Is this a Balk?

[dnorthen]

It seems the more you learn about balks, the more questions are brought up. Our umpire organization vets have some different view on these - old habits die hard. I try to research the rules and ask around to see what others say before deciding what the correct decision should be in my future games. So, here goes:

Level is USSSA, defaults to OBR for these questions.

#1. The OBR states that the pitcher should be on the rubber when taking the signs, but I cannot find reference to this as a Balk Penalty. Some of our vets say yea, some say nay. Would it be considered a deception, the same as straddling the rubber and acting like a pitch was in process? Please offer your thoughts. Is this a Balk?

#2. I have seen many, many young pitchers committing a Balk (and I call it so), by doing the following. Pitching from the Set Position, they assume the position on the rubber with the ball in their glove. Then, still on the rubber, they reach into their glove (becoming set by both hands coming together) and take the ball out dropping their hand with the ball to their side without pitching or throwing to a base. Is this a correct call?

#3 I called a Balk on a pitcher for #2 in a recent game. The ball was live when this happened, but the batter had stepped out of the box. Time was never called and the Balk was committed, the pitcher never stepped off of the rubber. My partner then conferred with me to tell me that if the batter was not in the box, no Balk could be called. I told him as long as the ball was live and runners could be deceived, a Balk could be committed. Am I correct?