Quote:
Originally posted by DownTownTonyBrown
Casebook 8.1.1 Situation D: When may a batter be hit by a pitch and not be awarded first base? RULING: (1)The pitch is a strike; (2)the batter does not attempt to avoid being hit; (3)with no runners on base, the pitch is illegal and is not ball four (I know I don't understand that one) or (4)batter attempted to hit the pitch.
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What part 3 refers to above is about the fact that an illegal pitch is a "No Pitch," but it counts as a ball or balk. If the pitcher balks and hits the batter, do you give him a base? Or do you enforce a balk? When a pitcher balks with nobody on base, the ball is dead immediately and any delivery is null and void. The batter is credited with one ball. Henceforth, the batter cannot be awarded a base on an illegal pitch (because it doesn't happen) unless it results in a fourth ball.
-Craig
Washington State