Rule or Myth...or Both?

[Daryl H. Long]

When the pitcher started his movement he was committed to deliver the pitch. His failure to do so resulted in an illegal pitch. It is not a balk because no runners were on base.

I left my rule books in car but you can find the definition of time of the pitch in Fed rule 2 (Pitch) and then find the penalty for the infraction in Rule 6.

It would be wise to study the definition of both balk and illegal pitch and how they are different/related so proper application can be made for the situation.