[PeteBooth]

Originally posted by Bfair

While I don’t like to post the same question on multiple boards, this is one that I’ve been discussing on a different board that I feel deserves greater attention. Tell us what you think.
Here’s the situation:

You are in your average amateur game of whatever level you call.
It's bottom of the 9th, 2 out, with R3 only in a 5-5 tie. F1, with a live ball, takes the rubber in the windup position with hands in glove at his chest and looks in for signs, but his catcher who is crouched is lookin' to his dugout. While R3 is standing on 3B, both he and the batter are looking to 3B coach for offensive signs. PU is ready to go.........

F1, in his impatience, either:
drops his hands to his sides without disengaging, or
disengages forward and starts to do a little housework on his landing area.

While the action of the pitcher is technically a violation of the written rules,
do score a run on such technical violation of the written rule?

Do you call this a balk in your game, or do you ignore the pitcher’s actions?
Why or why not?

IMO we need to look at why Balk rules were created in the first place.

The rule makers allow B1 to Overrun first base in order to make the play close or another way to put it is make the game more exciting.

In line with the aforementioned, the rule-makers also wanted stealing to be part of the game and again make the game more exciting.

Therefore, the Balk rules for the most part pertain to the stealing part of the game. There are LEGAL and ILLEGAL ways in which F1 may try and pickoff a runner.

There are also the TECHNICAL Balks and IMO should be called when the Offense is paying attention. In other words do not allow F1 to pull a fast one and gain an advantage when he /she commits an illegal act.

However, in your scenario, the offense wasn't paying attention and therefore, I would NOT call a Balk. The game is for the players to decide not some TECHNICAL rule violation and as Garth said this similar type of scenario was brought up in Carl's book 50 ways to ruin a baseball game.

Summary - NO CALL

Pete Booth