Correct FED balk mechanic?

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by voiceoflg

I'm curious...why the difference? Why can something happen after a balk in OBR and not in FED? I'd love to pass it on to my listeners.

Thanks.

To answer the OP: yes, "Time! That's a balk!" is the "correct" FED mechanic, if you go by the FED umpire manual. I do not, however, know anyone who goes by the FED umpire manual. Everyone I know does it as you've been advised to do: always call out the balk first.

To answer voiceoflg: FED changed balk enforcement a long time ago in observance of one of their officiating principles: make officiating more uniform. In their view too many umpires failed to understand when the ball becomes dead after a balk. So to simplify it, they made the ball dead immediately.

OBR leaves the ball live after a balk in case the pitcher pitches it. This gives the offense a little edge, since the batter might hit it and score a runner. The rulesmakers wanted that to count, to provide even more disincentive against illegal deception by the pitcher. So if the batter and each runner reach their advance bases, the balk is ignored; otherwise, the umpire will call time at the end of playing action (which is often the pitcher standing there holding the ball looking confused) and enforce the balk.