Balk

[ozzy6900]

Originally posted by DG

"In Major League play, this is completely legal. National Association Leagues instruct their umpires to allow this unless a complaint is lodged. In that case, strict compliance with 4.03 is required."

As a side note, RED and NCAA took the time to define what constitutes being in fair territory.

FED 1-1-4 reads:
At the time of the pitch, all fielders shall be on fair ground except the catcher who shall be in the catcher's box. A fielder is in fair ground when at least one foot is touching fair ground.

NCAA 5.4 reads:
Positions of the Defensive Team
SECTION 4. At the start of or during a game, all players of the defensive
team except the catcher must be in fair territory when the ball is put in play. Being in fair territory means that a defensive player must have at least one
foot placed in fair territory.

OBR never bothered to define this and that is what causes all the confusion with amateur umpires. Now to protect OBR let me say that it should be an understood fact of the game that one foot constitutes a player being in fair territory.