Batter Steps Out - Pitcher Stops Delivery

[Spence]

High school:

Batter requests time and steps out of the box. Not granted by umpire.

Pitcher had started his motion and seeing the batter step out stops his delivery.

Balk?

[UmpJM]

spence,

No, that is NOT a balk.

Both players have violated a rule. The umpire calls "time!" and "play shall begin anew".

(It's a do-over.)

JM

[Spence]

Thanks.

Would the pitch have counted if he continued with the pitch? For some reason I have in my head that if the batter is out of the box without being granted time the call is a strike even if its high,low, or wide.

[UmpJM]

Spence,

That's correct.

If the pitcher delivers (legally), the pitch is called a strike and the ball remians in play.

Technically, if the batter steps out of the box with BOTH feet, you can call TWO strikes on one pitch!

See 6-2-4d1.

JM

[Spence]

One more variation:

Batter requests time by holding up his hand, not granted, but he does NOT step out of the box. Pitcher stops his motion when he sees the batter's hand up.

Balk?

[zm1283]

I may have posted this on here before, but I saw this happen two years ago in a district game that pretty much decided the game.

R3. Pitcher comes set. Batter requests time, the PU raises up out of his stance, but never puts his hands up or says anything. By this time, the pitcher has started his motion, but stops when he sees the batter backing out and the umpire standing up. The PU balks him and scores the run. He blew it big time.

[UmpJM]

Spence,

If the pitcher aborts his delivery because the batter requested Time, it is NOT a balk.

Same in OBR.

JM

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by Spence

One more variation:

Batter requests time by holding up his hand, not granted, but he does NOT step out of the box. Pitcher stops his motion when he sees the batter's hand up.

Balk?

No.

Originally Posted by Rule 6-2-4-d

If the pitcher, with a runner on base, stops or hesitates in his delivery because the batter steps out of the box (a) with one foot or (b) with both feet or (c) holds up his hand to request “Time,” it shall not be a balk. In (a) and (c), there is no penalty on either the batter or the pitcher. The umpire shall call “Time” and begin play anew.

[johnnyg08]

I called this play correctly last year and I told the coach the rule when he asked why I didn't call a balk on his pitcher and he goes..."hmm...must be a new rule this year huh?" With a slight grin I said..."yep, must be."

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

MTD, Jr. has had this play happen twice to him this year already. Both times it was the lead off batter.

MTD, Sr.

[w_sohl]

Happened this year for me.

[ManInBlue]

Spence, keep it simple...the batter can't cause a balk.

This happened in a Yanks game a few nights ago with the infamous Joba pitching. On Baseball tonight they said "that's a balk. He feinted a pitch. The Yankees got away with one there." I couldn't find any contact information to tell them how wrong they were.