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Online now: 1 member: TABLE SETTER 11; 84 anonymousDiscussion: Intentional walk rule
| Posted | Discussion |
| Feb. 16, 2016 jackbrun Men's 70 57 posts | Intentional walk rule According to the rules, is it permissible for a batter to refuse an intentional walk and make the pitcher throw 4 balls to him after the umpire has been notified that the defensive team is intentionally walking him? Is the rule any different for ASA than Senior softball? |
| Feb. 16, 2016 SSUSA Staff 3491 posts | We can't speak with authority to the ASA rule, but in SSUSA there is no rules provision for declining an intentional walk. We're unsure what, other than wasting playing time or creating an aggravation factor, is to be gained by making the pitcher toss four un-hittable pitches. |
| Feb. 16, 2016 BruceinGa Men's 70 3233 posts | I am curious, why do you ask this? Have you witnessed this in local or tournament play? With all the new rules to speed up play (flip flop, starting with 1-1 count, hr limit, hit 'n sit, etc) what would be the reasoning to prolong the game? |
| Feb. 16, 2016 jackbrun Men's 70 57 posts | Bruce - In a local open league, there is a player that has verbally threatened to hit the pitcher in the head. The league won't do anything about it so consequently he is walked intentionally ever time he comes to bat. He doesn't like it and has "refused the walk", so the umpire has instructed the pitcher to just throw pitches he can't hit until he walks. |
| Feb. 16, 2016 BruceinGa Men's 70 3233 posts | Wow, the umpire needs to take control of the game! If he doesn't, then the league director should. |
| Feb. 16, 2016 spoonplugger Men's 60 95 posts | His team should straighten him out or get rid of him. |
| Feb. 16, 2016 Fabe Men's 65 456 posts | Wow! To let an individual player to have that much influence can be very chaotic n begin to spread rapidly...also his comments are borderline criminal behavior! This must be address or no good thing will become of it. Just my opinion. Aloha, Fabe |
| Feb. 16, 2016 taits Men's 65 4548 posts | i'd walk him on gereral principals if nothing more. Perhaps he can't hit his way out of a wet paper bag either. A waaste of time throwing 4 balls he can't hit anyway standing inside the box. We play ASA league here and you can just motion for the intentional walk. No need to pitch them. I've been walked and have walked a few that way. |
| Feb. 16, 2016 Q19 Men's 65 81 posts | In our SENIOR leagues here in Sacramento (SPSSC & GSSCS), every team makes the playoffs so intentionally walking the "tournament" player is like 99.99% not done. During the playoffs, that percentage changes which is understandable. But if you intentionally walk a batter for the second time, he gets two bases, a third time (have never seen this in 7 seasons) would be 3 bases. |
| Feb. 16, 2016 Q19 Men's 65 81 posts | Hey "jackbrun", does this "meanie" play on the SENIOR tournament circuit? |
| Feb. 17, 2016 OZ40 549 posts | Sounds to me like a time bomb waiting to really go off. Why so much anger over a simple game? After the game everyone just wants to go about their lives in roughly the same condition as when they started the game. It's not worth it guys, lighten up, you'll feel better. |
| Feb. 17, 2016 stick8 1992 posts | Good points Oz. Just play ball and whatever happens, happens. Jackbrun, if I was umpiring that league and this player refused an intentional walk I'd warn him and if he refused to take first base I'd toss him. |
| Feb. 17, 2016 neck10 714 posts | stick thaats why we don't let you um in traverse city lol drink a beer in the parking lot after game cure's a lot of problem's, I think spoonpluger has the solution, that wouldn't go on on our league team, you have to show more respect for the team you are playing at the time. this is just a game if you can't control yourself at our age you do have a problem |
| Feb. 17, 2016 neck10 714 posts | ump |
| Feb. 17, 2016 neck10 714 posts | I hit a pitcher in the fore head once in league play about 12yrs ago makes you feel real good when your standing there waiting for the paramedic's to take pitcher off to the hospital.I would not suggest this for anyone it's a terrible feeling.The guy pitched me outside with two strike's tried to pull it and bad thing's happened.if I had to do it all over I would take strike three for third out if I knew hitting the ball would have the same outcome. |
| Feb. 17, 2016 joel 1975 131 posts | you should never walk anyone in league play unless it set's up force play.everyone wants to hit it's only league. I agree with OZ40 , and a beer after the game doesn't sound all bad either!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
| Feb. 17, 2016 BruceinGa Men's 70 3233 posts | I've lead our league in walks for many seasons. It was never a big deal with me, just looked at it as another run for our team. |
| Feb. 17, 2016 Fred S Men's 85 297 posts | Joel: Everything being equal I agree. But when you got studs playing on lower division teams like we do, were they don't belong, they are just inviting Intentional walks from me. When they get upset I just tell them I am not there to satisfy their ego. |
