Is this a balk?

[Jim Porter]

Originally posted by brandda
Jim - Do you have a reference for that Williamsport ruling? I can't find anything in the rulebook to suggest that this is illegal.

Geesh, no. All I can do is vouch for its validity. I believe it came from inquiries to Andy Konyar, and then it was passed to umpires at the Regional clinics. That was a couple of seasons ago when the illegal pitch first replaced the balk. I'm sure someone out there will know and clarify exactly where it came from. But I know it's illegal in Williamsport's eyes.

[ozzy6900]

Originally posted by dcasimir
No men on base. No count on the batter. Pitcher begins his windup.Just about to release pitch when his coach yells, "time!" Pitcher does not throw the pitch. What is the call? Is it a balk and the batter now has a count of "ball one?"

With no men on base, you have nothing!
WIth men on base, you have nothing!

Why?

A coach yelled "time" and the pitcher reacted to that. Warn the coach that if it happens again, he's gone! Runners stay where they are and count stays as is. Warn both managers and follow through with running them if the incident occurs again.

At no time is a person associated with the game allowed to cause the pitcher to commit an illegal act --- PERIOD.

[brandda]

Jim - I'm not doubting your veracity. Heck, if anyone would know, you would. I just need some backup when I get challenged on it and its not in the rulebook.

[bob jenkins]

Originally posted by Gold_Spark
If the umpire doesn't grant the pitcher time, he has a certain amount of time before he is required to pitch the ball. In FED rules it is 20 seconds after he has received the ball, I do believe. After those 20 seconds has expired without a pitch . . . the batter is rewarded a ball.

Yes, but that's not going to apply if the delay isn't his fault (those are my words, not a literal reading fo the rule / cases)

See 6.2.2E cmt and 7.3.1E cmt

[Jim Porter]

Originally posted by brandda
Jim - I'm not doubting your veracity. Heck, if anyone would know, you would. I just need some backup when I get challenged on it and its not in the rulebook.

So, e-mail Williamsport. You can do that, you know.

[Jim Porter]

Originally posted by ozzy6900
At no time is a person associated with the game allowed to cause the pitcher to commit an illegal act --- PERIOD.

And that rule can be found . . . where?

[Gold_Spark]

ozzy6900: First of all, I agree that the coach should ultimatly be warned. However, if there are men on base. This act IS a balk.

Now, if the OFFENSE would have done something to cause the balk, that would be interference on the offense. (IE: The batter stepping out of the box RIGHT before the pitch).

But your "At no time is a person associated with the game allowed to cause the pitcher to commit an illegal act --- PERIOD" statement is way off base. There are rules concerning this situation all throughout the rule book and case book. Of the NFHS that is.

bob jenkins: The rule won't apply unless it's the fault of the offense that he stopped his pitch. In this case, the pitcher would be expected to continue his delivery even though his coach yelled "Time".

Bottom line is . . . if you are a coach and yer team is on defense. Don't randomly yell "Time". Especially if yer pitcher is in his delivery. STUPID coaching.

[Jim Porter]

Originally posted by Gold_Spark
ozzy6900: First of all, I agree that the coach should ultimatly be warned. However, if there are men on base. This act IS a balk.

Now, if the OFFENSE would have done something to cause the balk, that would be interference on the offense. (IE: The batter stepping out of the box RIGHT before the pitch).

But your "At no time is a person associated with the game allowed to cause the pitcher to commit an illegal act --- PERIOD" statement is way off base. There are rules concerning this situation all throughout the rule book and case book. Of the NFHS that is.

bob jenkins: The rule won't apply unless it's the fault of the offense that he stopped his pitch. In this case, the pitcher would be expected to continue his delivery even though his coach yelled "Time".

Bottom line is . . . if you are a coach and yer team is on defense. Don't randomly yell "Time". Especially if yer pitcher is in his delivery. STUPID coaching.

The situation is handled under the OBR. If the batter steps out of the box, and that action causes the pitcher to stop his delivery, then it is a do-over - both players start over from scratch since they both broke the rules.

But when the defensive coach causes his pitcher to stop his delivery, only one side has broken a rule. With runners on base, that rule is a balk.

[Gold_Spark]

The FED rules that if the umpire feels the batters movement was made to cause the pitcher to balk, THEN the batter is at fault for offensive interference.

And about the defense. Yes. Yelling "time" would be the same as yelling "don't pitch".