dirt

[spots101]

(FED Rules) A ball that hits the ground before the plate and bounces into the strike zone can NEVER be called a strike. However, the batter may swing and hit the ball just like any other pitch. If it's hit fair it's a fair ball. Hit foul, foul ball.

For example, a pitcher starts his delivery and the ball slips out of his hand. If it crosses the foul line it is a ball.

An illegal pitch is an illegal act committed by the pitcher with no one on base. The penalty is a ball awarded to the batter. If an illegal pitch is committed with one (or more) runners on base then that is a balk. There are many, many ways a pitcher can commit an illegal pitch or balk.

In FED the ball is immediately dead when an illegal pitch occurs. I'm pretty sure that in OBR the ball is delayed dead.