Batter causes pitcher hesitation

[Richvee]

"1. 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 © holds up his hand to request "Time," it shall not be a balk

 

Had this happen in my FED game yesterday... sort of...

 

F1 is set, just starts his motion to pitch, batter asks for time....He doesn't step out of the box, he doesn't raise a hand, in fact, he stayed ready to hit while he yelled out for time. I didn't grant it, as F1 had started his motion. Now F1 stops after batter yealls for time. I called a reset as stated in the above rule, and got an earful from OHC. Told him if the batter, by requesting time, causes the pitcher to hesitate it is not a balk. .

 

So now I  re-read the rule, and it really doesn't say anything about a batter just asking for time. It seems to only mention when the batter raises his hand to request time or steps out of the box with one or both feet.

 

The batters audible request for time is no doubt what cause F1 to stop. Should I have balked this?  

[maven]

Nope. You did good. Treat it under 3-3-1n.

[Richvee]

3-3-1n seems to apply only when the intent is to cause the balk with the penalty being ejection. This clearly wasn't the case. 

[Blueump]

FED addresses this specifically in Rule 6-2-4d 1c - " if the pitcher, with a runner on base, stops or hesitates in his delivery to the batter because the batter...holds up his hand to request 'time', it shall not be a balk. There is no penalty on either the batter or the pitcher."

If the pitcher delivers the ball, call it a strike, and the ball remains alive.

[Umpirechick1]

We had this happen Thursday in a JV game as well.  There was a runner on 3rd in a close game and the parents went nuts when PU didn't call a balk.  In our situation, the batter asked for time and while he didn't hold up his hand, there was a slight movement (like he was moving out of the box).

[Richvee]

FED addresses this specifically in Rule 6-2-4d 1c - " if the pitcher, with a runner on base, stops or hesitates in his delivery to the batter because the batter...holds up his hand to request 'time', it shall not be a balk. There is no penalty on either the batter or the pitcher."

If the pitcher delivers the ball, call it a strike, and the ball remains alive.

Same rule I quoted. Like I said, my guy did not step out, NOR hold up his hand as the black and white rule states. He just asked for time verbally which I didn't grant (it was to late).

 

Is his vocal request for time enough to "reset" if the pitcher hesitates? 

[umpstu]

"1. 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 © holds up his hand to request "Time," it shall not be a balk

 

Had this happen in my FED game yesterday... sort of...

 

F1 is set, just starts his motion to pitch, batter asks for time....He doesn't step out of the box, he doesn't raise a hand, in fact, he stayed ready to hit while he yelled out for time. I didn't grant it, as F1 had started his motion. Now F1 stops after batter yealls for time. I called a reset as stated in the above rule, and got an earful from OHC. Told him if the batter, by requesting time, causes the pitcher to hesitate it is not a balk. .

 

So now I  re-read the rule, and it really doesn't say anything about a batter just asking for time. It seems to only mention when the batter raises his hand to request time or steps out of the box with one or both feet.

 

The batters audible request for time is no doubt what cause F1 to stop. Should I have balked this?  

What Maven said.

[ElkOil]

Ultimately, it's your judgement, isn't it?  Sounds to me like you did the right thing.

[Jimurray]

FED addresses this specifically in Rule 6-2-4d 1c - " if the pitcher, with a runner on base, stops or hesitates in his delivery to the batter because the batter...holds up his hand to request 'time', it shall not be a balk. There is no penalty on either the batter or the pitcher."

If the pitcher delivers the ball, call it a strike, and the ball remains alive.

Same rule I quoted. Like I said, my guy did not step out, NOR hold up his hand as the black and white rule states. He just asked for time verbally which I didn't grant (it was to late).

 

Is his vocal request for time enough to "reset" if the pitcher hesitates?

There was, a few years ago, an MLB situation where the batter yelled time and the ump didn't give it to him but the pitcher held up.and was balked. The ump was correct by the letter of OBR rule as it existed then. I believe MLB changed the letter of the rule after that. I would use that as guidance in FED.

[ricka56]

How does F1 know who said TIME. He might have thought that you called TIME. I'd always give F1 the benefit of the doubt and not balk this.

[Jimurray]

How does F1 know who said TIME. He might have thought that you called TIME. I'd always give F1 the benefit of the doubt and not balk this.

