Rule or Myth...or Both?

[tmp44]

No one on...F1 balks--what is the result? Both FED and OBR? I've always thought that it was a ball...but am I wrong?

[akalsey]

OBR 8.05: "If there is a runner, or runners, it is a balk when..."

Without runners on there are no penalties for balk moves.

[tmp44]

OK..here's the sitch that spawned this. Watching a Varsity FED game today. F1, in windup, steps back to begin the windup, begins to pivot, then just steps off the mound. What do you have? Since it's FED, just a dead ball w/ no penalty (this is what the Us gave BTW)?

[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.

[DG]

Originally posted by tmp44
OK..here's the sitch that spawned this. Watching a Varsity FED game today. F1, in windup, steps back to begin the windup, begins to pivot, then just steps off the mound. What do you have? Since it's FED, just a dead ball w/ no penalty (this is what the Us gave BTW)?

In Fed it is an illegal pitch when the pitcher commits an act that would be a balk with runners on, penalty is a called ball. In OBR it's "don't do that".

[Rich]

Originally posted by DG

In Fed it is an illegal pitch when the pitcher commits an act that would be a balk with runners on, penalty is a called ball. In OBR it's "don't do that".

In OBR, it's NOTHING. Not even a "don't do that."

This is something that would not be called where I lived, BTW. We would just let the pitcher reset.

[aevans410]

Consider this:

Case play 6.1.2a states that a pitcher in contact with the rubber in the windup starts his preliminary motion and drops the ball. The ruling states there is no infraction provided the pitcher delivers the ball within 20 seconds.

Dropping the ball with runners on = a balk. Is the ruling different for other pitching infractions?

[Tim C]

As I have mentioned over the years:

FED not only has a rules book, a case book, and an umpire manual they also have the "Spring Newsletter".

The letter, published each spring for over 35 years, is a vehicle for FED to make interps that fail to reach the rule book or a play in the case book.

For years the FED Rule Book was called "Brad's Book." This reference was to Brad Rumble that held the position of "Editor" of the books. Brad placed his personal ideas into print in not only the rule book but also the "official" newsletters.

The "start/stop" wind-up ruling was a "Brad" ruling that was described first in the newsletter. The ruling has been in effect for at least 12 years. The ruling is based on the fact that the wind-up must be a "Continuous Movement".

A second, and equally troubling, decision is that if a pitcher selects to pitch from the set position EVEN WHEN NO RUNNER IS ON BASE that pitcher must still perform a "discernable" stop during the stretch or it is an illegal pitch.

And, in closing, FEDERATION has some peculiar rulings that have been influenced over the years by some odd sources.

[orioles35]

This brings up something the late Tug McGraw did during an actual MLB game. With no runners on (and to win a bet, I might add), he started into full windup and FELL DOWN. On purpose.

No balk was called. He won the bet.