Balk?

oatmealqueen · #1 (**permalink**) Thu Jan 26, 2006, 11:00am

I've had recent discussions with fellow umpires and I would like to know this:
Does calling a balk always result in an immediate dead ball in all cases?
Thanks in advance.

Rich Ives · #2 (**permalink**) Thu Jan 26, 2006, 11:17am

Under Federation (High Schol) rules - yes.

Under Official Baseball Rules (OBR), which the pros and most youth leagues use - no.

DownTownTonyBrown · #3 (**permalink**) Thu Jan 26, 2006, 02:10pm

Rich is correct.

In OBR any occuring action (the pitch) is allowed to continue. At the conclusion of that action (like the ensuing hit) the penalty for the balk is imposed, if it is still appropriate.

Mike Walsh · #4 (**permalink**) Thu Jan 26, 2006, 05:30pm

Quote:

Originally posted by DownTownTonyBrown
Rich is correct.

In OBR any occuring action (the pitch) is allowed to continue. At the conclusion of that action (like the ensuing hit) the penalty for the balk is imposed, if it is still appropriate.

...or ignored, if all runners including the batter-runner, have advanced at least one base.

Mike