Baseball rules question

edmundfitzgerald

Batter is ready to hit. Pitcher is in his windup ready to deliver the ball.

Batter steps out of the box asking for time, but the home plate umpire doesn't give it to him.

Pitcher (about to deliver the ball) sees the batter step out and does not throw the ball, but did not notice that the home plate umpire did not grant time out.

Did the pitcher balk ?

Mercury10c

I've never seen this happend, but I have seen pitchers stop their windup as they are about to throw the ball, and I've never
seen it called a balk.

lsutigers1973

Technically it is a balk if there is a runner on base. However, no umpire is going to call it.

WinPitcher

It is a balk if someone is on base and it will be called and has been called.

Steve

WinPitcher

I should add this though.

If the pitcher comes to a stop and steps off the rubber it is not a balk.


If the pitcher stops while his motion is towards the plate it is.


Steve

stevek

I pitched in Little League and I was taught to always follow through with the pitch and throw the ball - no MLB pitcher is NOT going to throw the ball to the plate in that situation.

WinPitcher

Exactly, what he is going to do is throw a strike.


Steve

lsutigers1973

For the Braves fans out there, they may remember Bob Horner in that situation. Ump didn't give him the TO. He stepped back in as the pitch was being thrown and hit a HR.