Delayed dead ball balk

[ZebraStripes]

In pool play, I had a balk for the warning and later in the inning umpirechick had the delayed dead ball call that ended up being a grand slam.  

[VAUmp]

Balk warnings in the playoffs???

[mrumpiresir]

Yeah, that's one of the rules at CDP,  stupid as it is.

[MadMax]

No no, I need to step in and clarify...

During the "pool play" games of Sunday thru Tuesday, there is one Balk Warning per pitcher, with it rendered an immediate Dead Ball. Next Balk call (on that pitcher) is a Delayed Dead Ball (ala OBR).

Beginning Wednesday, which is the first of the two Elimination Bracket days (the "playoffs"), the Balk warnings are lifted and all Balk calls are Delayed Dead Ball (again, ala OBR).

@ZebraStripes, are you and @Umpirechick1 on the same crew, or were you doing a "guest appearance" game? Yours is a great story, but mine is still used as the example – my U2 called a no-stop balk (warning) on a HR, only for us to have to take the runs off the board, put the kid back in the box and continue his at-bat, assuring him that he gets to keep the ball regardless. Three pitches later, and he hits another HR.

[Umpirechick1]

Yes, we're on the same crew - field 6. 

I'm so thankful that the ball I called (the HR) wasn't the dead ball warning. I would've been calling for transport to take me back to the barracks.

[ZebraStripes]

No no, I need to step in and clarify...

During the "pool play" games of Sunday thru Tuesday, there is one Balk Warning per pitcher, with it rendered an immediate Dead Ball. Next Balk call (on that pitcher) is a Delayed Dead Ball (ala OBR).

Beginning Wednesday, which is the first of the two Elimination Bracket days (the "playoffs"), the Balk warnings are lifted and all Balk calls are Delayed Dead Ball (again, ala OBR).

@ZebraStripes, are you and @Umpirechick1 on the same crew, or were you doing a "guest appearance" game? Yours is a great story, but mine is still used as the example – my U2 called a no-stop balk (warning) on a HR, only for us to have to take the runs off the board, put the kid back in the box and continue his at-bat, assuring him that he gets to keep the ball regardless. Three pitches later, and he hits another HR.

I was the weak link on her crew.  

[Chris Hickman]

This sounds pretty stupid if you ask me.  If you want to have a "warning" system, ok... its your tourney.  However, you are going to punish the offense because a pitcher rolled through one?  The rule of thumb is that if all runners including the BR advance 1 base you disregard.  So why don't you just use that thinking and then warn?  So lets say no warning has been issued and a kid no stops.. you call a balk and the batter hits a double.  Just leave the runner @ 2nd and tell the pitcher that is your warning.  If I was a coach and that happened to my team, I would be watching the rest of the game with binoculars at the dorms!!

Edited June 24, 2015 by Chris Hickman

[DVA7130]

I like the system better where you can still have a warning, but if everybody advances (ala play proceeds without reference to the balk), well, what balk?

[Umpirechick1]

In this tournament, the balk warning makes total sense.  You have teams (104 of them) who come from all different sets of rules, including teams who play with closed bases and have never had any experience with leading off, pick off moves and balks.  So, yes... the warning is a good thing.  And it's not that hard to keep up with.  The down side?  If a kid hits a HR, it doesn't count.  But, if we were playing by FED rules, it wouldn't count, either.  So, no biggie.

And, just for the record, @ZebraStripes was not the weak link.  I'd take him on my crew anytime!  In fact, I think that I had the best crew out there!