Passed Ball or Wild Pitch?

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Nov 18, 2013
2,255
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I think we all share an appreciation for catchers and the work they do.

I'm simply going off of the definitions NFHS, USA and USSSA use to describe a wild pitch. They all describe the use of ordinary effort and either handling, controlling, stopping or catching the ball. I was never a catcher, nor was I a catcher's Dad. If there's a way of handling, controlling, or stopping a ball in the dirt without blocking it please explain.

I much prefer the NCAA definition of any pitch in the dirt is wild. Makes it much simpler to score and gives more consistent results between different scorekeepers.
 
Sep 18, 2016
54
8
If blocking was ordinary effort though we won't have to spend hours and hours every year our girls catch making sure they learn the skill and keep it up. Mine says the ones that come straight at her are pretty easy to block but the ones that bounce right or left or really hard to throw your body down and around to stop. I was a pitcher so I only know from her perspective and teaching her.

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Mar 1, 2016
195
18
I think we all share an appreciation for catchers and the work they do.

I'm simply going off of the definitions NFHS, USA and USSSA use to describe a wild pitch. They all describe the use of ordinary effort and either handling, controlling, stopping or catching the ball. I was never a catcher, nor was I a catcher's Dad. If there's a way of handling, controlling, or stopping a ball in the dirt without blocking it please explain.

I much prefer the NCAA definition of any pitch in the dirt is wild. Makes it much simpler to score and gives more consistent results between different scorekeepers.

The best way to handle/stop/control a ball in the dirt without blocking it is to pick it as a F3 would on a low throw. I’ve seen my DD lay out for a pitch in the opposite batters box as if a shortstop going for a ball in the 5-6 hole. That’s not blocking.

Also, 1 VERY important note: a catcher can block a pitch in the dirt successfully and the pitcher STILL get charged with a wild pitch because the runner advanced on the pitch in the dirt. In this case, did the catcher handle/block/stop the ball? Yes! Was it in the dirt? Yes! Did a runner advance as a result of the pitch being in the dirt and not because it was a straight steal? Yes! That, boys and girls, is still a wild pitch.


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Nov 18, 2013
2,255
113
The best way to handle/stop/control a ball in the dirt without blocking it is to pick it as a F3 would on a low throw. I’ve seen my DD lay out for a pitch in the opposite batters box as if a shortstop going for a ball in the 5-6 hole. That’s not blocking.

Also, 1 VERY important note: a catcher can block a pitch in the dirt successfully and the pitcher STILL get charged with a wild pitch because the runner advanced on the pitch in the dirt. In this case, did the catcher handle/block/stop the ball? Yes! Was it in the dirt? Yes! Did a runner advance as a result of the pitch being in the dirt and not because it was a straight steal? Yes! That, boys and girls, is still a wild pitch.


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In the NCAA it’s a wild pitch. Everywhere else it depends on the scorekeeper. If they feel the runner advanced because the catcher didn’t stop it cleanly it’s a passed ball. If they had no chance at throwing runner out even if fielded cleanly it’s a wild pitch. Stupid right? Especially if scorekeeper is the pitchers Dad because they’ll even blame HR’s on the catcher!

I would put laying out for a pitch in the opposite batters box as extraordinary effort. You’re certainly not saying if she misses that it would be considered a passed ball. I agree with everything you’re saying. The wild pitch definitions in USA, USSSA and NFHS is where they disagree. Unfortunately unless your DD is in college, their definitions are the ones that count.
 

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