Throw to First

With no runner on first (empty bases), catcher throws to first thinking it was strike three but was only two strikes. Ball goes back to pitcher. Ump calls a ball saying catcher can't throw to first with no one on first. Never heard that rule. Is that right? ASA tournament.

Yes, umpire was correct. With no runners on base, the catcher must immediately return the ball directly to the pitcher after each pitch, the penalty for not returning it directly to the pitcher is a ball awarded to the batter.

But, there is an exception. If the team does it to purposely try and walk a batter by only throwing 2 pitches and getting balls awarded by throwing to a base rather than the pitcher, the umpire should not award a ball to the batter and a warning issued to the catcher to not do it again.

Learned something today.

Comp said:

Yes, umpire was correct. With no runners on base, the catcher must immediately return the ball directly to the pitcher after each pitch, the penalty for not returning it directly to the pitcher is a ball awarded to the batter.

But, there is an exception. If the team does it to purposely try and walk a batter by only throwing 2 pitches and getting balls awarded by throwing to a base rather than the pitcher, the umpire should not award a ball to the batter and a warning issued to the catcher to not do it again.

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So if the pitcher is trying to issue an intentional walk and the count is 2-0, pitcher pitches out ball three then throws the ball to first baseman that is ball four and there is no warning or impact on defensive team.

So is the idea behind the rule that the defense is delaying the game? ...I'm with Quincy learn something new every day and this is it for me

You guys think better then me.

So this only applies with no runners on base? this exact scenario plays out, but a runner is on 3rd then it would not be a ball?

Here is the exact wording of the rule.

ASA 6-7-B. The catcher shall return the ball directly to the pitcher after each pitch, except after a strikeout, a put out or an attempted put out by the catcher.
Effect: A ball on the batter.
Exception: Does not apply with runners on base or the batter becoming a batter/runner.

For the rest of the ruling about attempting to walk the batter you have to get into the case plays and rulings. All rule sets I am aware of have the ruling although the wording may vary slightly.

djcarter1966 said:

So if the pitcher is trying to issue an intentional walk and the count is 2-0, pitcher pitches out ball three then throws the ball to first baseman that is ball four and there is no warning or impact on defensive team.

So is the idea behind the rule that the defense is delaying the game? ...I'm with Quincy learn something new every day and this is it for me

Click to expand...

This is what I have heard regarding the origin of this rule......no idea if it is true or not....

The reasoning comes from the hey day of Men's Fast Pitch 30 - 40 years ago.
Most of you gentlemen on this board will recall one of footballs cardinal rules of warning up a quarterback...the QB throws the ball to another player, the player throws the ball back to a different player, who hands the ball to the QB. This removes any chance of the QB getting a jammed or sprained finger from catching the ball awkwardly.

Some Men's FP players began to think this should apply to the pitcher during a game as well, so after a pitch, catchers started throwing the ball back to either the first or third baseman who would then go hand the ball to the pitcher. Often, there was some conversation, encouragement, strategy discussion, etc., between the players between pitches that did delay the game. If one of the fielders was the player/coach, the issue of charged conferences would be brought up....

That's why the rule was put into place.