OHC Interference using voice instruction and inflection

[Central Cal Umpire]

12U Majors Cal Ripken League. I was not umpiring, only observing from behind home plate while waiting for the next game. Runners on first and second. One out, 2-2 count. Balk warnings had been issued to both sides a couple of times in the game for various set violations, both per Cal Ripken requirements at this level, once for the pitcher engaging from the stretch with hands together and never separating before coming set, one for the pitcher turning his shoulders to look at first base after coming set.

The pitcher was in the stretch. He came to a set and tipped his shoulder slightly towards first. Not enough to warrant a balk call if you ask me, not at this level anyway, and I think the umpire probably thought the same thing. After the shoulder turn and as the pitcher lifts his leg to deliver to the plate, the head coach at third base starts yelling, "Balk! That's a balk!" and instructs R1 and R2 to advance to second and third. The pitcher hesitates in the middle of his delivery - I think he even turned his head to look at the coach at third - but the ball is delivered; it's called a ball. The catcher hesitates too, also clearly thrown off by the balk call, but eventually throws to third, where R2 reaches safely.

The umpire calls R2 out on the coach's interference of the play by calling the balk, which threw off the pitcher's and catcher's concentration. The coach says it was a balk. Umpire then warns OHC for instructing players to advance, which is not his purview. R1 is sent back to first base. OHC continues to argue it was a balk. The umpire warns OHC if he makes another call that is not his to make, and if the umpire sees it influence play on the field, he's going to run OHC.

OHC argues that R2 should not be called out, that R1 and R2 should only be sent back to second and first. The umpire sticks to his guns, the out remains. There's quite a bit of barking from the stands on that side of the field for the rest of the game, but nothing gets out of hand. OHC remained and apparently knew what he was doing because he shut the hell up for the rest of the game, not making any further arguments that I saw. It was late in the game, and I don't even remember how it ended, as I went around behind the stands to the concession booth to get game balls for the next game. 

Question: I agreed with the umpire's position, but isn't R2 out a NHFS rule? I also wondered if this should have been a delayed dead ball situation. Should the DFC have been given the option of either taking the result of the play or else accepting the umpire's out call? I realize he's going to want the out and the resulting return of R1 to first, but was the call itself by the book? Or close enough anyway?

Also, I see this a lot in games I umpire, where the coach isn't familiar with a new umpire and they think they can maybe influence the umpire by making calls ahead of him. It happens to me fairly often, too. Is this something that should be addressed in pregame if the umpire is working with new coaches for the first time?

[noumpere]

There's no out.  It's potentially an ejection.  And, while I have you, "the pitcher engaging from the stretch with hands together" is a "don't do that" not a balk warning.

 

6.04 Unsportsmanlike Conduct
(a) No manager, player, substitute, coach, trainer or batboy shall
at any time, whether from the bench, the coach’s box or on the
playing field, or elsewhere:
(1) Incite, or try to incite, by word or sign a demonstration by
spectators;
(2) Use language which will in any manner refer to or reflect
upon opposing players, an umpire, or any spectator;
(3) Call “Time,” or employ any other word or phrase or
commit any act while the ball is alive and in play for the
obvious purpose of trying to make the pitcher commit a
balk.
(4) Make intentional contact with the umpire in any
manner.

[Central Cal Umpire]

8 minutes ago, noumpere said:

There's no out.  It's potentially an ejection.  

Okay, so R2 and R1 return to respective bases? They don't remain at second and third, do they?

[Tog Gee]

Coaches get carried away but can't be yelling actual calls out or calling time.

I like the out call, not sure if it's right though.

 

 

 

Nothing like this in the OP rules?

In NFHS:

2-21-1   Offensive interference is an act (physical or verbal) by the team at bat:

1. which interferes with, obstructs, impedes, hinders or confuses any fielder attempting to make a play; or
2. when a runner creates malicious contact with any fielder, with or without the ball, in or out of the baseline; or
3. a coach physically assists a runner during playing action.

Edited May 7, 2025 by Tog Gee

[Replacematt]

2 hours ago, Central Cal Umpire said:

The pitcher was in the stretch. He came to a set and tipped his shoulder slightly towards first. Not enough to warrant a balk call if you ask me, not at this level anyway,

That's because it isn't a balk (except in FED.)

