Intentional walk in Little league game (Minors)

[PSU2758]

Question

In a minor league game, on an intentional walk the pitcher does not have to throw a pitch to a batter. He just has to specify that they are walking the batter.

Is the ball live during the intentional walk, and is the BR allowed to continue to 2B, and if there are any other runners on are they allowed to steal also?

I do not see this in the 2008 Little league rule book.

I am under the impression that the ball is live and runners can advance at their own risk until the play is over and time is asked for.

Thank you

Jay

UIC Frederick American Little League

[Umpire in Chief]

I believe that the ball is immediately dead when an intentional walk is requested. I know this is a fact in FED, but in LL I'm somewhat sure. But I will defer to others who may be more knowledgeable than I.

BTW welcome to Umpire-Empire I'm glad to have you.

[catoblue]

My understanding is that for the BR to advance to first, the ball must be live and in play. With that, the logical interpretation (IMHO) is that ball is live and runners may advance at their own risk. Omitting the thrown pitches is all part of LL's "Saving Young Arms" initiative.

[MCLEOD36]

The ball is dead if the coach requests the intentional walk. It is a live ball before hand, but once coach requests it and it is granted it is a dead ball. That is HS, which I am sure passes to LL.

[LMSANS]

My understanding is that for the BR to advance to first, the ball must be live and in play. With that, the logical interpretation (IMHO) is that ball is live and runners may advance at their own risk. Omitting the thrown pitches is all part of LL's "Saving Young Arms" initiative.

I'm not so sure about your interp...BR is hit by a pitch, he advances to first base...dead ball.

[MCLEOD36]

If hit by a pitch and if the opposing coach requests/umpire approves that the batter is put on base without pitching to him, meaning the intentional walk and no pitches. The ball is declared dead as it would be in a hit batter.

[MCLEOD36]

here it is as well.

http://www.littleleague.org/tournamentresources/tournamenttip/International_Tournament_Tip_of_the_Day___Tip_10.htm

[Bigdog]

Hey all,

The link you provided is NOT to a baseball rule, but a JR, SR, and BIG League Softball rule. LL baseball did away with the intentional walk rule your are thinking of before the 2008 season. Now pitchers have to also learn how to pitch to the kid they don't want to face, or burn the four pitches on the pitch count.

BTW, an intentional walk in LL is not a sure thing. I have seen a couple of pitches end up in the outfield or over the fence because the "ball" wasn't far enough away from the batter.

Bigdog:cool:

[mstaylor]

BigDog is correct. For some unknown reason LL took the no pitch IW out this year at all levels.

[catoblue]

I'm not so sure about your interp...BR is hit by a pitch, he advances to first base...dead ball.

HBP specifically calls for dead ball, whereas a walk does not. Apples and oranges... but to BigDog's post, I do recall that 2008 rules specified that 4 pitches must be thrown for the IW now... thank you BigDog for refreshing that memory. Only calling LL games, and the season having ended back in July, there's a ton of rust on my baseball thinking. That's why I've started hitting the forums again - will be re-reading the 2008 rule book again until the 2009 book arrives, just to get my head back on baseball again.

For anyone else involved in LL - heads-up, the pitching rules are changing again.

[MCLEOD36]

Guys,

sorry, it was taken out in LL, not FED in 2008. The link i sent was from their website (Littleleague.org), and did regard softball at all levels. It is a FED/HS rule, and it is a dead ball. Sorry for the confusion.

[Dragon29]

LL baseball did away with the intentional walk rule your are thinking of before the 2008 season. Now pitchers have to also learn how to pitch to the kid they don't want to face, or burn the four pitches on the pitch count.

True - I was waiting for someone to point that out as I was reading.

They removed it because they didn't want to take a base-running opportunity away from the offense if the pitcher throws an errant pitch with runners on. (At least, that's what I was told)

Had a Majors manager work around this rule last year by having his pitcher 'balk' four times in a row; since, at that level, balks are illegal pitches which are counted as balls, it ends up being an Intentional Walk without throwing, or more importantly, counting any pitches.

This was not a game I was working; I heard about this from the opposing manager after the game in which it took place. I informed the manager who did it that he shouldn't do it again as managers are not supposed to instruct their players to perform illegal actions. Not 100% sure the rulebook supported me on this, but he agreed to discontinue the practice.

[Umpire in Chief]

Had a Majors manager work around this rule last year by having his pitcher 'balk' four times in a row; since, at that level, balks are illegal pitches which are counted as balls, it ends up being an Intentional Walk without throwing, or more importantly, counting any pitches.

Now that's a great idea...

[mstaylor]

Not only does it susport you it takes it further. Here is the rule from 8.05:

( Intentionally delay the game by throwing the ball to players other than the catcher, when the batter is in position, except in an attempt to retire a runner; or commit an illegal pitch for the purpose of not pitching to the batter (i.e. intentional walk, etc),

This the comment from the 2008 RIM:

INSTRUCTOR COMMENTS:

“………..or commit an illegal pitch for the purpose of not pitching to the batter (i.e. intentional walk, etc)”, was added to prevent managers from instructing their pitchers to just drop the ball or start and stop their motion to get the umpire to call an illegal pitch four times thus not requiring the pitcher to throw four pitches to give a batter an intentional walk. Warn the manager that he/she should stop the pitcher from doing this and send the manager home if the pitcher continues to try to beat the rules.

So basically, tell the manager to cease and desist. If the pitcher continues, then eject the manager.

[Umpire in Chief]

Not only does it susport you it takes it further. Here is the rule from 8.05:

( Intentionally delay the game by throwing the ball to players other than the catcher, when the batter is in position, except in an attempt to retire a runner; or commit an illegal pitch for the purpose of not pitching to the batter (i.e. intentional walk, etc),

This the comment from the 2008 RIM:

INSTRUCTOR COMMENTS:

“………..or commit an illegal pitch for the purpose of not pitching to the batter (i.e. intentional walk, etc)”, was added to prevent managers from instructing their pitchers to just drop the ball or start and stop their motion to get the umpire to call an illegal pitch four times thus not requiring the pitcher to throw four pitches to give a batter an intentional walk. Warn the manager that he/she should stop the pitcher from doing this and send the manager home if the pitcher continues to try to beat the rules.

So basically, tell the manager to cease and desist. If the pitcher continues, then eject the manager.

Now that's a great idea...

Except apparently it was tried once too many times and had to be specifically addressed and is now illegal.