Balk (Dead ball/live ball)

[Tim C]

"Originally Posted by Steven Tyler

Bases loaded. Defense calls time. You grant it. Infield including catcher gather up around the pitcher. Pitcher shuttles ball to F5 during the pow wow. As everyone goes back towards their positions, the catcher is set, the batter is set and the pitcher is straddling the rubber in the set position. You are waiting to put the ball in play when the pitcher toes the rubber. About this time, F5 tags R3 off the base with the ball. You call balk and award all runners one base.

"You now have a balk during a dead ball situation."

This is the kind of crap I have come to expect from Paul, err steve, err fitUmp.

Please folks understand the the ball cannot be put into play without the pitcher HAVING THE BALL AND BEING IN CONTACT WITH THE P"ITCHER'S PLATE.

Steve just erred in the big time.


It is NOT a balk under ANY rule code.

Here is an e-mail from Jim Paronto the NCAA Rule Book Editor.

-----------------------------------------------------

Tim

In response to your question concerning Dave's comment to a group in Texas:

Please continue to instruct your umpires in this manner as far as the NCAA rules are concerned.

"When the umpire realizes his mistake of putting the ball into play improperly, he should rectify his mistake because we all know that a ball cannot be made live until all the proper elements are in place; the pitcher, with the ball, gets on the rubber, the batter assumes his normal position in the batter's box and the catcher is within the lines of the catcher's box."

Neither team should ever be put in a position of disadvantage because of an umpire's mistake. Whenever possible, the umpire must take whatever steps needed to correct his error. It will take some explanation to both managers and in your words, " a do over" would be the appropriate way to handle the error.

I hope this clarifies this situation for you.

Jim Paronto
Secretary Editor

[RPatrino]

Steven Tyler, what have you been smokin, dude?