3b coach yells fire from coaches box

[umpire23]

A new one for me: nfhs rules... R1/R3 with 1 out. F1 comes set and R1 takes off. F1 legally disengages the rubber. 3B coach starts shouting "balk" and the pitcher and fielders stop what they are doing thinking it is one of the umpires that called balk. R1 safely makes it to second. What do you have?

[Replacematt]

A new one for me: nfhs rules... R1/R3 with 1 out. F1 comes set and R1 takes off. F1 legally disengages the rubber. 3B coach starts shouting "balk" and the pitcher and fielders stop what they are doing thinking it is one of the umpires that called balk. R1 safely makes it to second. What do you have?

 

R1/R3 and an ejected 3B coach.

[Jocko]

Lock it up

[conbo61]

A new one for me: nfhs rules... R1/R3 with 1 out. F1 comes set and R1 takes off. F1 legally disengages the rubber. 3B coach starts shouting "balk" and the pitcher and fielders stop what they are doing thinking it is one of the umpires that called balk. R1 safely makes it to second. What do you have?

 

Verbal Interference - FED 2.21.1.A

 

Offensive interference is an act (physical or verbal) by the team at bat:

 

a. which interferes, obstructs, impedes or confuses any fielder attempting to make a play....

 

You could dump the coach under 3.3.1.g.4.  It might be a stretch.  Anytime a pitcher makes a move on the mound people scream "Balk!",  so it may be tough to say he did it to intentionally confuse.

[Thunderheads]

 

A new one for me: nfhs rules... R1/R3 with 1 out. F1 comes set and R1 takes off. F1 legally disengages the rubber. 3B coach starts shouting "balk" and the pitcher and fielders stop what they are doing thinking it is one of the umpires that called balk. R1 safely makes it to second. What do you have?

 

Verbal Interference - FED 2.21.1.A

 

Offensive interference is an act (physical or verbal) by the team at bat:

 

a. which interferes, obstructs, impedes or confuses any fielder attempting to make a play....

 

You could dump the coach under 3.3.1.g.4.  It might be a stretch.  Anytime a pitcher makes a move on the mound people scream "Balk!",  so it may be tough to say he did it to intentionally confuse.

 

Ok, ..assuming the above here .....

If you DIDN'T dump the coach based on 3.3.1.g.4 being a stretch as conbo61 says ..... the only other thing you could do would be to warn him or restrict him, but ...because you have INT, you'd have to put R1 back to first, yes? (no, I don't have a book on me )  I'm 99.9% sure, just checking

[maven]

 

A new one for me: nfhs rules... R1/R3 with 1 out. F1 comes set and R1 takes off. F1 legally disengages the rubber. 3B coach starts shouting "balk" and the pitcher and fielders stop what they are doing thinking it is one of the umpires that called balk. R1 safely makes it to second. What do you have?

 

Verbal Interference - FED 2.21.1.A

 

Offensive interference is an act (physical or verbal) by the team at bat:

 

a. which interferes, obstructs, impedes or confuses any fielder attempting to make a play....

 

You could dump the coach under 3.3.1.g.4.  It might be a stretch.  Anytime a pitcher makes a move on the mound people scream "Balk!",  so it may be tough to say he did it to intentionally confuse.

 

 

If you rule this verbal INT, you have to call someone out. Who will that be?

 

I would not rule this verbal INT. The offense is trying to get a cheap run by doing one of 3 things: make the pitcher balk, fool the umpire into calling a balk, or run their double steal play.

 

You can thwart all 3 by calling time, putting the runners back, and warning the coach that the next outburst will result in his ejection.

 

I will also say that, if the coach's shout had caused F1 to balk, you should kill it, ignore the balk, and reset.

[noumpere]

 

 

A new one for me: nfhs rules... R1/R3 with 1 out. F1 comes set and R1 takes off. F1 legally disengages the rubber. 3B coach starts shouting "balk" and the pitcher and fielders stop what they are doing thinking it is one of the umpires that called balk. R1 safely makes it to second. What do you have?

 

Verbal Interference - FED 2.21.1.A

 

Offensive interference is an act (physical or verbal) by the team at bat:

 

a. which interferes, obstructs, impedes or confuses any fielder attempting to make a play....

 

You could dump the coach under 3.3.1.g.4.  It might be a stretch.  Anytime a pitcher makes a move on the mound people scream "Balk!",  so it may be tough to say he did it to intentionally confuse.

