Wow! After reading every darn one of these replies, I'm siding with Porter. There's nothing that says you can't call THAT balk while the ball is dead. In fact, there's some evidence that you should call it a balk regardless of the status of the ball.
My logic, as faulty as it may be, says that F1, by stepping onto the rubber is indicating to everyone (including the PU) that he has the ball in hand and ready to pitch. F1 legally can have the baseball "hidden" in his glove at that time; there's no requirement to hold it in his bare hand. So . . . PU certainly has no obligation to tell F1 "Show me the ball" before he yells "Play". Now the rule becomes very specific, "The pitcher, without having the ball, stands on or astride the pitcher's plate . . . ."
That's also the reason you don't see this play happen in the big leagues . . . the pitchers know what the penalty will be ahead of time! If you're on the plate without the ball, you're gonna be called for a balk and the runner is gonna get a base. That's all there is to it. No technicalities involved whatsoever.
I also suspect that's why all the codes are silent regarding any interpretation of that scenario. It should speak for itself. Anytime a pitcher intentionally tries to deceive a runner . . . in this case by making him think the ball is alive and in play . . . and causes him to "lead off" the base because his (F1's) foot is engaged . . . it's a balk. In fact, OBR says as much . . . "Straddling the pitcher's rubber without the ball is to be interpreted as intent to deceive and ruled a balk". No mention as to whether the ball is alive or dead.
Play Ball!
Jerry
P.S. I'm gonna start calling it all the time now.
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