Rule Question - Catcher's Box

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Here is the situation:

Runner on third, one out, eighth inning. Girl comes up who has already hit a double and sac fly. Opposing coach decides to intentionally walk the batter. The pitcher begins her motion while the catcher, standing outside the catcher's box, receives the pitch.

What is the call?

 

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Can't answer for all the other org's but for H.S.

NHFS Rule 2-1-10 Catcher's Box. The catcher's box is the area to which the catcher is restricted from the time the pitcher steps on the pitcher's plate until she releases the pitch.

NFHS Rule 6-1-1d The pitcher shall not be considered to be in pitching position unless the catcher is within the lines of the catcher's box and in position to receive the pitch.

NFHS Rule 6-3-1 The catcher shall be inside the lines of the catcher's box when the pitcher takes a position to pitch and when the ball is released.



FASTPITCH! Anything else, And you're playing too SLOW!

 

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The Catchers box extends to the outside of each batters box

 

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The catcher's box in softball is much wider than the catcher's box in baseball. In softball, the catcher's box is as wide as the far sides of both batter's boxes (8'5") and seven feet deep from the back of the batters boxes. In baseball, the catcher's box is 43 inches wide by 8 feet deep starting at the tip of home plate. Now, by rule, the catcher may not leave the catcher's box until the ball is released by the pitcher in either sport, but since the catcher's box is so wide in softball, are you saying the catcher was standing wider than the opposite batters box before release of the pitches of the intentional walk?

Len

 

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The catcher was not within the confines of the catcher's box at the release of the pitch.

 

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Yeah.....that's a no-no. Illegal pitch.

Len

 

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Clarification on two items please:

1) Are the lines classified as "IN" or "OUT" of the box?

2) Does "within the catcher's box" mean BOTH FEET must be completely within the confines of the box? If so, when?

The high school definition as posted by FastpitchBlue seems to indicate the lines ARE NOT part of the box, and requires the catcher to be completely within (both feet) the box. In college (NCAA) I have seen catchers stand with one foot in, and one foot out (before ball release) when receiving a pitch-out.

 

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This is a high school game and a call was made by the umpiring crew; illegal pitch. What penalty should be applied in this case?

 

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Illegal pitch = ball. And that is what you are looking for anyway.

Might as well have 4 illegal pitches to accomplish the walk anyway

 

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This is a high school game and a call was made by the umpiring crew; illegal pitch. What penalty should be applied in this case?

Same as any other illegal pitch. A ball added to the batter's count, all runners advanced one base...unless...the pitch is batted into play or the batter becomes a baserunner. Then, the offensive team coach has the option of either enforcing the IP penalty or accepting the results of the play.

There could be times that the results of the play are more advantageous, like if a runner scored on the play that would not have otherwise scored by the IP penalty.

The requirement of being "inside the lines" of the catcher's box is kind of loosely interpreted. At least for high school and ASA, I would enforce it the same as the rule about a batter being "inside the box" prior to a pitch- both feet must be in. A foot could be touching the line, but not extending out beyond it. This might possibly have a different definition under NCAA rules- and it wouldn't surprise me one bit if it did.

Also, a catcher could begin to step out of the box before the pitch is released, but not have her foot land on the ground outside the box until after the pitch is released and that would be okay.

This should be a rare call for a couple of reasons. First, if the catcher is set-up outside the box to begin with, the umpire has the right to suspend play, not allow the pitcher to pitch and simply instruct the catcher to properly position herself, just like when a batter sets-up not entirely in the batter's box.

Secondly, this is really one call that an umpire should not nit-pick about. Of course, if the catcher set-up a few feet out of the box, it might give her team a slight advantage not intended by the rules, making the intentional walk easier for her team and precluding any possibility that the batter might actually swing at the pitch. If she's in the box to begin with, but begins to step out "just a little bit too soon" no real advantage is being gained. Just like the call when a batter steps out of the batter's box to hit a pitch, the violation should be a gross and obvious violation before an umpire calls it. If it's really close, give the benefit of the doubt to the catcher.

 

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Illegal pitch = dead ball. Pitch is called a "ball". If any base runners, they advance one base.

 

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Illegal pitch = dead ball. Pitch is called a "ball". If any base runners, they advance one base.

An illegal pitch is a "delayed dead ball". The pitch remains "live" and the batter may swing at it, there might be an uncaught third strike, runners might steal, etc. It only becomes an immediate dead ball when the pitcher fails to deliver the pitch and there's no pitch made for the batter to hit.

 

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I didn't read close enough...LOL Runner on third...LOL

This is one of those times when a coach should call time out and talk with the plate umpire to see what his call is going to be... and his requirements for a pitch out.. so there is no question about it. Foot on the line, etc....

 

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Ok Bret. I'm going to have to pay closer attention when you explain things! Anyway - thanks for the correction!

 

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Think of it this way...if all illegal pitches were immediate dead balls, there wouldn't be any reason for the rule about a coach accepting the penalty or the result of the play...because there would never be a play!

 

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Thank you for the rule clarification. In this case the batter did not swing at, or put the ball in play. An illegal pitch was called and a ball was added to the batter's count. The runner was not advanced.

Time was called and the ruling was discussed by the umpiring crew and coaches, but was not changed. This being a OHSAA tournament game I believe that a protest cannot be filed.

 

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This being a OHSAA tournament game I believe that a protest cannot be filed.

Which kind of stinks.

What if...there's a runner at third who would prove to be the winning run. By not correctly enforcing this simple rule and penalty, the umpires may have prevented a team from advancing in the playoffs, putting an end to a season's worth of hard work and effort due to a rule misinterpretation.

 

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Which kind of stinks.

What if...there's a runner at third who would prove to be the winning run. By not correctly enforcing this simple rule and penalty, the umpires may have prevented a team from advancing in the playoffs, putting an end to a season's worth of hard work and effort due to a rule misinterpretation.

I suppose we'll find out. The game in question was suspended due to darkness in the 8th inning. The run would have ended the game.

So far the game has proven itself worthy of a district final. The teams are evenly matched and it has been an exciting game to watch.

Best of luck to both teams. I hope the winner wins it all!

 

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I didn't read close enough...LOL Runner on third...LOL

This is one of those times when a coach should call time out and talk with the plate umpire to see what his call is going to be... and his requirements for a pitch out.. so there is no question about it. Foot on the line, etc....

Good suggestion. I've done this before. I also have spoken to an umpire before a game or inning if we are going to do anything which may cause confusion. Most umpires have seen it all, called it all, but maybe only occasionally I don't want to shock them into not being ready to see what they think they saw.

 

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There are no protests in OHSAA games because they could not physically deal with all of the paperwork before they go on their summer vacation. They would be working until Football season.