OBR Balk question

[Gmoore]

I have OBR question dealing with balks

8.05
If there is a runner, or runners, it is a balk when --
(a) The pitcher, while touching his plate, makes any motion naturally associated with his pitch and fails to make such delivery;
Rule 8.05(a) Comment: If a lefthanded or righthanded pitcher swings his free foot past the back edge of the pitcher’s rubber, he is required to pitch to the batter except to throw to second base on a pick-off-play. (b) The pitcher, while touching his plate, feints a throw to first base and fails to complete the throw;
(c) The pitcher, while touching his plate, fails to step directly toward a base before throwing to that base;
Rule 8.05(c) Comment: Requires the pitcher, while touching his plate, to step directly toward a base before throwing to that base. If a pitcher turns or spins off of his free foot without actually stepping or if he turns his body and throws before stepping, it is a balk.
A pitcher is to step directly toward a base before throwing to that base but does not require him to throw (except to first base only) because he steps. It is possible, with runners on first and third, for the pitcher to step toward third and not throw, merely to bluff the runner back to third; then seeing the runner on first start for second, turn and step toward and throw to first base. This is legal. However, if, with runners on first and third, the pitcher, while in contact with the rubber, steps toward third and then immediately and in practically the same motion “wheels” and throws to first base, it is obviously an attempt to deceive the runner at first base, and in such a move it is practically impossible to step directly toward first base before the throw to first base, and such a move shall be called a balk. Of course, if the pitcher steps off the rubber and then makes such a move, it is not a balk.
(d) The pitcher, while touching his plate, throws, or feints a throw to an unoccupied base, except for the purpose of making a play;
(e) The pitcher makes an illegal pitch;
Rule 8.05(e) Comment: A quick pitch is an illegal pitch. Umpires will judge a quick pitch as one delivered before the batter is reasonably set in the batter’s box. With runners on base the penalty is a balk; with no runners on base, it is a ball. The quick pitch is dangerous and should not be permitted.
(f) The pitcher delivers the ball to the batter while he is not facing the batter;
(g) The pitcher makes any motion naturally associated with his pitch while he is not touching the pitcher’s plate;
(h) The pitcher unnecessarily delays the game;
Rule 8.05(h) Comment: Rule 8.05(h) shall not apply when a warning is given pursuant to Rule 8.02(c) (which prohibits intentional delay of a game by throwing to fielders not in an attempt to put a runner out). If a pitcher is ejected pursuant to Rule 8.02(c) for continuing to delay the game, the penalty in Rule 8.05(h) shall also apply. Rule 8.04 (which sets a time limit for a pitcher to deliver the ball when the bases are unoccupied) applies only when there are no runners on base.
(i) The pitcher, without having the ball, stands on or astride the pitcher’s plate or while off the plate, he feints a pitch;
(j) The pitcher, after coming to a legal pitching position, removes one hand from the ball other than in an actual pitch, or in throwing to a base;
(k) The pitcher, while touching his plate, accidentally or intentionally drops the ball;
(l) The pitcher, while giving an intentional base on balls, pitches when the catcher is not in the catcher’s box;
(m)The pitcher delivers the pitch from Set Position without coming to a stop.


PENALTY: The ball is dead, and each runner shall advance one base without liability to be put out, unless the batter reaches first on a hit, an error, a base on balls, a hit batter, or otherwise, and all other runners advance at least one base, in which case the play proceeds without reference to the balk.

Under the penalty it says if the batter reaches on a hit, base on ball, hit batter or otherwise...

My Question:

If the ball is dead how can you allow the batter to hit the pitched ball? or for that matter how does the batter do any of the examples that allows you proceed without reference of the balk?

[UmpJM]

Gmoore,

Under OBR rules, the ball does not immediately become dead when a balk occurs.

If the pitcher throws (to a base) or delivers a pitch, the ball remains in play until the outcome of the play that began with the throw or pitch is determined.

Depending on what happens, the ball may or may not become dead as a result of the preceding balk, and the balk may be either enforced or disregarded.

JM

[tibear]

The ball is not dead until the play is over. If the pitcher balks and then throws the ball, you must wait until the resulting play is finished. Be it a hit, walk , BOB, wild pitch or wild throw and see if the criteria for ignoring the balk is met.

If the criteria is met then ignore the balk, otherwise the ball is dead and the balk is enforced.

Boy are you fast JM!!!

[socalblue1]

Under OBR rules, the umpire does NOT call time until it is clear that all runners + batter-runner will not advance at least one base. This is different from FED where a balk is an immediate dead ball.

