Ejection, ensuing fun, and a couple of questions

[SanDiegoSteve]

It should not be a balk, because the pitcher does not need to deliver a pitch. The umpire should have called "Time," then called a directed strike without requiring a pitch.

New Rule:

6.02 (c) If the batter refuses to take his position in the batter’s box during his time at bat, the umpire shall call a strike on the batter. The ball is dead, and no runners may advance. After the penalty, the batter may take his proper position and the regular ball and strike count shall continue. If the batter does not take his proper position before three strikes have been called, the batter shall be declared out.

Editor’s Note: the MLB Umpire Manual’s official interpretation was added here. The change is that no pitch need be thrown for a strike and the ball is now dead when such intentional strikes are called, thereby preventing a batter from jumping back into the box and hitting the ball.

[Thom Coste]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

It should not be a balk, because the pitcher does not need to deliver a pitch. The umpire should have called "Time," then called a directed strike without requiring a pitch.

New Rule:

6.02 (c) If the batter refuses to take his position in the batter’s box during his time at bat, the umpire shall call a strike on the batter. The ball is dead, and no runners may advance. After the penalty, the batter may take his proper position and the regular ball and strike count shall continue. If the batter does not take his proper position before three strikes have been called, the batter shall be declared out.

Editor’s Note: the MLB Umpire Manual’s official interpretation was added here. The change is that no pitch need be thrown for a strike and the ball is now dead when such intentional strikes are called, thereby preventing a batter from jumping back into the box and hitting the ball.

I stand corrected. I know there have been some rules changes included in the 2006 edition. Just haven't had time to go through them all. I see also that MLB finally posted the new version on the website.