Quote:
Originally posted by U_of_I_Blue
You can find the official baseball rules on mlb.com, just search for official baseball rules on the main page, then scroll to the bottom of the search results page.
Here's the rule anyway:
Rule
4.03
When the ball is put in play at the start of, or during a game, all fielders other than the catcher shall be on fair territory. (a) The catcher shall station himself directly back of the plate. He may leave his position at any time to catch a pitch or make a play except that when the batter is being given an intentional base on balls, the catcher must stand with both feet within the lines of the catcher's box until the ball leaves the pitcher's hand. PENALTY: Balk. (b) The pitcher, while in the act of delivering the ball to the batter, shall take his legal position; (c) Except the pitcher and the catcher, any fielder may station himself anywhere in fair territory; (d) Except the batter, or a runner attempting to score, no offensive player shall cross the catcher's lines when the ball is in play.
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OK..let's get this straight once and for all (OBR rules). There are some of us out there (me included) that says the "fielder's balk" is not a balk at all, but like jicecone said, a "don't do that." There are then others who would say that Chris' sitch calls for a balk to be called. I don't have the books (Stan, if you read this please respond because I know you do!), but does J/R or any of the other "interpretation" books have an actual ruling or explanation on this?