 

Ok, ..assuming the above here .....

If you DIDN'T dump the coach based on 3.3.1.g.4 being a stretch as conbo61 says ..... the only other thing you could do would be to warn him or restrict him, but ...because you have INT, you'd have to put R1 back to first, yes? (no, I don't have a book on me )  I'm 99.9% sure, just checking

 

If you have INT you have to get an out.

 

I think the references are 3-3-1o and 5-1-2d

[tldavis19]

 

 

 

A new one for me: nfhs rules... R1/R3 with 1 out. F1 comes set and R1 takes off. F1 legally disengages the rubber. 3B coach starts shouting "balk" and the pitcher and fielders stop what they are doing thinking it is one of the umpires that called balk. R1 safely makes it to second. What do you have?

 

Verbal Interference - FED 2.21.1.A

 

Offensive interference is an act (physical or verbal) by the team at bat:

 

a. which interferes, obstructs, impedes or confuses any fielder attempting to make a play....

 

You could dump the coach under 3.3.1.g.4.  It might be a stretch.  Anytime a pitcher makes a move on the mound people scream "Balk!",  so it may be tough to say he did it to intentionally confuse.

 

Ok, ..assuming the above here .....

If you DIDN'T dump the coach based on 3.3.1.g.4 being a stretch as conbo61 says ..... the only other thing you could do would be to warn him or restrict him, but ...because you have INT, you'd have to put R1 back to first, yes? (no, I don't have a book on me )  I'm 99.9% sure, just checking

 

If you have INT you have to get an out.

 

I think the references are 3-3-1o and 5-1-2d

 

Who do you get the out on? 

[maven]

Who do you get the out on?

I think @noumpere's point was the same as mine: since you'd have to get an out, you should NOT rule verbal INT on this play.

[conbo61]

 

 

A new one for me: nfhs rules... R1/R3 with 1 out. F1 comes set and R1 takes off. F1 legally disengages the rubber. 3B coach starts shouting "balk" and the pitcher and fielders stop what they are doing thinking it is one of the umpires that called balk. R1 safely makes it to second. What do you have?

 

Verbal Interference - FED 2.21.1.A

 

Offensive interference is an act (physical or verbal) by the team at bat:

 

a. which interferes, obstructs, impedes or confuses any fielder attempting to make a play....

 

You could dump the coach under 3.3.1.g.4.  It might be a stretch.  Anytime a pitcher makes a move on the mound people scream "Balk!",  so it may be tough to say he did it to intentionally confuse.

 

 

If you rule this verbal INT, you have to call someone out. Who will that be?

 

I would not rule this verbal INT. The offense is trying to get a cheap run by doing one of 3 things: make the pitcher balk, fool the umpire into calling a balk, or run their double steal play.

 

You can thwart all 3 by calling time, putting the runners back, and warning the coach that the next outburst will result in his ejection.

 

I will also say that, if the coach's shout had caused F1 to balk, you should kill it, ignore the balk, and reset.

 

 

Good point. This one where there is not much guidance in the rule book.

 

I would kill it.  Toss the coach and return the runners as noted by @Matt

[maven]

I would kill it.  Toss the coach and return the runners as noted by @Matt

HS varsity and up: this ruling is definitely supportable.

 

Subvarsity and down: I'd recommend a warning in lieu of an EJ for a first offense. If it's an ABS EJ, then I could support that, too.

[catsbackr]

I'd put the runner back on first and very sternly let the coach know that my partner and I had the balk calls and any further mention by him would result in his ejection.  "That's your warning, coach!"

[conbo61]

 

I would kill it.  Toss the coach and return the runners as noted by @Matt

HS varsity and up: this ruling is definitely supportable.

 

Subvarsity and down: I'd recommend a warning in lieu of an EJ for a first offense. If it's an ABS EJ, then I could support that, too.

 

 

Yet another case where a FED Interpretation Manual would be extremely helpful.

[blue23ll]

No verbal interference here, a stern warning to the coach though.

[noumpere]

 

 

I would kill it.  Toss the coach and return the runners as noted by @Matt

HS varsity and up: this ruling is definitely supportable.

 

Subvarsity and down: I'd recommend a warning in lieu of an EJ for a first offense. If it's an ABS EJ, then I could support that, too.

 

 

Yet another case where a FED Interpretation Manual would be extremely helpful.

 

You mean besides the case book?

