Balk

[zebraman55]

ASA U12

Pitcher initiates delivery, manager calls time out, pitcher stops suddenly in her delivery. Runner on third. Is this a balk? Does the runner advance to score?

[SamNVa]

First off, just a bit of terminology. There are no balks in softball. There are illegal pitches which have similar effects.

Now as to your question. My response would depend on which manager requested the timeout. If it was the offensive manager, I would go ahead and call the illegal pitch, advance the runner 1 base (to score) and award a ball to the batter, then let the manager have his timeout.

If it was the defensive manager who requested the timeout, I would immediately call time, declare no pitch, then warn the manager about Rule 6-10-E.

[IRISHMAFIA]

ASA Rule 6.10.E

No player, manager or coach shall call time, emply any other word or phrase, or commit any act while the ball is alive and in play for the obvious purpose of trying to make the pitcher commit an illegal pitch. A warning shall be issued to the offending team, and a repeat of this type act by any member of the team warned shall result in the offender being ejected from the game.

EFFECT- The ball is dead, and all subsequent action on that pitch is canceled.

.........

Obviously, this only applies to the offensive team as I doubt the defense would try to confuse their pitcher into committing an illegal pitch.

If the defensive manager, call the illegal pitch. If the offensive manager, rule no pitch and issue the warning. Whether you have doubts on intention, it is the manager's responsibility to know that time should not be granted once the pitcher starts her motion. Give the warning. If s/he does it again, you know that either the coach is doing it intentionally or they are not very smart d:-) In either case, the game is probably better off without their presence.

[whiskers_ump]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by SamNVa


Now as to your question. My response would depend on which manager requested the timeout. If it was the offensive manager, I would go ahead and call the illegal pitch, advance the runner 1 base (to score) and award a ball to the batter, then let the manager have his timeout.
__________________________________________________ _____

SamNVa, do you think that it would be fair and just
to penalize the defensive team in this case? Just
think of how many times you will hear "time, time"
when runners are on third base.



[Edited by whiskers_ump on Jun 8th, 2001 at 04:19 PM]

[Gulf Coast Blue]

I had posted a reply late last night that was almost identical to what Sam posted.......IOW......I would have handled it the same way he did.

I edited a grammar error on my way out the door to work this morning and looked later and poof..........the post was gone.....

This ever happen to anyone else?

Joel

[whiskers_ump]

Joel,

I never lost post, but posted one and while was
answering, someone else sent one that made mine look
out of context.

Are you saying that you would call the illegal pitch
if it was the offensive manager yelling for time? I
may be missing something, but penalizing the
defensive team in this situtation seems odd because
applying the illegal pitch rule would benefit the
offender. :d (little grin)

How much rain you get - we got 11 1/2" so far and
it still raining. That is two day total.

[Edited by whiskers_ump on Jun 8th, 2001 at 10:15 PM]

[SamNVa]

I was offensive when I when I said the "offensive manager", but I won't get defensive here, instead I'll just say take offensive and defensive and reverse them and that's what I meant to say ... much the same as Mike correctly did.

[Gulf Coast Blue]

PapaS........Sam and I are both dyslexic........

Joel

PS....if the rain does not stop soon.........we will all be floating here........hope y'all are fairing better to the east of us.

[whiskers_ump]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Gulf Coast Blue

........Sam and I are both dyslexic........

Joel

__________________________________________________ ______

Joel,
I dont belive that since both you and Sam have
put up some [powerful] posts/replies.

Try and stay afloat. It still raining here.


Sam,
I figured you had made typo, that is reason I
was kinda easy. From reading lots of these and
especially the baseball, most really come down
on situtations where it appears error has been
or a rule improperly applied.

[SamNVa]

Well even if you had come down hard, how much harmcan a 6 inch little blue guy do anyway? 8-D

Thanks for pointing out my mistake though, hopefully I won't make the same one on the field.