Getting it right versus conflict with partner

[maven]

Maybe it's different in Australia.

 

I think they run the bases the other way down under...or maybe I'm thinking of toilet swirl...

[Jimurray]

The question you need to ask is -

Did all runners, including the B/R, advance 1 base?

 

If yes, ignore the balk.

 

If no, enforce the balk.

 

To clarify for anyone reading this but not the entire thread the advancing of the bases has to be as a result of the what the batter did.  In my case all runners advanced one base including the batter, but R2 advanced on a steal not due to the walk.  So in my case the balk was not ignored.

 

Not quite. If R2 (and no other runners on) is stealing on a 3-x pitch called for ball 4, as long as R2 reaches 3rd safely then the balk is ignored: BR has reached first and all runners have safely advanced at least one base.

 

You don't have to worry about how any of the runners advanced because that part is irrelevant. Its only a question of how far if at all they advanced. If they each got at least one base safely then ignore the balk. If any of them didn't get one base then enforce the balk.

This is not correct by rule and/interp. The 3-x pitch must be wild or DTK to allow R2 to remain at 3B and ignore the balk. I used to scoff at whole umpire chapters that would instruct their umpires to give the coach his choice on a balk because the balk rule was too implicated. I'm beginning to rethink my scoff.

 

In OBR, under 8.05:

 

Penalty: The ball is dead, and each runner shall advance one base without liability to be put out, unless the batter reaches first on a hit, an error, a base on balls, a hit batter, or otherwise, and all other runners advance at least one base, in which case the play proceeds without reference to the balk.

 

There's no reference to the runners' advancement being required to be of any type, only that they advance. Even the batter's own advancement can be of any type; though particular ways are listed they're followed by "... or otherwise ...". And there's no list of any kind for how the runners are supposed to advance, only that they do. Likewise the PBUC manual's section "Penalty For Balk" (section 8.8 in the edition I have) doesn't specify that advancements must be of certain types or only in certain ways. What interpretation are you referring to?

PBUC tells you to call time when the catcher catches ball 4 or whatever pitch it is. Most of the time the ball will be dead as the runner is advancing. If you want to make it a time play go ahead.