ASA Catcher's Box Violation

[Linknblue]

Had a situation that I've never had before this weekend. 1st and 3rd situation with runners in tie game.

I'm in set position waiting on pitch and catcher suddenly comes up and out of her squat and enters the rear of the left handed batter's box in a standing position. Batter was squaring to bunt. Catcher did this just before or right after pitch was delivered. It was unexpected so I'm not exactly sure of when.

It was obviously a "called" play because pitch was right to her chest high. End result was a called "ball". After the inning the OC comes up to me and asks about the rule on that. I ended up telling him it was a pitchout and it's legal and he bought it.

My question here is, I know where she was and she was "out of the catcher's box". Is the penalty simply a called ball?

I in no way saw this as trying to distract the batter so no way was this an "ejectable" situation.

Thanks,

[CecilOne]

By rule, "Catcher did this just before or right after pitch was delivered. It was unexpected so I'm not exactly sure of when" matters.
After is no call, before is IP.
Of course, there is the exception about moving forward if the batter is forward; and squaring to bunt makes that sound likely.

[MD Longhorn]

Right before or right after... another one of those cases where it's part of our job to determine what happened first.

That said ... if they are moving to the spot you described as the pitcher begins pitching, I would be very surprised if she was actually no longer in the catcher's box at the moment the pitch was released. And to call that on her, you'd better be SURE.

Smart batter, however, would have tried to bunt the pitch anyway and likely gotten a CO call.

[Robert Goodman]

What are the criteria that determine whether it was a pitch?

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

What are the criteria that determine whether it was a pitch?

There are definitions in the rulebook(s). One describes exactly when a pitch begins.

This is an ASA thread. That rule is that a pitch begins when the pitcher, after bringing her hands together, separates her hands. The same definition applies to NCAA.

NFHS starts the pitch even sooner, depending on the pitcher's motion; it adds "or makes any motion that is part of the windup after the hands have been brought together".

[IRISHMAFIA]

One would think that if you still saw the pitch after the catcher moved she probably left the box early.

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

What are the criteria that determine whether it was a pitch?

OK, so last night I answered the question that you asked. However, it really isn't pertinent to this thread, because the rule in effect here, in every code is that the catcher must be within the catcher's box when the pitch is RELEASED. Same as when the runner can leave the base.

Back to the OP. Remember that someone is IN until a foot is touching the ground, and every part that is touching is completely OUT. Be sure that's what happened before the release before making what will be a very marginal if even necessary call, despite being accurate.

Also that the catcher's box does extend the entire width of both batter's boxes.