The inadvertently part is what MLB changed, IMHO, because off a previous play where the rule as written did not support not calling a balk:

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 inadvertently caused the pitcher to interrupt his delivery, it shall not be called a balk. Both the pitcher and batter have violated a rule and the umpire shall call time and both the batter and pitcher start over from “scratch.â€

[Kevin_K]

FED addresses this specifically in Rule 6-2-4d 1c - " if the pitcher, with a runner on base, stops or hesitates in his delivery to the batter because the batter...holds up his hand to request 'time', it shall not be a balk. There is no penalty on either the batter or the pitcher."

If the pitcher delivers the ball, call it a strike, and the ball remains alive.

The OP indicates the batter did not raise his hand. He simply said it loud enough to change the pitcher's delivery.

 

@Richvee was considering if the audible request should be considered under no balk provision.

[grayhawk]

No way would I balk this. If we did, then batters would yell time frequently as the pitcher starts his delivery. Not happening.

[Majordave]

What he^^^^ said

[Umpirechick1]

^^ Exactly what Maven said. It you're going to balk that, what's to stop a coach from using it to get the runner on 3rd home in a game like mine (1 run game/region game)?

[maven]

 

FED addresses this specifically in Rule 6-2-4d 1c - " if the pitcher, with a runner on base, stops or hesitates in his delivery to the batter because the batter...holds up his hand to request 'time', it shall not be a balk. There is no penalty on either the batter or the pitcher."

If the pitcher delivers the ball, call it a strike, and the ball remains alive.

Same rule I quoted. Like I said, my guy did not step out, NOR hold up his hand as the black and white rule states. He just asked for time verbally which I didn't grant (it was to late).

 

Is his vocal request for time enough to "reset" if the pitcher hesitates? 

 

 

Yes. I'm reading the rule as giving examples to support the general principle that such actions by the offense (that is, unrelated to runners feinting and such, which CAN legally cause balk) cannot cause a pitcher to balk.

 

The rule does not present an exhaustive list of the only actions that might cause us to kill it and reset. If the batter jumps up and shouts "hoogley-boogley!" and causes F1 to balk, I'm treating it the same way, and for the same reason.

[johnnyg08]

Keep it simple. Batter can't cause a balk. Reset.

[Jimurray]

Keep it simple. Batter can't cause a balk. Reset.

Batter can't inadvertently cause a balk, reset. Batter advertantly causes a balk, eject.

[johnnyg08]

Keep it simple. Batter can't cause a balk. Reset.

Batter can't inadvertently cause a balk, reset. Batter advertantly causes a balk, eject.

That's not the topic of this thread.

[Jocko]

I'm in the no balk camp. F1 wouldn't (probably) have balked were it not for the action (verbal or physical) of the batter . Reset. Play on.

[Richvee]

Thanks guys. Funniest part of this OP situation.....OHC is barking it's a balk, Blah blah blah. I had taken a few steps towards him to tell him to pipe down, and explained the batter cannot cause the balk by calling time, I turn to walk back to the plate and a hear from the stands. "And I guess if he pitched it you would've called it a strike!!"  It took a lot for me not to turn and say "Yep, even if he throws it over everyone's head.".. I settled for laughing on the inside thinking "Buddy, you have no idea how right you are!"

[noumpere]

Why do you get an automatic strike if the batter didn't step out of the box?  Just call the pitch.

[Richvee]

Why do you get an automatic strike if the batter didn't step out of the box?  Just call the pitch.

I was thinking he hesitates (balks) but continues the delivery. If he delivered a legal pitch, of course, call the pitch. 

[noumpere]

 

Why do you get an automatic strike if the batter didn't step out of the box?  Just call the pitch.

I was thinking he hesitates (balks) but continues the delivery. If he delivered a legal pitch, of course, call the pitch. 

 

Well then the ball became dead on the "balk" and the delivery didn't happen.

[Richvee]

 

 

Why do you get an automatic strike if the batter didn't step out of the box?  Just call the pitch.

I was thinking he hesitates (balks) but continues the delivery. If he delivered a legal pitch, of course, call the pitch. 

 

Well then the ball became dead on the "balk" and the delivery didn't happen.

 

1. 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 © holds up his hand to request "Time," it shall not be a balk. In (a) and ©, there is no penalty on either the batter or the pitcher. The umpire shall call "Time" and begin play anew. In (b), a strike shall be called on the batter for violation of 7-3-1. In (a), (b) and ©, if the pitcher ­legally delivers the ball, it shall be called a strike and the ball remains live.