[The Man in Blue]

I am not familiar with Cal Ripken or Babe Ruth rules, so you need to consult them to find out the actual outcome (namely, is a balk live or dead?).

Since you mention NFHS, though, I will approach from that angle.

Coach should get a warning at minimum, as mentioned and cited by @noumpere.

Runners should be returned to their bases, as a balk in NFHS is a dead ball.  The balk will be negated by the coach's actions, so the runners do not advance/stay advanced.

If Cal Ripken/Babe Ruth use an OBR-style rule set where the balk stays live . . . While I like where @Tog Gee is headed, there seems to be no play being made that was hindered or impeded.  Unless, you really want to rub this lamp . . . 

and say the catcher was hindered or impeded because the coach's actions deprived him of the chance to put out the runner.  Use that and grab an out.

[Velho]

This strikes me as the same as a batter asking for but not getting time. If that hinders or influences F1, it's a dead ball, no pitch. It's the "batter can't create a balk" scenario.

As OHC starts yelling and interrupts F1 it's "Time. No pitch." Admonition / warning / EJ to OHC and everything resets.

[noumpere]

3 hours ago, Central Cal Umpire said:

The pitcher hesitates in the middle of his deliver -

 

As I read it, it should be killed right there.  I recognize there's an element of HTBT.

[ArchAngel72]

So just curious no one see's the coaches verbal interference?

I see this as how the umpire called an out.

I have never seen that called myself only physical interference by touching the runner.

 

But yeah I cannot see the out ...

 

 

 

[Velho]

I see the interference as inducing what would otherwise be a balk. I don't see how you're grabbing an out (beyond a possible "YER OUTTTA HERE!").

[noumpere]

This is from JEA (references are to the old rule book):

 

Customs and Usage: Unfortunately, profanity seems to be an intrinsic part of the professional baseball world. Umpires generally overlook profanities which are not directed at anyone personally. Direct assaults are dealt with severely and generally call for immediate ejection. Any and all profanity expressed in amateur sports should be dealt with immediately and severely.

Umpires try to mitigate situations between opposing teams in order to prevent a major confrontation at a later point. Sometimes, ejection of an instigator at an early stage is the most effective way to handle a potentially volatile situation.

In the event of a player stepping out of the batter's box or requesting time and inducing a balk, professional umpires generally enforce rule 6.02(b) rather than 4.06(a.3). Unless it is clear beyond a shadow of doubt that the batter's obvious purpose was to induce a balk, the most practical ruling is to call "Time" and start over from "scratch." Rule 6.03(b) Notes.

Physical contact with the umpire is strictly forbidden. Contact can be categorized as either incidental (accidental) or intentional. Professional umpires are trained to avoid contact as much as possible; however, in the heat of an argument, incidental contact may occur. The professional should reposition himself and attempt to defuse the confrontation. Sometimes, the aggressive or volatile person will not let the umpire do what he is trained to do and more serious contact occurs. Flagrant or intentional contact demands immediate ejection. Most professional leagues routinely suspend personnel for such conduct.

Situations: The pitcher is in the set position with runners on 1st and 3rd. As the pitcher starts his delivery, the 3rd base coach yells "Time" and causes the pitcher to balk. Who is at fault...the pitcher or the coach?

RULING: The coach is out of order. He is ejected and the balk is nullified.

 

And from J/R:

 

(5) tries by his actions or words to get an in-contact pitcher to balk. Penalty: the umpire should call time, nullify any balk, and warn such coach against a second violation of this rule. After a second violation the warned coach is ejected.

[The Man in Blue]

1 hour ago, ArchAngel72 said:

So just curious no one see's the coaches verbal interference?

I see this as how the umpire called an out.

I have never seen that called myself only physical interference by touching the runner.

 

But yeah I cannot see the out ...

 

I am seeing a case to be made, but I am not convinced I would call it.  Pure rule set and HTBT.

If the coach yelled "I got it!" as fielders were camping under a fly ball and they reacted, we would grab the out.  There is an easy example of verbal still being grabbed for an out.

Again, dead ball balk = no case at all for an out because there is no play to be made.

