Balk

[Dave Hensley]

Originally Posted by BigUmp56

It's in the AR to 7.10.


If a pitcher balks when making an appeal, such act shall be a play. An appeal should be clearly intended as an appeal, either by a verbal request by the player or an act that unmistakably indicates an appeal to the umpire. A player, inadvertently stepping on the base with a ball in his hand, would not constitute an appeal. Time is not out when an appeal is being made.

AH must have had some reason for calling the balk. I can't imagine that he would have thought they weren't throwing to first for an appeal considering Belliard was already standing on second.


Tim.

I find it entirely believable that Angel called the balk under the mistaken understanding that a pitcher can't throw to an unoccupied base from the rubber in order to make an appeal. It wouldn't be the first, or even the most egregious rule misinterpretation Angel has made.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by PWL

Methinks everyone is applying a FED rule as is written in their rule book if somebody cares to look it up. I am speaking of course about an appeal not being a play.

Meknows you are incorrect. Rule 7.10 says "An appeal is not to be interpreted as a play or an attempted play."

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by PWL

And I didn't say it wasn't in the OBR either. But a balk is a horse of a different color. However, I do not think a balk on an appeal is addressed as a play in FED, but it also exhausts the defense's ability to appeal just as is the case in OBR. I do not have a FED rule or case book handy.

As far as making an appeal from the pitcher's rubber, it is not a balk to throw to a base for an appeal in all 3 major codes. Both FED and OBR use the NCAA interpretation, so you can't be balked for simply doing what Andy Petite did. Angel screwed the ol' poochie.

As far as erring on appeals, in FED an appeal is not a play as you pointed out. The defense may still appeal after erring on its first appeal. (8-2 Penalty, 2.29.6b)

NCAA is different. You cannot make a later appeal if the ball is thrown out of play on the appeal attempt, or any subsequent appeal if thrown away in live-ball territory and any runner advances.(8-6b-3, 8-6b-5, 8-6b-5a)

In OBR, an appeal is cancelled only when the defense overthrows the ball into dead-ball territory. The advancing of runners has no impact on the appeal.(7.10)

A balk on an appeal is considered a "play" (for appeal purposes) in FED as well as OBR. The official interpretation from Rumble is: "A "balk is also an illegal pitch," so a balk would cancel the the right of the defense to appeal."

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by PWL

And I didn't say it wasn't in the OBR either. But a balk is a horse of a different color. However, I do not think a balk on an appeal is addressed as a play in FED, but it also exhausts the defense's ability to appeal just as is the case in OBR. I do not have a FED rule or case book handy.

You are correct that a balk removes the right to a further appeal in FED.