illegal pitch?

[Atl Blue]

Tee:

I did not see the ruling (which just happens to be insane!).

I am ASKING, not accusing: Are you certain Rumble did not say this was an "illegal pitch" with no runners? By definition, you know as well as I that there can be no balk without runners.

If it is an illegal pitch, the penalty is a ball added to the batter's count.

If it is a balk, the penalty is the runners advance one base; there is no ball added to the count on a balk. But do you see our problem?

WE HAVE NO RUNNERS!

No runners, no penalty.

So we are back to: With no runners, this is nothing.

Added in edit:

From the 2004 FED case book:

6.1.2 SITUATION G: From the windup position, F1 steps onto the pitcher's plate with both hands together. As he moves his non-pivot leg behind the pitcher's plate, he completely stops his motion.
RULING: This would be a balk if there were any runners on base.

If Rumble once called this stopping of a motion a balk with no one on base, his interp has since been overruled.

[Edited by Atl Blue on Jul 22nd, 2004 at 09:49 AM]