Signaling intentional walk

[renegadewolf]

Just a quick question, if a catcher is standing up, holding his arm straight out as though to signal an intentional walk and the pitcher fires on straight down the pipe, should this simply be called a strike, or could this be considered an act of deception. I don't ever recall reading a rule that states when a catcher stands up and points away from the batter that anything beyond the catcher being in their box until the pitch is delivered, but it seems kinda dirty pool to me. any input?

[SocalBlue1]

A strike is a strike. F2 is normally asking for time right away to gp talk to the bonehead on the hill.

[bobjenkins]

Originally Posted by renegadewolf

should this simply be called a strike, or could this be considered an act of deception.

Those aren't mutually exclusive items. It's both a strike and it's deception. It's also legal.

[KenGibes]

Originally Posted by renegadewolf

Just a quick question, if a catcher is standing up, holding his arm straight out as though to signal an intentional walk and the pitcher fires on straight down the pipe, should this simply be called a strike, or could this be considered an act of deception. I don't ever recall reading a rule that states when a catcher stands up and points away from the batter that anything beyond the catcher being in their box until the pitch is delivered, but it seems kinda dirty pool to me. any input?

Maybe we should ask Johnny Bench about the morality of this play...

[AugieDonatelli]

Originally Posted by KenGibes

Maybe we should ask Johnny Bench about the morality of this play...

I used to know a woman who dated Bench, and from what I gathered from her, morality wasn't Johnny's strong suit.

[HugoTafurst]

Originally Posted by renegadewolf

Just a quick question, if a catcher is standing up, holding his arm straight out as though to signal an intentional walk and the pitcher fires on straight down the pipe, should this simply be called a strike, or could this be considered an act of deception. I don't ever recall reading a rule that states when a catcher stands up and points away from the batter that anything beyond the catcher being in their box until the pitch is delivered, but it seems kinda dirty pool to me. any input?

What???
Deception, "Dirty Pool" in baseball????
Punish the usual suspects.......

OK, sarcasm over for a minute:
Exactly what is wrong with trying to decieve a batter.
Should change-ups now be ilegal? Curve Balls?

[Rich_Ives]

Originally Posted by HugoTafurst

What???
Deception, "Dirty Pool" in baseball????
Punish the usual suspects.......

OK, sarcasm over for a minute:
Exactly what is wrong with trying to decieve a batter.
Should change-ups now be ilegal? Curve Balls?

Knuckeballs should be because they deceive everybody.

[BrianC14]

Originally Posted by renegadewolf

Just a quick question, if a catcher is standing up, holding his arm straight out as though to signal an intentional walk and the pitcher fires on straight down the pipe, should this simply be called a strike, or could this be considered an act of deception. I don't ever recall reading a rule that states when a catcher stands up and points away from the batter that anything beyond the catcher being in their box until the pitch is delivered, but it seems kinda dirty pool to me. any input?

This is why the DH rule stinks.
If a guy pulled this stunt in the NL, he'd better hope he's pulled before his next at-bat.
Then again, whoever leads off for that team next inning might be the receiver of the message that's going to be sent.

[renegadewolf]

Originally Posted by HugoTafurst

What???
Deception, "Dirty Pool" in baseball????
Punish the usual suspects.......

OK, sarcasm over for a minute:
Exactly what is wrong with trying to decieve a batter.
Should change-ups now be ilegal? Curve Balls?

I'll be honest here I am still a noob to this, i am a level 1a (first year) umpire and still get confused on things. I think I've done a pretty good job of learning and understanding the rules of baseball, and I admit sometimes i might see an odd situation where I've not seen a situation and end up making something out of nothing, such as this one, but this is why i ask, I learn and i hopefully become a better umpire for it, and I do honestly appreciate all the input

thanks a bunch

[Rich_Ives]

Originally Posted by BrianC14

This is why the DH rule stinks.
If a guy pulled this stunt in the NL, he'd better hope he's pulled before his next at-bat.
Then again, whoever leads off for that team next inning might be the receiver of the message that's going to be sent.

It did get pulled in the NL. Johnny Bench was the victim. No one "got even".

[BrianC14]

Originally Posted by renegadewolf

I'll be honest here I am still a noob to this, i am a level 1a (first year) umpire and still get confused on things. I think I've done a pretty good job of learning and understanding the rules of baseball, and I admit sometimes i might see an odd situation where I've not seen a situation and end up making something out of nothing, such as this one, but this is why i ask, I learn and i hopefully become a better umpire for it, and I do honestly appreciate all the input

thanks a bunch

There you go, Renegade. There isn't an umpire out there that hasn't had something odd happen in a game at some point and wonder about it.

You've got the right attitude about improving your craft!

[Tim_C]

Rich, I maybe wrong, but I believe it was a World Series games against Oakland when Johnny got fooled.

And Brain I disagree that there would be a "message sent."

[BrianC14]

Originally Posted by Tim_C

Rich, I maybe wrong, but I believe it was a World Series games against Oakland when Johnny got fooled.

And Brain I disagree that there would be a "message sent."

I wouldn't know - I haven't seen every single time it's ever been done, in every baseball game ever played at every level.
Geez, guys, I wasn't talking in absolutes here. Let's say it COULD happen, OK?