shall be zero...

I have int or obs (depending on code) on the catcher.