Thunderbalk?
 

Thunder at Texas.

Someone asked me because I broadcast high school games (like THAT makes me an expert on OBR rules) a few questions about the thunder blast at the Texas game.

1. Did the pitcher balk?

2. Was time called? If not could R1 have been picked off?

3. Is there ever a time when time is not needed to be called, just implied? This situation, the 1988 earthquake had it happened during a play, etc.?

I don't think the pitcher balked, but on the others I have no idea, so I defer to you folks. Thanks.

No balk, as the pitcher had not yet come set.

Even if he had, there's no fscking way I'm calling a balk in a situation like that.

9.01c.

One of the true applications for 9.01(c).

You left off the most important question.

4. Do I have any common sense what-so-ever or do I just like to ask stupid questions?

We can only see the pitcher, catcher, batter and Plate Umpire at the time of the thunder-clap. Seeing as how all 4 are bailing out, TIME is implied and nothing can happen (balk, pickoff, etc). If a manager argued, all that would be needed is to specify that the decision of implied TIME is part of a safety issue due to the proximity of the lightning hit.

And please excuse the a$$holes on this forum. These are the same people who complain about announcers not knowing the rules. Here you came to ask and for that I thank you.

I assumed implied time was the case, but wasn't sure. And unlike many of my colleagues, I do my best not to say something definitively when I am only assuming. I've done that I know once before and looked really bad doing so. I've since made it a point not to do it again.

Thanks for everyone's input and thanks for this message board. I really do learn a lot here.