[KLAH316]

3-3-1o Under Penalty says "The Umpire SHALL eject the offender"

 

Dump Him!

[Umpire in Chief]

I would not rule this verbal INT. The offense is trying to get a cheap run by doing one of 3 things: make the pitcher balk, fool the umpire into calling a balk, or run their double steal play.

 

You can thwart all 3 by calling time, putting the runners back, and warning the coach that the next outburst will result in his ejection.

 

I will also say that, if the coach's shout had caused F1 to balk, you should kill it, ignore the balk, and reset.

I like Maven's thought here.

Yes, the rules give us the ability to eject in this situation and you would be well within your rights, but you have more tools in your arsenal than the EJ. There are times we need to exercise our game management techniques and not default to the EJ. I feel that this is one of them.

[KLAH316]

 

I would not rule this verbal INT. The offense is trying to get a cheap run by doing one of 3 things: make the pitcher balk, fool the umpire into calling a balk, or run their double steal play.

 

You can thwart all 3 by calling time, putting the runners back, and warning the coach that the next outburst will result in his ejection.

 

I will also say that, if the coach's shout had caused F1 to balk, you should kill it, ignore the balk, and reset.

I like Maven's thought here.

Yes, the rules give us the ability to eject in this situation and you would be well within your rights, but you have more tools in your arsenal than the EJ. There are times we need to exercise our game management techniques and not default to the EJ. I feel that this is one of them.

 

UIC,

If the coach is yelling about a balk and it doesn't effect the F1 or makes him balk, then a stern warning is being delivered.....

However, in the OP the coach yelling BALK caused an actual BALK..... In that instance, he's going to the parking lot.

[Rich Ives]

 

 

However, in the OP the coach yelling BALK caused an actual BALK.....

 

 

Read  it again.

[dumbdumb]

The 3b coach does this in every game. Does he get 20 or however many games they play warnings for this obvious intentional act per year, just working (isn't that some hoops announcers term) the umpires every game. So he gets 20-30 freebies just like he could get 20+ restrictions every year for every game played for the exact same offense????? Just asking. And how about if it is one of the AC's while the HC stays in the dugout. He gets a freebie every game also???

[Replacematt]

 

I would not rule this verbal INT. The offense is trying to get a cheap run by doing one of 3 things: make the pitcher balk, fool the umpire into calling a balk, or run their double steal play.

 

You can thwart all 3 by calling time, putting the runners back, and warning the coach that the next outburst will result in his ejection.

 

I will also say that, if the coach's shout had caused F1 to balk, you should kill it, ignore the balk, and reset.

I like Maven's thought here.

Yes, the rules give us the ability to eject in this situation and you would be well within your rights, but you have more tools in your arsenal than the EJ. There are times we need to exercise our game management techniques and not default to the EJ. I feel that this is one of them.

 

 

Yes, we have more tools than the EJ, but sometimes it's not a matter of the problem looking like a nail; it is a nail.

[charliej47]

Since F1 had started to play on a runner, I would call Interference, eject the coach and call the closest runner to home out.  I would also be prepared to explain the call to the HC and then dump him if necessary!

[afaber12]

Did F1 actually start some sort of move to either of the runners before stopping at the coach's outburst, or did he just step off as though he wasn't quite feeling right, settled, whatever? Being a simple Australian umpire, so I'm not familiar with the ins and outs of NFHS rules and don't know if verbal interference would apply here or not, but if there's no play being made, then I would've thought there's no play to interfere with and therefore no interference.

[PGOLDEN88]

The 3b coach does this in every game. Does he get 20 or however many games they play warnings for this obvious intentional act per year, just working (isn't that some hoops announcers term) the umpires every game. So he gets 20-30 freebies just like he could get 20+ restrictions every year for every game played for the exact same offense????? Just asking. And how about if it is one of the AC's while the HC stays in the dugout. He gets a freebie every game also???

Run him out. No need to give him another warning if you already warned him earlier in the season. Just my two cents.

 

Didn't Alex Rodriguez do this a few years ago? Couldn't find a penalty in OBR.

[lilleaguer]

Didn't Alex Rodriguez do this a few years ago? Couldn't find a penalty in OBR.

A-Rod yelled "I got it!" or something similar to a Blue Jays 3rd baseman in a 2007 game, causing a pop-up to be dropped.

 

I believe his penalty was getting plunked in the leg the next series with the Blue Jays. You won't find that penalty in the written rules.

Edited April 14, 2014 by lilleaguer