Proper mechanic is for the umpire to call the balk "That's a balk" and let the play continue. Should F1 stop his delivery, time is called and the balk enforced.

Examples:

1. R1/ R3 - F1 fails to come to a complete stop and delivers pitch. Batter pops up to F3. As soon as the ball is caught, time is called and the balk enforced.

2. Same situation. F3 drops the ball, then throws the ball over F6 into left field. In this case we ignore the balk because all runners and batter-runner advanced.

[Gmoore]

Why in the major leauges when you see a balk called they stop they play?

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by Gmoore

Why in the major leauges when you see a balk called they stop they play?

Because 99% of the time the pitcher balks without immediately throwing (or pitching) the baseball.

99% of the remainder, the thrown (or pitched) ball is caught, and the ball becomes dead then.

In only .01% of the time does the pitcher balk while in the act of throwing and the throw is not caught (including a pitch that's hit).

[BigUmp56]

This is from the MLBUM on balks and when to call time following one.


7.9 CALLING "TIME" AFTER A BALK

The penalty for balk allows the play to proceed without reference to the balk if the batter and all runners advance one base on the pitch following the balk (i.e., the actual pitch and/or action caused by the batter hitting the ball). The umpire shall not call "Time" until play stops following the balk. The question therefore arises as to when the umpire is to call "Time" to kill the ball
after calling a balk. The following cases should help explain when play is considered "stopped" and a what moment the umpire should call "Time" following the call of balk:

(1) If the pitcher balks and does not throw the ball, call "That's a balk; Time!" and enforce the
balk.

(2) If the balk is followed by a batted ball, leave the ball in play until it is apparent that the batter and all runners will not advance one base. At that moment, call "Time" and enforce the balk. If, however, the batter reaches first base and all runners advance at least one base on play following the balk, play proceeds without reference to the balk.

EXAMPLES:

(a) If a batted ball follows the balk and results in a fly ball that is caught, call "Time" the moment the fly ball is caught. Then enforce the balk.

(b) If a batted ball follows the balk and results in a ground-out on a previous runner at the base to which he would be entitled because of the balk, call "Time" the moment the out is made. Then enforce the balk.

(3) If the balk is followed by a pitch that is caught by the catcher, call "Time" the moment the catcher catches the ball. Then enforce the balk. (Note exception in ball four situations covered in item (5) below.

(4) If the balk is followed by a pick-off throw to a base that is caught by a fielder, call "Time" the moment the fielder catches the ball. Then enforce the balk.

(5) If the balk is followed by ball four delivered to the batter and is caught by the catcher, call "Time" and enforce the balk unless all runners advance one base because of ball four. In that situation, play proceeds without reference to the balk.

(6) If the balk is followed by a pitch that strikes the batter, call "Time" the moment the pitch strikes the batter. Then enforce the balk unless the hit batter forces all other runners to advance one base, in which case play proceeds without reference to the balk.

(7) If the balk is followed by a wild throw to a base, the Approved Ruling of Official Baseball Rule 8.05 provides that the runner may advance beyond the base to which he is entitled at his own risk. In that situation the umpire shall call the balk in the usual manner but shall not call "Time" until all play has ceased (runners have stopped trying to advance and a fielder is in
possession of the ball in the infield).

(8) If the balk is followed by a wild pitch, the Approved Ruling of Official Baseball Rule 8.05 provides that the runner may advance beyond the base to which he is entitled at his own risk. In that situation, the umpire shall call the balk in the usual manner but shall not call "Time" until all play has ceased (runners have stopped trying to advance and an fielder is in possession of the ball in the infield). Note that even if the runner advances to or beyond the base to which he is entitled because of a wild pitch following a balk, the balk is still "acknowledged." That is, the pitch is nullified and the batter will resume the at-bat with the count that existed when the balk occurred
unless:

(a) The wild pitch was ball four on which all runners advanced one base; or

(b) The wild pitch was strike three on which the batter and all other runners advanced one base.

In both situations (a) and (b) above, play proceeds without reference to the balk, because all runners (including the batter-runner) advanced one base on the pitch following the balk.


Tim.

[Gmoore]

BigUmp

Thanks for posting that,The light finally came on I was just stuck on the Term the "ball is dead" and then they had to throw in "UNLESS"

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by Gmoore

BigUmp

Thanks for posting that,The light finally came on I was just stuck on the Term the "ball is dead" and then they had to throw in "UNLESS"

Sounds like too much FED ball, huh? FED is immediate dead on the call of balk.

Regards