Batter steps completely out of the box as pitcher is delivering to the plate. Pitcher does not throw the ball. He stops his delivery. Time was NOT called. What is the call?
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If there are men on base it is a balk
If no men on base it is a ball
If no men on base it is a ball
Sorry, but thats incorrect....
If time was not granted, there can be no balk charged to the pitcher....
4.06
(a) No manager, player, substitute, coach, trainer or batboy shall at any time, whether from the bench, the coach’s box or on the playing field, or elsewhere --
(3) Call “Time,” or employ any other word or phrase or commit any act while the ball is alive and in play for the obvious purpose of trying to make the pitcher commit a balk.
PENALTY: The offender shall be removed from the game and shall leave the playing field, and, if a balk is made, it shall be nullified.
Fed rules are harsher.....NFHS charges a penalty strike for stepping out of the box....if the pitcher hesitates, yet still delivers, the umpire can call 2 strikes....one for stepping out and the other on the pitch......
If time was not granted, there can be no balk charged to the pitcher....
4.06
(a) No manager, player, substitute, coach, trainer or batboy shall at any time, whether from the bench, the coach’s box or on the playing field, or elsewhere --
(3) Call “Time,” or employ any other word or phrase or commit any act while the ball is alive and in play for the obvious purpose of trying to make the pitcher commit a balk.
PENALTY: The offender shall be removed from the game and shall leave the playing field, and, if a balk is made, it shall be nullified.
Fed rules are harsher.....NFHS charges a penalty strike for stepping out of the box....if the pitcher hesitates, yet still delivers, the umpire can call 2 strikes....one for stepping out and the other on the pitch......
It is not a balk nor is it a ball.
NFHS Rule 6-2-4 Note: If the pitcher. with a runner on base, stops or hesitates in his delivery because the batter steps out of the box (a)with one foot or (b) with both feet or (c)holds up his hand to request "time" it shall not be a balk.
To paraphase the rest of the note:
Under A & C no penalty to the batter or pitcher
Under B - a stike sahll be called for stepping out of the batters box with both feet 7-3-1
Under A,B,& C if pitcher pitches "IT SHALL BE CALLED A STRIKE" Thus in B you would have 2 strikes on the batter.
If the umpires judgement was deliberate attempt to create a balk, the batter could be ejected (3-3-3o)
NFHS Rule 6-2-4 Note: If the pitcher. with a runner on base, stops or hesitates in his delivery because the batter steps out of the box (a)with one foot or (b) with both feet or (c)holds up his hand to request "time" it shall not be a balk.
To paraphase the rest of the note:
Now I'm really confused.
I was the base umpire. Home plate umpire called nothing because "the batter cannot induce the pitcher to balk." It seems that there must be a penalty to the batter. Otherwise the batter could step out anytime he pleases without penalty unless you eject him for unsportsmanlike conduct. Called strike is the correct call?
what rules were you playing under?
If the batter continually did this, then you could eject him under 3-3-3o."deliberatly attempting to create a balk.
If he continues and you do not eject him, tell the catcher to tell the pitcher to throw the ball regardless and you will call it a strike. (No matter were it is throw, it is a strike) that might get the batters attention.
If he continues and you do not eject him, tell the catcher to tell the pitcher to throw the ball regardless and you will call it a strike. (No matter were it is throw, it is a strike) that might get the batters attention.
From OBR 6.02(b)...If after the pitcher starts his windup or comes to a "set position" with a runner on, he does not go through with his pitch because the batter has stepped out of the box, it shall not be called a balk. Both the pitcher and the batter have violated a rule and the umpire shall call time and both the batter and the pitcher start over from "scratch."
quote:3) Call “Time,” or employ any other word or phrase or commit any act while the ball is alive and in play for the obvious purpose of trying to make the pitcher commit a balk.
I think the key word in the above is the word "obvious". What if it is not obvious???
What if the batter asked for time and stepped out of the box without it being granted? He clearly isn't attempting to draw a balk call he just thought he would automatically get time out.
In OBR it is going to be a do over. In fed it is a do over and a strike to the batter.
This happens all the time and is usually never causes an ejection. I had a LL team years ago that would ask for time by putting their front hand up at the pitcher and saying time. This is an ejection situation.
This happens all the time and is usually never causes an ejection. I had a LL team years ago that would ask for time by putting their front hand up at the pitcher and saying time. This is an ejection situation.
what if the batters asks for time and steps out of the box but the pitcher throws the ball. Can the batter step back in and hit it? Is it a live ball?
If the batter is not granted time out and the pitch is delivered the ball remains live in both Fed and OBR. The batter can get back in the box and legally hit the ball provided he has neither foot on the ground outside of the box when he hits it.
And if the batter hits it with a foot on the ground outside the box then it's an out?
Yes, remember that the foot has to be completely out. If it's touching the line then he is OK.
A batter throwing his hand up in the box for time is one of my pet peeves. I will not grant time unless action is well and truly relaxed (pitcher has not started motion).
Once pitcher is in motion, unless batter is having a stroke, that pitch is live. I had a batter a week ago or so throw up the hand (for no reason other than to disturb pitchers rhythm) while pitcher was in windup. I did nothing. Pitch came right down the pipe for Strike 3 while batter stood there with his hand up.
I heard coach in dugout fussing at the batter between innings, "if he doesn't give you time, you don't HAVE time, knucklehead!"
Once pitcher is in motion, unless batter is having a stroke, that pitch is live. I had a batter a week ago or so throw up the hand (for no reason other than to disturb pitchers rhythm) while pitcher was in windup. I did nothing. Pitch came right down the pipe for Strike 3 while batter stood there with his hand up.
I heard coach in dugout fussing at the batter between innings, "if he doesn't give you time, you don't HAVE time, knucklehead!"
Playing under Fed rules.
The info that Pirate Fan posted above for NFHS (Fed) Rule 6-2-4-Note covers what you are looking for.
quote:Originally posted by LonBlue67:
A batter throwing his hand up in the box for time is one of my pet peeves. I will not grant time unless action is well and truly relaxed (pitcher has not started motion).
Once pitcher is in motion, unless batter is having a stroke, that pitch is live. I had a batter a week ago or so throw up the hand (for no reason other than to disturb pitchers rhythm) while pitcher was in windup. I did nothing. Pitch came right down the pipe for Strike 3 while batter stood there with his hand up.
I heard coach in dugout fussing at the batter between innings, "if he doesn't give you time, you don't HAVE time, knucklehead!"
I wish more umpires used your good judgement on this. That's the way it should be.
I saw a kid one time call time, step out of the box during the pitchers windup. The ump gave the kid time, but the pitcher drilled the kid right in the ribs. He started to run to first base and the ump had to call him back. That was a fun one to see!!