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Show r 1 a ONE-BASE HITS (By JACK SIMPSON.) ii . I) The Catcher's Box. Few ball players, especially catchers, catch-ers, know they are restricted to a certain cer-tain territory behind the home plate. The catcher's box is triangular in shape, formed by the extension of foul lines as the sides, the corner of the plate nearest the catcher as the apex. A line ten feet from the corner of the plate connecting the extended foul lines marks off the catcher's box. The catcher is supposed to work in this box and can be penalized just the same as the pitcher if he operates outside out-side of it at certain times. The pitcher, during an exciting part of the game, will forget himself and start his wind-up wind-up before the catcher has returned to his box and given him his signal, thereby committing a balk. Catchers must be alert at all times to help a pitcher when the going is rough to prevent this situation. How often have you noticed a catcher step up in front of the home plate to receive a legally pitched ball on Which a base runner is stealing home? He committed two offenses a balk and an interference. The balk was made when he stepped out of his box to receive the ball and the interference inter-ference was made when lie prevented the batter from hitting the legally pitched ball. The base runner on third scores and all base runners advance one base, while the -batter is granted first base. H he proper play for the catcher to make in the above situation would be to remain in his box until he received the ball and then he had a legal right to step up and block the runner off the plate. If the batter interfered with the catcher blocking the runner, lie (the runner) would be declared out for such interference. When a pitcher is intentionally passing pass-ing a batter, the catcher must remain directly behind the plate and not move out of this position prior to the time the ball leaves the pitcher's hand. If he does, all base runners are entitled to advance one base. This rule was made to prevent a catcher from aiding a pitcher to give an Intentional pass. |