| Feb. 17, 2016 Omar Khayyam 1357 posts | In our senior league, intentional walks are not allowed, even to fill first base with a man on second. Just aren't. And it is considered poor sportsmanship to deliberately walk a guy by throwing the ball 2 feet outside the mat. Nope, we pitch to everyone…which doesn't imply we just groove it down the middle. When I have a feared hitter I nibble away, throw a pitch at the top of the arc (maybe a bit over 12 feet if the umpire lets me), or try to lay a 6 foot pitch on the front of the plate. But, no intentional walks. That said, the batter that jackbrun refers to sounds like a dangerous jerk and wouldn't last long in our league. |
| Feb. 17, 2016 Turbo 34 Men's 50 47 posts | I think the biggest reason players hate to walk in league games is the fact that some players have no senior leagues near them and are forced to travel great distances to get three or four at bats. If that is the situation an intentional walk would stink. I like the sound Omar's league rule. At least tempt the dude to swing. We had a senior league in Knoxville up until last year when there wasn't enough teams to continue, I had no place to play within forty miles of home. I would be upset to travel that far and never see a pitch. I choose to just take BP instead of travel for three or four at bats. Sounds like to me if that dude gets that upset with the walks he should be taking BP instead! |
| Feb. 17, 2016 jackbrun Men's 70 57 posts | Q19 - this player is not a senior player. He plays on an open division tournament team and is talented enough to hit the ball nearly where he wants to including those 350 foot shots with an ASA bat. It's just not worth taking the risk to pitch to him since the umpires and league director won't do anything about it. |
| Feb. 17, 2016 OZ40 549 posts | Another option is to make the pitching screen optional in the league. You buzz the tower, you hit the screen, you're out.... |
| Feb. 17, 2016 Fred S Men's 85 297 posts | What we have done is to walk a batter you have to have one strike on him/her which gives the batter one shot to hit the ball. |
| Feb. 17, 2016 Omar Khayyam 1357 posts | Good idea, Fred, but it won't work in this particular situation where you have a batter described as having great bat control AND power and has already threatened opposing players. Nope, I would just get him out of the league, or get more assertive umps. |
| Feb. 18, 2016 Katzy63 Men's 60 24 posts | I've personally umpired Jackbrun during a couple of these games with the player mentioned above. Although there seems to be next to no problems when these two teams square off under my watch, things tend to go awry with the other umpires who fill that slot on other occasions. Partly because they think they are doing nothing wrong by circumventing rules in order to make everyone happy, therefore having an easier night and a quick paycheck. Know what you're doing, be humble and willing to admit you made a wrong decision if it comes to that, keep ALL players safe, and keep yourself and the city safe from legal liability. And remember that it's a recreational league with a few tournament players, everyone has to go home to their families and a job to support them. Jack, have you ever considered letting someone else pitch to him during his at bats? Maybe set it up so that the pitching change is done as quickly as possible so that game time isn't lost? I know we spoke of this briefly last week during bp, but from what I can tell, the person in charge of the league is a doufus and can barely manage the league to begin with. |
| Feb. 18, 2016 garyheifner 649 posts | Possibly have the pitcher go back to the 60' line. Launch the ball and back peddle quickly buying more reaction time with each step. When you pitch to him it doesn't always mean an automatic hit. You will have a chance to ring up an out. Back in my U-Trip days, there were hitters who pounded the middle on every swing. When I pitched, I did the above and it worked quite often by giving me more time to react. |
| Feb. 18, 2016 jackbrun Men's 70 57 posts | Gary - Great idea but the league rules makes the pitcher pitch from the rubber. Mike - It makes no difference who pitches. He has already made that known. There are three solutions; stop playing, remove him from the league or do what we currently do....walk him. We are not willing to quit because of one person, the league won't do anything, so the third solution is the most logical in our opinion. |
| Feb. 18, 2016 lewis 49 posts | Jackbrun have your pitcher roll the ball across the plate |
| Feb. 18, 2016 k man Men's 65 326 posts | I know this is a longshot but maybe before you play the next game you have your manager talk to the other manager or the idiot batter and call a truce. If you're going to insist on injuring our pitcher you can expect the same result of walks. If the guy has 1/2 a brain he may come to his senses. Or he just may continue to be a douche. His loss. |
| Feb. 18, 2016 jackbrun Men's 70 57 posts | It has been determined that he cannot refuse an intentional walk. Life goes on...... |
