This is in fact a balk. A pitcher must disengage the rubber (IE: Step off with the back right foot) in this situation. The second that the runner breaks for third 2nd and 3rd are both unoccupied until he reaches the base safely.

 

This is the same type of situation as a runner of first second unoccupied. The runner on first looks to steal before the pitcher motions toward home. If the pitcher jump turns to 1st base it is in fact a balk. You may not make a pick off move to a base that is unoccupied.

 

The correct move for the pitcher to do is step off the rubber and then throw the ball to 3rd.

Once the balk is called, the ball is dead.........the runner can't be tagged out!

 

Wrong the ball is not dead on a balk call.

 

In a game at Transy this year we had a play where a balk was called and the batter was awarded first base. The ball is NOT dead on a balk call. I balked pitch is a legal pitch and the batter may make contact at it. In theory if a balk is called swing for the fences. You cannot make an out on a balk call HOWEVER if you were to hit a homerun on a balked pitch it would count. A strike can also not be called on a balk. A balk may only benefit the offensive team. In theory I believe if the ball were thrown away from the 3rd basemen, the runner could even in fact score.

This is in fact a balk. A pitcher must disengage the rubber (IE: Step off with the back right foot) in this situation. The second that the runner breaks for third 2nd and 3rd are both unoccupied until he reaches the base safely.

 

This is the same type of situation as a runner of first second unoccupied. The runner on first looks to steal before the pitcher motions toward home. If the pitcher jump turns to 1st base it is in fact a balk. You may not make a pick off move to a base that is unoccupied.

 

The correct move for the pitcher to do is step off the rubber and then throw the ball to 3rd.

 

None of the above is correct.

 

It is not a balk.

 

2nd is considered occupied because it was occupied at the Time of Pitch.

 

In your other example, 1st base is occupied for the same reason.

 

8.05d clearly states that the pitcher does NOT have to step off the rubber if he is throwing to a base to make a play.

Wrong the ball is not dead on a balk call.

 

In a game at Transy this year we had a play where a balk was called and the batter was awarded first base. The ball is NOT dead on a balk call. I balked pitch is a legal pitch and the batter may make contact at it. In theory if a balk is called swing for the fences. You cannot make an out on a balk call HOWEVER if you were to hit a homerun on a balked pitch it would count. A strike can also not be called on a balk. A balk may only benefit the offensive team. In theory I believe if the ball were thrown away from the 3rd basemen, the runner could even in fact score.

 

Different rules for high school than college. Its a dead ball in high school.

In addition, all of the following are legal:

 

Runner on 1st. Pitcher in the stretch. Runner breaks to second. Pitcher spins to go to first but seeing the runner going to 2nd continues his movement around and throws runner out at 2nd.

 

The same is legal in FED even if the pitcher is faked out and the runner fakes going to 2nd but doesn't actually go. Should the pitcher continue around and throw to 2nd, its legal. Not legal in OBR as far as I understand.

One more:

 

Runners on first and second , 2 outs, full count. Naturally, the runners are running on the pitch. If they're over anxious, the pitcher can raise his non-pivot foot straight up and then throw to third as the runner takes off. Not a balk.

 

Good move to teach your pitcher.

In addition, all of the following are legal:

 

Runner on 1st. Pitcher in the stretch. Runner breaks to second. Pitcher spins to go to first but seeing the runner going to 2nd continues his movement around and throws runner out at 2nd.

 

The same is legal in FED even if the pitcher is faked out and the runner fakes going to 2nd but doesn't actually go. Should the pitcher continue around and throw to 2nd, its legal. Not legal in OBR as far as I understand.

 

I don't see how this could happen and not be a balk. According to both OBR and FED rules the pitcher must step first to the bag he is throwing to before the throw occurs. If I'm planning on going to first I don't see how I could continue swinging my non pivot foot around to throw to 2nd (and actually get it going in the direction of 2nd, note that the step can't be somewhere between the two). I guess this is correct in theory but I don't see how it could be physically applied.

 

I can also tell you that in the 2nd example that will be called a balk 9 times out of 10. The pitcher is allowed to throw to an unoccupied base ONLY when he is making a play, thus implying that a play MUST be there to be made. If the runner bluffs going it is a balk.

One more:

 

Runners on first and second , 2 outs, full count. Naturally, the runners are running on the pitch. If they're over anxious, the pitcher can raise his non-pivot foot straight up and then throw to third as the runner takes off. Not a balk.

 

Good move to teach your pitcher.

 

The foot can go straight up, but it must land going towards 3B.

 

It also cannot stop, delay, or lean toward the plate in any manner.

I don't see how this could happen and not be a balk. According to both OBR and FED rules the pitcher must step first to the bag he is throwing to before the throw occurs. If I'm planning on going to first I don't see how I could continue swinging my non pivot foot around to throw to 2nd (and actually get it going in the direction of 2nd, note that the step can't be somewhere between the two). I guess this is correct in theory but I don't see how it could be physically applied.

 

I can also tell you that in the 2nd example that will be called a balk 9 times out of 10. The pitcher is allowed to throw to an unoccupied base ONLY when he is making a play, thus implying that a play MUST be there to be made. If the runner bluffs going it is a balk.

 

If the pitcher makes one continuous motion, its legal. If he pauses and THEN goes to 2nd, balk.

 

2nd case: Judgment call all the way. If the umpire feels the runner made a break that fooled the pitcher, its not automatically a balk. I agree that it will almost always be called a balk unless the runner took pretty many steps toward second.

The foot can go straight up, but it must land going towards 3B.

 

It also cannot stop, delay, or lean toward the plate in any manner.

 

Correct.

One more:

 

Runners on first and second , 2 outs, full count. Naturally, the runners are running on the pitch. If they're over anxious, the pitcher can raise his non-pivot foot straight up and then throw to third as the runner takes off. Not a balk.

 

Good move to teach your pitcher.

 

Then the runner scores from third before they get the tag on the runner coming from second...........not a good move to teach your pitcher, imo........just play the game

Edited July 2, 200818 yr by Ram
Rule 13

then the runner scores from third before they get the tag on the runner coming from second...........not a good move to teach your pitcher, imo........just play the game

 

Who said anything about a runner on 3rd?

This happened in a Babe Ruth game.

 

Runners on first and second with a right handed pitcher. The pither comes to a stop in the set position. The runner at second breaks toward third base. The pitcher steps directly toward third and throws to the third baseman who tags the runner out. The umpire called a balk saying you cannot throw to an unoccupied base. However I think the rule book says you cannot throw to an unoccupied base except to make a play. So I think it was a legal play.

 

What is the correct call?

In high school this is a BALK. There was no runner on third therefore it IS an unoccupied base. Had the pitcher had the presence of mind to step off with his pivot foot and THEN make the throw, then we have a legal move. I'm not sure if the Babe Ruth rules differ.

In high school this is a BALK. There was no runner on third therefore it IS an unoccupied base. Had the pitcher had the presence of mind to step off with his pivot foot and THEN make the throw, then we have a legal move. I'm not sure if the Babe Ruth rules differ.

 

Frank, please provide the rule you are citing in FED. I believe your interp to be incorrect. There does not have to be a runner on third if there is a play being made AT third. 8.05d covers this.

Here is another twist to this that makes me believe the pitcher has to step off the rubber before throwing to the unoccupied base;

 

Lets say the same thing happens, but this time the runner is on third base and is stealing home. If the pitcher does not step off the rubber, then to me the batter can swing, because officially it would be a pitch. If he steps off, then the batter must move out of the way because it would not be a pitch.

 

There is no rule that says the pitcher cannot make a legal pitch when the runner is stealing 3rd.