Verbal Interference by SP Catcher?
 

ASA, adult slowpitch w/mat. Catcher talks as ball is coming to plate. Saying things such as "good pitch", "pure meat", "here's a fat one", etc. Simply talking smack in normal voice in attempt to get batter "thinking" about "stuff" and to distract concentration.

I'm told by some that this is clearly verbal interference. I tend to disagree since this is "adults" playing, not kids. My feeling is play on and tune it out. I can surely see verbal interference by offensive players trying to distract defensive players by yelling "Time" or things such as that or offensive coaches (3base) yelling "here, here" as throw is about to be made. But the catcher talking to batter seems a big stretch.

Am I off base?

Verbal interference? Sure. Call someone out. R/S 33, and various rules throughout Rule 8.

Verbal obstruction? Nope. No rule to enforce.

You could certainly get him for USC. If a catcher is getting too chatty, I'll warn 'em by asking them to cool it.

I wouldn't call anything
 

unless he calls the batter by name...its slow pitch softball...if you can't hit that 12" ball coming in at 5 mph you're in the wrong game.

If he is just talking up his pitcher, no problem. If he is giving direction to his defense, no problem. If it is simple chatter, no problem.

If it is directed specifically at the batter, and in my judgment, for the purpose of distracting him, it is going to stop either by shutting one's mouth or leaving the park.

While I agree with this approach - it's SP, with a mat, in a rec league - may as well put the ball on a T with a sign that sez "hit me". Swing the bat or go have another beer.

Its nothing.

Dont look for trouble. If the teams have a problem with it, let them go whine at each other over pizza and beer during the board meeting. Its not interference for a catcher to talk to a batter. That has been going on since the dawn of games involving sticks and balls. If you dont like it, go sit in front of the TV and watch baseketball while eating popcorn.

If you are legitimately "interfered with", especially in SP, from batting by catcher talk; youre an idiot. Dont come crying to me as an umpire to save you.

I have to umpire games with 25 screaming little girls doing stupid chants at the top of their shrill little voices.

You can hit a #$$#% big yellow ball going 10 mph with a catcher talking.

But it is the job of an umpire to keep control of the game which includes monitoring of the conduct of the players.

I disagree. I think that this kind of chatter can quickly escalate into confrontation. Some catchers don't know where to draw the line between talking to their pitcher and chatting up the batter to get into his/her head.

If it's a friendly game, let it go. They're having fun, and there's nothing unsportsmanlike about everyone having a good time. If it's a tense game, nip it in the bud, or it WILL escalate.

Which has nothing, really, to do with whether it is interference. It might be trash talking, (which can also escalate), but trash talking (especially with adult players) is not interference. JMO (caveat , and take it for what it is worth, since I don't call slow pitch).

Which is why I never said I'd call CO. I just said I'd deal with the trash-talking.

INT is different than USC. If it rises to the level of USC or begins to border on that and you want to do some preventative umpiring by nipping it in the bud, then those steps can be taken. I was only addressing INT.

Yep. And I never disputed that. We're on the same page, wade. :cool:

Then what do you do on a ball near the 3b line and the catcher screams "foul" while you are pointing fair and the BR checks up believing it was the umpire making the call?

Is that not the act of a defender which impeded the progress of a BR?

Thats a stretch...

You either got a level which reaches USC.. or you got nothing as far as officiating is concerned. The pitcher may have something to deal with.. but not me.