Offensive Coach Yells "Balk!" from duggout then umpire calls it

Bottom line is NO. However, because the coach did that I would allow play to continue. From my experience the plate umpire probably saw it although it was still registering in his mind. The coach pushed him over the edge. It's a lousy way to end a game such as you described.

Couldn't this fall under the category of verbal interference? Did your coach protest?

PichursParent,
It's hard to tell from your description, but there is a rule which might (or not) apply.

3-3-1 A coach, player, substitute, attendant or other bench personnel shall not:
....
o. call “Time” or use any command or commit any act for the purpose of causing a balk; or
.....

This rule is intended to address the situation where a pitcher is induced to stop his pitching motion, and if the umpire judges that this violation has occurred, it is a delayed dead ball. So if the pitcher stopped his motion in response to the coaches call of "balk", an umpire may decide that the coach's action induced the balk. In that case it is simply no pitch. The penalty is ejection, but you won't see that enforced very often.

However, in your situation it is quite possible that a balk had already occurred before the coach said "balk", and in that case the ball is already dead. In general, umpires are trained to make calls with deliberate speed, and so spectators sometimes think that an umpire has been "talked into" a call, when in reality he was just using good timing.

3FG has it here..... it is against the rules for anyone to entice a balk by using any command or committing any act....NFHS 3-3-1 or OBR 4.06...

the only thing in question would be did the pitcher balk because of the coach's call or did he balk and the coach just beat the umpire to the call....

Like 3FG says if the umpire decided that the coach's action induced the balk, then the balk is negated and it is simply no pitch. The penalty is ejection, but you won't see that enforced very often....yet the coach on the bench would get a very warning that ejection is the penalty for doing this...

However, like 3FG, in your situation it seems as if a balk had already occurred before the coach said "balk"....(as confirmed by your player on the way home...)

Bottom line is no rules against it; also, the umpire can always call "no play" if he judges the screaming to be a disruption.

Several players on our team in the dugout are studying the pitcher looking for a balk (especially if he is getting "loose" in his delivery). Fact is, pitchers will change their rhythm for the purpose of disrupting the "jump" of a runner, and will try to sneak a (too) quick delivery through on occasion (no doubt to get a little more "oomph" on his fastball). Though it stinks that a game would end that way, and JMO, it is good baseball.

Hate it when coaches (fans) yell calls out on plays . Can't tell you how many times on pickoff attemps someone( or 2 ) yell "got em" when they did not and ump calls them out . Most umps are not influnced but when they are it drives me crazy! (but I still keep my mouth shut).

quote:

Originally posted by Ole Ball Coach:
Bottom line is no rules against it; also, the umpire can always call "no play" if he judges the screaming to be a disruption.

You are incorrect under NFHS, NCAA and OBR rules....

see:

NFHS Rule 3-3-1

NCAA Rule 5-15-a

OBR 4.06

quote:

Originally posted by 3FingeredGlove:
...In general, umpires are trained to make calls with deliberate speed, and so spectators sometimes think that an umpire has been "talked into" a call, when in reality he was just using good timing.

When it comes to balks, good timing means you call it IMMEDIATELY without delay.

quote:

Originally posted by therefump:
Bottom line is NO.

Really? I would disagree.

quote:

Originally posted by Baseball Dad 46:
.... Most umps are not influnced but when they are it drives me crazy! (but I still keep my mouth shut).

I guess you're smarter than me..being able to tell if the official is "influenced" because a coach yells something prior to the call.

Whats your trick?

Thanks for the replies. I asked my son for more details (btw - he was not the pitcher). The coach was very upset at the call and how the game ended - but I don't think he protested - so it was likely he saw the initial slight foot movement as well. He has astute knowledge of the rules, so if the balk had been fully induced by the offensive coach, I'm pretty sure he'd have argued vehemently.

Of course everyone would accept the game ending call better if the umpire had been the first to say "balk". I'm sure it won't be the last time I leave a game shaking my head. I do respect umpires - that is one tough job at the High School level. Everyone wants you to be perfect - and it is their definition of perfect!

3FG and piaa_ump - thanks for directing me to the rulebook - that is exactly what I was looking for.

Bats were on fire last night in 50 degree pouring rain (SPRING sport??). They 10 run ruled a team that had 10 run ruled us earlier in the season. Life is always good - but it sure feels better when you win

What a complex and interesting game my son has chosen to play - keeps me on my toes!

Good timing means you see the play and decide what you have. Many times that means the coach will yell first because he doesn't have to right and he has a natural bias in what he sees. The umpire has to be right and make sure he does it unbiased.
As an umpire, I will shut a coach down from yelling balk. I explain it is a term to be used by umpires only. Of course, I will also shut down a base coach that wants to "help" with safe calls at first.