Catcher's Box

[Dakota]

Originally posted by TexBlue
I was reading a thread from another web site, amazed at what the "immature" posters were doing,

That'll learn ya ... trying to have a discussion on troll-central. What were you thinking?

ASA POE 8, 2nd Paragraph states " ....Catchers must remain in the catcher's box until the pitch is released. During a regular pitch to a batter, should the batter be in the front of the batter's box the catcher can move closer to the plate without penalty......"

Now, does this mean the catcher can move right up to the home plate and be OK, as long as she doesn't obstruct? I let 'em kinda scooch up over the line a little, when the batter is in front, but does the POE really mean to allow them to park just behind, or even on top of home plate?

Here's my view. When ASA says "regular pitch" they mean "not a pitch out." (IOW, the catcher must remain in the box until the pitch is released on a pitch-out.)

The POE goes on to say the batter retains full rights to the full batter's box, so the catcher who moves up had better be able to get out of the way if the batter moves back again.

The whole thing really just says that if the batter is at the front of the box, the umpire should allow the catcher to position him/herself reasonably in order to be able to catch the pitch. It doesn't say "on top" of the plate - it says "closer to" the plate. The front of the catcher's box is 3' behind the back corner of the plate (whatever that works out to behind the tip of the plate -- 2' 3" or so I thnk).

Besides, IMO if this call has to be made, it indicates either,

-- the umpire did not apply preventative umpiring and instruct the catcher to get back in the box / reasonably behind the batter (whatever), or

-- the catcher is willfully ignoring the umpire's instuctions, and there are ample remedies to deal with that.

caveat - answered from the perspective of JO ball. Adults may be another matter.