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

[STEVED21]

Garth,

I agree. This seems all so simple to me. The ball is dead. The defence has deceived everyone, PU BU fans players coaches. However, no one is in jeopardy. R1 cannot be out. But he has been deceived. This requires some sort of penalty. We know it's not a balk. So lets take insatty's comparison to football one step further.

1. Pitcher gets 2 minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct. Hey, they do it in hockey.

2. Give the batter a "free throw". Let him hit the ball off a tee. Basketball.

3. Penalize the defence 5 yds. The bases move closer for the remainder of the inning.

Ridiculous? Of course. So is calling a balk when a runner can't be put out, batter can't hit the ball, or pitcher pitch the ball. The ball is DEAD. Period.