Balk Video

[David M]

I found this balk penalty ruling the Baseball Almanac website:


PENALTY: The ball is dead, and each runner shall advance one base without liability to be put out, unless the batter reaches first on a hit, an error, a base on balls, a hit batter, or otherwise, and all other runners advance at least one base, in which case the play proceeds without reference to the balk.

It says the balk is ignored if the batter reaches on a base on balls.

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by David M

It says the balk is ignored if the batter reaches on a base on balls.

Which didn't happen because the batter flied out to right. If he had taken the pitch and it was called ball four, the balk would've been ignored since the batter made it safely to first and the runner advanced one base.

[yawetag]

Originally Posted by Welpe

Which didn't happen because the batter flied out to right. If he had taken the pitch and it was called ball four, the balk would've been ignored since the batter made it safely to first and the runner advanced one base.

HOWEVER, if the runner was on second and the pitch was ball 4, it would have been a balk; count still full.

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by yawetag

HOWEVER, if the runner was on second and the pitch was ball 4, it would have been a balk; count still full.

Agreed. I was simply addressing the situation in the video, which had an R1.

[justanotherblue]

Yes, it should have been ruled as a balk. My bad. I'm thunking instead of thinking. Oh well, not the first time.

David M, all runners including the batter must advance one base or the balk is enforced, with the batter returning to the batters box with his count remaining. Since the batter flied out in the video, he goes back to bat.

[dash_riprock]

Originally Posted by David M

.

It says the balk is ignored if the batter reaches on a base on balls.

It can't be a ball if the batter swings at it.