ASA Catcher's Box Violation

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

Then why did they pitch out in this case? I'd assumed this was a version of fast pitch that allowed leading & stealing, and that the purpose of the pitchout was to counter a suicide squeeze. Otherwise pitching out seems a total waste of a pitch.

Never seen a single game, have you...

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

How? She can begin moving as soon as the pitch is released... she would have to be all the way out of the catcher's box before the release to be illegal. Seems equally likely that she may or may not have done that.

Actually, she can begin moving anytime. She just cannot leave the CB until the pitch is released.

When I said, "see the pitch", I meant seeing the whole pitch. That pitch normally gets there pretty quick. OP stated the catcher came up. If you are set, odds are you are going to see the back of the catcher's helmet or shoulder for a split second. IMO, if the catcher is up and gone and the umpire still sees the entire pitch, I would think it is quite possible the catcher left the box early.

I didn't say to make the call, just what may have happened.

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

Some sort of play...to combat a situation where the runners have to hold their bases until the ball leaves the pitcher's hand?

In that case, couldn't you just rule on general principles? There's no advantage to pitching out, there's no safety issue, it's not wasting time, the catcher gains no edge by repositioning on a ball that's not going to be in play...so why would the action be penalized?

Runners were on first and third, so I'm guessing the reason the catcher did what she did was to make a possible play on R2 advancing to second base? I see nothing wrong with that. (Edited to add) Now that I re-read the OP, the batter was squaring to bunt, so perhaps the defense thought there was a squeeze play coming. Again, I don't see a problem with what the catcher did here.