MLB umpire says that you can balk with a dead ball!

[Bfair]

Originally posted by Jim Porter


Nowhere is there a rule that says a balk cannot be called during a dead ball.

What does it take to "put out" a player?
It takes a play, correct? Jim, can the defense "put out" a runner without a play? I don't think that's possible.
Jim, please describe for me how the defense can retire an offensive player without a play (or a catch)?
(Note: an appeal is a play, however, it's not considered a play for the sake of multiple appeals).


Jim, a balk is a play (despite what you think).
J/R states:

It is a play if there is a

(1) tag or tag try of a runner,
(2) tag or tag try of a base,
(3) throw to another fielder in a try to put out a runner,
(4) rundown, or
(5) balk. [my emphasis]

Can "a play" be made with a dead ball? I say, "No!"
J/R agrees and states:

Once the ball is dead, an offensive player can advance, but only because of an award resulting from live ball action. Such runner cannot be put out by the defense [my emphasis], but can be declared out by the umpire for abandoning his effort to run the bases or for passing another runner.

Jim, if the defense cannot putout a runner during a dead ball because they cannot make "a play" on him.
A balk is "a play" so it cannot occur during a dead ball. Can any other of the listed "plays" occur during a dead ball? No!!

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Can a dead ball be made live if not held by a pitcher on the rubber? I say, "NO!"
J/R agrees and states:

The ball becomes live again once

(a) every umpire discontinues his signaling of time, and
(b) the pitcher has the ball in-contact [my emphasis]

("In-contact" refers to a pitcher who possesses a live ball and has stepped onto the pitching rubber for the purpose of taking the windup or stretch position.

Jim, I hope this helps you.
Sometimes understanding the rules means correlating the different concepts of the rules that are separately written.
Correlating the rules shows that a balk cannot occur during a dead ball.



Just my opinion,

Freix




[Edited by Bfair on Aug 6th, 2002 at 03:50 PM]