Another Balk Question

[Jeff C.]

Hey Guys,

One of my fellow association members described the following situation. Fed rules. R1. Batter receives ball four and is headed to first. F1 is on the mound and goes to his mouth, engages the slab and grabs the ball. He didn't wipe off before touching the ball. UIC calls balk. Neither runner had attained their base. UIC and U1 huddle and decide to award the runners their respective bases. My question is , where they right? Is this bugger picking? I would like to know because if I see this happen, I want to be prepared. This one seemed to stump quite a few of us. We didn't come to a consensus. Thanks.

[mstaylor]

Since play is relaxed and there is no chance of him pitching I would simply call time and go out, quietly explained to not ever do it again and switch balls. This is a good place for preventive umpiring.

[Pops]

I believe that the penalty for Fed rule 6-2 1-e is a ball (not a balk), therefore the plate ump should have called dead ball and the count on the next batter should be 1-0. With that said, the real question is whether or not to even call the infraction, especially if the batter is not in the box yet. Could a warning be issued instead and exchange the ball? I'd like to hear from others on this.

[mstaylor]

It would be a ball, a balk if it happens after the set.

[Jeff C.]

Since play is relaxed and there is no chance of him pitching I would simply call time and go out, quietly explained to not ever do it again and switch balls. This is a good place for preventive umpiring.

This is what I thought. Play was apparently relaxed. I would have trouble balking a kid for this.

[BrianC14]

Screw it.

You should have dumped him.

Problem solved.

:agasp_: