Pitch or throw?

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by Robmoz

Say no outs, runner is put out as a result of the BR interference, what happens to BR then, does he contnue to bat?

Yes.

[TwoBits]

Originally Posted by cb33

Bases loaded, two outs, and the runner on third takes a long lead as if he is going to break for the plate.
Pitcher sees him, steps off the rubber and throws to the catcher behind the plate. The batter swings at the ball and drives it off the right field fence for a double.

What's the correct ruling? Is this a pitch, or a throw to an infielder and thus not a legal pitch? Can you provide OBR ruling in such an instance? Thanks for the help

May be picking nits here, but in the OP, it doesn't say that the runner actually is trying to score, but just taking a long lead as if he is going to break for the plate.

In youth games, I've seen very long leads at third base, particularly when the pitcher is in the windup position. Sometimes it is the type of leadoff described even before the pitcher has begun his pitching motion.

Still interference by the batter? If so, would the runner at third be declared out with less than two outs?

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by TwoBits

May be picking nits here, but in the OP, it doesn't say that the runner actually is trying to score, but just taking a long lead as if he is going to break for the plate.

In youth games, I've seen very long leads at third base, particularly when the pitcher is in the windup position. Sometimes it is the type of leadoff described even before the pitcher has begun his pitching motion.

Still interference by the batter? If so, would the runner at third be declared out with less than two outs?

Not covered. You could decide that it's a violation by the batter ("weak interference") and by the pitcher (delaying the game by throwing to a fielder without a play) and just reset everything.

[Forest Ump]

Originally Posted by Robmoz

Say no outs, runner is put out as a result of the BR interference, what happens to BR then, does he contnue to bat?

The BI occured when the batter hit the ball. Resulting action from that point on is null. Enforce the out on the batter. Return the runner.

[devdem]

If the runner never actually broke for home, wouldn't this just be a balk.
The pitcher made a pitching motion while not on the rubber.
Maybe it was HTBT depending on what move he actually made, but I'm guessing it looked enough like a pitching motion that the batter took a swing.

Pat

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by devdem

If the runner never actually broke for home, wouldn't this just be a balk.
The pitcher made a pitching motion while not on the rubber.

If that's what the umpire has, then it's a balk. The "assumption" in the OP is that the throwing motion was sufficiently different from the pitching motion.