However, with a live ball balk: the coach was instructing his runners to advance while yelling for the balk.  If the balk stays live, the catcher has an opportunity to put out the advancing runners.  On a legit balk, we would negate that out and enforce the balk, but we still allow the play to happen.  Since this is an induced balk, we are NOT negating the out because the interference negates the balk.  By yelling "balk", the OP stated the coach not only disconcerted the pitcher but also the catcher.  If the verbal interference prevented a potential play, there is a case to be made for an out call.

 

[Central Cal Umpire]

1 minute ago, The Man in Blue said:

By yelling "balk", the OP stated the coach not only disconcerted the pitcher but also the catcher.  If the verbal interference prevented a potential play, there is a case to be made for an out call.

Some additional context: First, yes, there's a good deal of HTBT involved here. But it appeared that *everyone on the field of play* meaning all players on defense and the runners on the bases, were cowing to this third base coach. It was like he had assumed control of the game. Even a couple of parents in the stands asked who the heck is making the calls out there.

Once the catcher caught the ball, he kind of took his foot off the gas, like he was waiting for the umpire or someone to clarify the balk before he did anything. He only threw to third after his own coach and bench and crowd yelled at him to throw the ball. As an observer, it looked like this third base coach was intentionally interfering with play on the field and really more importantly the umpire's position of authority. This guy wanted a balk call, so HE called the balk, hoping to instigate the umpire to make a balk call. (That last sentence is strictly my opinion but that's how it looked.)

It looked like the players were all waiting for the umpire to justify the third base coach's call, at least to me, and really, I think to a lot of people. Again, a 12U Cal Ripken league.

[Replacematt]

4 hours ago, The Man in Blue said:

If Cal Ripken/Babe Ruth use an OBR-style rule set where the balk stays live . . . While I like where @Tog Gee is headed, there seems to be no play being made that was hindered or impeded.  Unless, you really want to rub this lamp . . . 

If we are considering the pitcher's hesitation to be a balk, then the ball is dead at that point.

[The Man in Blue]

Thank you for the clarification, @Replacematt.  I tried looking up their rule set, but wasn't going to pay $10 for the .pdf.

 

Curious about your thoughts on my live-ball scenario assessment.

[Replacematt]

2 minutes ago, The Man in Blue said:

Thank you for the clarification, @Replacematt.  I tried looking up their rule set, but wasn't going to pay $10 for the .pdf.

 

Curious about your thoughts on my live-ball scenario assessment.

It's like all OBR-based sets. A start/stop balk is dead at the moment the stop happens because play is stopped at that point.

As for your assessment, the J/R enforcement mentioned above is the way to go. Kill it, nullify the balk, toss the coach, continue. I think it's very questionable to use interference here (especially since there is no such animal as verbal interference in pure OBR) because of how tenuous the chain of events would be that would result in an out. Putting that aside, OBR requires an act in violation of an interference rule aside from the offensive interference definition (per Wendelstedt definitions of terms,) so I'd be hard-pressed to find a violation there, either.

[Coach Carl]

In the OP, we have:

1. Action happens that is not a balk in Umpire's judgement.

2. Coach yells "Balk" which induces an actual balk.

3. Call "Time!" and return runners (reset from "scratch").  Warn or eject coach.

But, how should HPU handle it if he believes that the action that caused the coach to yell balk was, in his judgement, a balk?

1. Action happens that is a balk in Umpire's judgement.  Umpire allows play to continue.

2.  Coach yells "Balk" which induces a start/stop.

3.  Call "Time!" and... then what?   

[noumpere]

13 minutes ago, Coach Carl said:

In the OP, we have:

1. Action happens that is not a balk in Umpire's judgement.

2. Coach yells "Balk" which induces an actual balk.

3. Call "Time!" and return runners (reset from "scratch").  Warn or eject coach.

But, how should HPU handle it if he believes that the action that caused the coach to yell balk was, in his judgement, a balk?

1. Action happens that is a balk in Umpire's judgement.  Umpire allows play to continue.

2.  Coach yells "Balk" which induces a start/stop.

3.  Call "Time!" and... then what?   

Enforce the (original) balk.  Warn or eject the coach.

 

Once a balk has been committed, any further action can only benefit the offense (except in the rare case where someone is put out after advancing a base).  So the defense is not penalized if you kill it and enforce the original balk.