Delay of Game on Pitcher?
 

Is there a FED or NCAA rule stating that the pitcher has 20 seconds to pitch the ball once he receives it from the pitcher? I saw in OBR that they have 12 if no runners are on base.

If there is a rule, does it not apply if there are runners on base?

Info from 2006 BRD
 

From BRD 355 Failure to Pitch with Batter in Box
Pitcher delays with or without runners
FED 6.2.2c failing to pitch or make or attempt a play, including a legal feint, within 20 seconds after he has received the ball.
Penalty: The batter shall be awarded one ball. {Didn't find 6.1.2a, 6.2.2e and 6.2.2f in my older FED book}

NCAA 7-5-e and 9-2c, See http://www.ncaa.org/library/rules/20...ball_rules.pdf

OBR 8.04, See http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info.../pitcher_8.jsp

Also from BRD 356 Pitcher delays unnecessarily
Read FED 6.2.2a {my comment}, NCAA 9-3e and OBR 8.05h

FED and OBR only deal with a no-runner situation.

Does FED distinguish between having no runners on vs having runners on?

Play
 

If batter is in box with runner(s) on, either grant time or continue to ball or balk.
Most teams get the message after a balk or before the batter is awarded a base on balls.
Delay of game also merits warning and ejection, but no OOO should carry it that far.

I missed the part about "with or without runners" the first time I read it.

Isn't the pitcher dependent upon the batter to go through his pre-swing gyrations and getting signals? If so, how do you enforce the 20 seconds?

You don't. You stand back there, try to keep the batter close to the box (preferably with a foot in there), perhaps clap your hands a couple of times during all this dead time as to try to keep people moving. A word with the offensive coach in between innings to shorten up the signs and keep his batter close will do. Or talk with the defensive coach if his pitcher he is the one delaying. Try to solve it before having the pitcher pitch with no batter or adding balls to the count. If it doesn't stop, then be prepared to do this, only if really blatant.

The case plays make it clear that if F1 isn't responsible for the dealy, then he's not penalized.