Defining One's Strike Zone

[bassfam11]

I agree.

I see countless pitchers in the Little League 9/10 year old division pitching illegally every game. Dont get me wrong, Im not a mean guy thats gonna call an illegal pitch on something extremely technical. Even if I do call it, I take some time to go out to the mound and tell the kids what theyre doing wrong and how they can avoid it.

Like you said, it really is a shame. Some umpires let the kids continue to pitch like this. I umpired over 30 Little League Junior Division games this year and it really dissapoints me to see kids 13 and 14 years old making the same mistakes as the little ones. Then again, it may boil down to poor coaching. But having an umpire who lets it slide certainly doesnt help.

agree %100. If we don't call it, they will never learn. Call it when you see it. Just like those early season Junior games when the coaches ask you to NOT call balks. My response is always "I'll call them, however if you guys chose not to move the runners that's up to you". I call both IP and balk at all (appropriate) levels.

Edited July 16, 2009 by bassfam11
spelling

[SanDiegoSteve]

Just like those early season Junior games when the coaches ask you to NOT call balks. My response is always "I'll call them, however if you guys chose not to move the runners that's up to you". I call both IP and balk at all (appropriate) levels.

Many leagues have local rules that say that the pitcher gets one warning on balks. I tell them that if the pitcher commits a technical balk that isn't intended to illegaly deceive the runner, then I'll call the balk and it will be a warning the first time. But if little Dwight Gooden, Jr. is using a deceptive balk move, that's a balk and no warning, I'm awarding bases here. Sometimes coaches really do use that "one warning" stuff to pull a fast one, and that's when I get my bud nippers out!:)

[moblue]

I never have understood the "one warning" thing myself. What if the pitcher gets an out from it? Do you put the runner back on base? I talked with (I think) a coach about this earlier in the year and we figured that would be the only fair thing to do in that situation.

[gixxershane]

If it is something like a leg twich in the set position, I could see the warning, if that's the way a league does it, but if it were a pick off and it cought the runner and was a balk, they are not out and should get the next base imho

[Kevin Finnerty]

If it is something like a leg twich in the set position, I could see the warning, if that's the way a league does it, but if it were a pick off and it cought the runner and was a balk, they are not out and should get the next base imho

I warn guys who look inexperienced or nervous, and do something odd that has no real purpose, or do something twitchy, like you said. But I'm with you if it results in a play and somebody gets nicked.

[mstaylor]

Balks should always be called but in layers. When you have kids just starting to use balks then you have to balk any elephant balk, dropping the ball on the rubber, no stop, or stopping mid motion. Technical but obvious balks need to be addressed, usually sending the catcher out or the BU talks to him.

Direction to a base and swinging too far to first after set fall in this group. The highly technical balks should be discussed with the manager to get him to correct. Kneepops and elbow twitches fall in the last group.

As they progress you add what you call outright.

Edited July 18, 2009 by mstaylor

[LMSANS]

When I give the warning, it's a do over...runner returns...no outs recorded. If the balk doesn't count why should anything else.